How can I tell if my 2004 Lexus RX 330 is a FWD or AWD?

Asked by Iceman50 Dec 01, 2007 at 12:14 AM about the 2004 Lexus RX

Question type: General

I bought a used, 2004 Lexus RX 330. There is no information that I can see in the papers to indicate whether it is a FWD or AWD.  How do I determine this?  Would it somehow be revealed in the VIN perhaps?

20 Answers

84,415

I would contact the local Lexus dealer. They will be able to pull up a report using your VIN to show how the vehicle was originally optioned. Typically, AWD cars are marked as such on the outside of the vehicle.

5 people found this helpful.
600

I am in exavtly same situation. To find out the answer, I just called lexus Canada with this question and the answer was that this is a Stock all wheel drive SUV. There is no need to engage anything it just switches to AWD automatically. By the way what gas are you using for your vehicle 87 or 91 octane. I bought only 2 weeks ago and I have lots of questions. When did you buy?

5 people found this helpful.
55

You should use a premium octane. Gas mileage drops and performance drops otherwise. Lexus states premium fuel required...sometimes I cheat when the weather is mild and use 89 octane but if hot or cold it gets 93.

3 people found this helpful.
3,915

To answer your actuall question... ALL RX330's are AWD... there is no option for FWD or AWD.

18 people found this helpful.
20

Hey Iceman, 2004 base rx330 is 2 wheel drive. AWD is an option. Papa is right. If you have all your Lexus rx330 badges and you dont have an AWD badge its Probably a Front wheel drive. .http://www.autotrader.com/research/model_info/model-info-popup/model-info-popup.jsp?modelId=13790&ad_BodyStyle=SUV&carId=258882261&ad_class_series=RX_MODELS&ad_ListingType=used&car_year=2005&pgRef=vdp&search_type=used&pg=exr&rdpage=MI_EXRVIEW&ad_DealerId=100021584&ad_Make=LEXUS&nvs=true&ad_Model=RX330

2 people found this helpful.
1,235

Lexus has NEVER placed a badge on ANY RX300 series SUV it has ever made. Best way to determine this is try an online VIN search or contact the dealer. The vehicle drives with two wheels all the time, however it can shift that power to where it is needed. It could be the front right and back left or both front, or both back, or front left and back right, but during normal driving situations the rear wheels power the car. HTH

5 people found this helpful.
1,235

FWIW the AWD was not standard, it added about $3k to the base MSRP.

1 people found this helpful.
940

Gentlemen; The fourth letter in the vin is an H for all wheel drive... a G for 2wd.

94 people found this helpful.
60

Wrong!!!! All RX330's come in two options - AWD and FWD... there are not that many FWD, but if you shop around you can find one out of 10...which I did. Better gas mileage, lighter and faster

6 people found this helpful.
20

Actually you're all right... kinda. Since the RX was produced AWD was an option IN THE UNITED STATES! In Canada it was always standard. "Robert" I assume was canadian in which he was correct.

20

and as for the badging... there was NO AWD badging up until the 3rd gen rx's (2010+)

2 people found this helpful.
20

I would disagree.... When I was shopping for my RX330, I could only find 1 FWD out of 15 AWD.... and I wanted only FWD, to save on gas, on maintenance.... I found one, but had to settle on a color I didn't want :)

2 people found this helpful.
90

Just look underneath the car, if there's an axle go to the rear wheel, then it's AWD; otherwise, 2WD.

9 people found this helpful.
40

well i want to know how many differences between 2004 and 2006 Rx330 , please your answer is very important to me

4 people found this helpful.
50

4wd and awd have an "H" for the 4th digit in the VIN. That is how HWY patrol will check at checkpoints.

5 people found this helpful.
20

At 448,000+ miles I have always used regular gas. My 2004 AWD RX 330 Lexus is still running fine.

2 people found this helpful.

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