# Lexus and Subaru **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 25, 2005, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexus-and-subaru/327772 "2005-10-25T04:30:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexus-and-subaru/327772/1 "2005-10-25T04:30:51Z")
Is the Subaru Tribeca [http://www.subaru-perm.ru/articles/images/34-11.jpg](http://www.subaru-perm.ru/articles/images/34-11.jpg) just a rebadged Lexus RX300? [http://www.tte.de/tuning/website/images/models/Lexus-RX-300-XU1/Lexus-RX300-XU1-front-3-4.jpg](http://www.tte.de/tuning/website/images/models/Lexus-RX-300-XU1/Lexus-RX300-XU1-front-3-4.jpg) I know that Subaru is partially owned/controlled by GM, and Toyota and GM do some rebadging of each others vehicles, such as the Corolla/Prizm and the Matrix/Vibe. ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexus-and-subaru/327772/2 "2005-10-25T05:06:21Z")
I don’t believe so. The Tribeca is built on the same platform as the Subaru Legacy, and Saab ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexus-and-subaru/327772/3 "2005-10-25T05:08:48Z")
Lexus is just a Toyota in a cocktail dress. ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexus-and-subaru/327772/4 "2005-10-25T05:11:11Z")
> [@Bambi Hassenpfeffer](#): > > I don’t believe so. The Tribeca is built on the same platform as the Subaru Legacy, and Saab :smack: has a model based on the Tribeca as well – it looks different. Moreover, while they look similar, they don’t look close enough. The Subaru is longer and wider, with a longer wheelbase, and the engines are completely different. Just a case of inspiration, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexus-and-subaru/327772/5 "2005-10-25T05:12:58Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Lexus is just a Toyota in a cocktail dress. While that may be, Toyota does not sell any model that resembles the RX300 / 330 in the US. Like Infiniti (from Nissan) and Acura (from Honda), Lexus offers cars that Toyota does not. Also, that wasn’t the question. ---
**Author:** ![WonJohnSoup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f17d59/32.png) [@WonJohnSoup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WonJohnSoup)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexus-and-subaru/327772/6 "2005-10-25T05:54:51Z")
I think the Toyota Highlander is pretty similar to the RX300. It’s also the same platform. As for the OP, a quick google says the Tribeca is based off the Outback platfom, which doesn’t seem to have any relation to Toyota. ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexus-and-subaru/327772/7 "2005-10-25T06:52:13Z")
GM is selling its share in Subaru. Lexus makes its cars to a higher quality than Toyota makes theirs. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexus-and-subaru/327772/8 "2005-10-25T08:43:41Z")
> [@Sevastopol](#): > > Lexus makes its cars to a higher quality than Toyota makes theirs. Have a cite for that? ---
**Author:** ![gouda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c77e96/32.png) [@gouda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gouda)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2005, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lexus-and-subaru/327772/9 "2005-10-25T11:20:36Z")
I’m sure Toyota applies the same quality standards to both the Toyota and Lexus brands. It does however incorporate better grade materials in its Lexus range of vehicles. There are obviously other differences, but I just wanted to address this bit.