View from the women's vroom

In America, the Lexus RX300 has been the favourite transport since its launch in 1998 of mostly wealthy mums.

They liked it, said the research, because it pioneered a new class of crossover vehicle, one with the refinement of a luxury car with the versatility of a four-wheel-drive.

And it didn't break down. The Lexus badge has consistently topped owner satisfaction surveys.

The most recent J D Power survey, involving 30,000 American owners of 1998 vehicles, found that Lexus owners experienced less than half of the problems of the industry average.

The badge represents success, too. Hollywood director Steven Spielberg drives a Lexus LX470, the heavyweight four-wheel-drive. Microsoft computer boss Bill Gates drives a LS430, the whisper-quiet saloon.

The RX300 has been the most popular Lexus sold in America. It accounted for more than half of the 150,000 luxury four-wheel-drives sold there last year.

But its success catergorised it: luxury family transport mums will mostly drive, said the research. Some vehicles are for women, some for men.

The RX300 could mix it in the semi-rough stuff if necessary, thanks to its four-wheel-drive traction. But it was sort of soft and cuddly, with nice round bits.

Its successor, the RX330, has been designed to appeal to a wider audience. It is more powerful, more muscular ... a bit more manly, with more sheetmetal. But Lexus reckons it will still appeal to core female buyers in America. No doubt it will, where it costs about $US40,000. What about New Zealand, where the RX330 was launched the other day, priced at $86,000? Sales of everything Lexus here last year more than doubled 2001 figures and Lexus New Zealand spokesman Gary McIver expects the RX330 will help to maintain the momentum. Lexus is happy to be known as the quiet achiever in this country.

Creature comforts in the new model are typically Lexus.

Apart from the usual wall-to-wall leather and wood and eight-speaker audio system, there is a power-operated tailgate linked to an automatically retracting tonneau cover and many new storage compartments.

The rear seats have a versatile 40-20-40 split and the centre seat back can be folded forward to provide extra long storage space.

Lexus says that new insulation measures reduce the intrusion into the passenger cabin of road and engine noise and vibration. Exhaust pipes have been straightened and made thicker, and mufflers have been re-positioned.

The RX330 is powered by a 3.3-litre quad-cam V6 engine, developing 172kW at 5600rpm and 328Nm of torque at 3600rpm and mated to a five-speed automatic transmission with manual mode.

The full-time four-wheel-drive system distributes drive 50:50 to the front and rear wheels.

Safety features include a driver's knee airbag, which inflates at the same time as the two front airbags to protect the driver's legs.