Toyota-manufactured cars are known for a lot of positives, including being durable and prioritizing safety. Their brilliant resale value is among the main reasons buyers all over the world choose the Japanese auto giants.
So it was not surprising when Lexus, a Toyota division introduced a mid-size luxury crossover SUV in 1997 that was well received. What’s more, the 1998 Lexus RX was subsequently introduced to the North American market, overtaking other SUVs on the sales chart.
This was surprising for a big brand like Mercedes, which had recently introduced the Mercedes-Benz ML. 23 years after the first 1998 Lexus RX went on sale, they are still some of Lexus’ widely driven cars thanks to their ride quality, fuel efficiency, and overall reliability, making them an absolute steal.
Read on to find out just what makes a 1998 Lexus RX a bargain even in 2021.
Lexus’ Midsize SUV That Feels Like A Wagon And Sedan
The 1998 Lexus RX has remained an instant hit since its introduction to the North American market. Being one of the earliest crossovers big on luxury, it is no surprise it has garnered similar competition from its rivals.
The 1998 Lexus RX came as a crossover between an SUV and a luxury sedan. This concept began as far back as 1993 after it was hypothesized by Toyota Motor Sales and the company's executives in a luncheon.
Famed designer Makoto Oshima’s final design got approval for production, and testing began in 1996.
A first look at the 1998 Lexus RX, and you’d see it looked somewhat like a 4x4 vehicle but without the sturdy and tough look.
The 1998 Lexus RX Has Unique Design Features Including A Unibody Chassis
Lexus built the 1998 Lexus RX on a unibody chassis. This meant that it had a chassis similar to a cage that merged its frame and its body to be a single piece of the frame.
The exterior design for the Lexus RX 1998 model was unusual for four-door cars at the time. There were lots of unique and useful design features, including a front triangular quarter window.
The side mirrors were door-mounted, and a back liftgate carried a top-mounted spoiler as well. For the car’s clear rear and front light covers, round lenses were added.
For the exterior color scheme, Lexus stuck with a 2-tone type. However, the lower body-side and the RX’s bumper spotted a gray color.
One thing the 1998 Lexus RX is good for is in the area of cargo space. It carried a total cargo volume of 130 cubic feet when the seats were folded.
No expenses were spared for the safety features of the 1998 Lexus RX, with the car carrying a passenger and driver airbag. Also, there were seat-mounted side torso airbags for the front seats as well as solid anti-lock brakes.
Additional features were an electronic stability program as well as vehicle stability control, although they were optional when the car was released.
A 3.0-liter V6 engine powered some front-wheel-drive models of the cars. The car was also a four-speed transmission mid-size luxury crossover that was automatic.
On the exterior, the car looked unique and impressive with a length of 4,575 mm, a width of 1,816, and a height of 1,669 mm. Its wheelbase measured 2,619 mm as well.
This Is What Makes The 1998 Lexus RX An Absolute Bargain In 2021
Nowadays, not a lot of cars can be said to be absolute steals or bargains. The market is filled with too many luxurious and somewhat overpriced cars that may not feature as many improvements or be as solid.
While most people may decide to go for newer models of iconic cars, a 1998 Lexus RX may surprise you. There’s a reason these cars haven’t fizzled out like some vehicles.
One such reason is that they are some of the most reliable vehicles on the road, besides being a pioneer luxury crossover SUV. The 1998 Lexus RX is just as reliable as it was more than 20 years since it was first introduced.
The fuel efficiency of the 1998 Lexus RX is up there with the best. You can rack up plenty of mileage and not worry about a sudden empty gas tank.
When the Lexus RX came out in 1998, it was priced at $30,000. Nowadays, you can get it for much less, with a handful of very modern and useful tweaks here and there.
Over the years, we’ve seen the Lexus RX as a testament to Toyota’s devotion to creating a luxury SUV car that rivals international standards.
So if you’re looking for a solid luxury SUV that will be reliable, probably as an auxiliary car, a 1998 Lexus is a bargain to go for.