Lexus RX 450h - The Plush Plug-in
As I type this report, my wife is making noises about getting our Christmas tree from the garage. Three years ago, we made a massive decision in our household, and for the first time ever, we bought an artificial tree. It has lights which are woven into the branches and, from a distance, you’d easily mistake it for the real thing…but there’s no smell.
It wasn’t cheap, but I guess, having had the same tree now for what is going to be its fourth seasonal outing, we will have recouped our outlay by not having to shell out for a real tree every year.
In other words, we have a plug-in Christmas tree. It’s proving to be extremely cost-effective, simple to use and looks good.
Lexus RX Choices & Prices
Of course, you could say all of this about the Lexus RX, especially the one you see here. This is the 450h, a 289bhp, 2.5 litre PHEV, plug-in hybrid.
You can also choose from a couple of ordinary self-charging hybrids: the 203bhp RX 350h, which uses the same 2.5 litre engine as the RX 450h, and a thumping 386bhp 2.4 litre turbocharged RX 500h.
In terms of price comparisons, the 350h in Premium trim kicks off the range at £63,345 (Nov 25) while the RX 450h is £65,065. The RX 500h only starts with F Sport trim and is a lot more expensive at £80,695 but of course you get more kit.
Each comes with AWD, which sees the engine and an electric motor drive the front wheels while another electric motor powers the rear wheels.
Performance & Economy Figures
I think the PHEV 450h version offers the best compromise. It has really decent performance with 0-60mph coming up in 6.6 seconds, and an all-electric range of 65 miles before the engine joins the party. These are decent figures for what is a chunky car weighing over two tonnes. The overall economy is decent and Lexus reckons that if you use the PHEV system to its full capability, you’ll get 85.6mpg. Obviously, if you have a daily commute which is around 30 miles in either direction, you have a chance of making the entire trip on battery power alone and then plug in the car when you get home. You can reach 80mph on battery mode.
The RX 450h PHEV has another advantage in that it can also operate as a regular hybrid so, when the battery is depleted, it can still be given a minor top-up when you decelerate and keep on providing you with a short burst of extra power and improved economy. With other PHEVs, once the battery is shot, you are then left with a hefty lump and electric motors that need to be carted around whilst providing zilch. Lexus, and parent company Toyota, are masters at hybrid power so we shouldn’t be surprised that this RX can keep operating when other PHEVs can’t.
Driving Experience
Incidentally, although some of the opposition can beat that 0-60mph time, it’s not something that Lexus has gone hunting for. The RX is aimed at folk who put comfort close, if not top of their preference list. Yes, you can hustle the RX 450h through corners, but it’s happiest cruising the motorways and country lanes. If you do ask for some performance, the result is typically CVT gearbox noise as the engine revs soar before settling back to normal. Nope, go steadily and you’ll enjoy the ride and the economy.
Having said all of that, the RX handles tidily. It’s softly sprung, but the advantage of having a large battery slung underneath the car is that you have a low centre of gravity.
Interior
The inside of the Lexus RX is a lovely place to be, and the seats are extremely comfortable…supportive too. Every 450h RX comes with LED headlights, sat nav, powered and heated front seats, wireless charging, head-up display, rear privacy glass, roof rails, heated steering wheel, powered tailgate, and front and rear parking sensors.
The quality of the materials used through the RX (and in most Lexus models actually) are top notch. They look good and feel good to the touch.
The dashboard is dominated by a 14-inch touchscreen, which is easy and clear to use. It’s also good to see some manual controls for the climate settings. The sat nav is one of the best I’ve used. It responds quickly and is crystal clear.
Concluding Thoughts
Reliability shouldn’t be a problem with Lexus always winning awards with boring regularity. If you’re in the market for one, it should be noted that if you get the car serviced at a franchised dealer, you can extend the warranty to either 100,000 mile or ten years. How’s that for confidence?
It looks good and should prove to be seriously economical. You get plenty of kit as standard and masses of safety gizmos too. It’s roomy, has loads of handy interior cubby holes and will seat five adults in a luxurious cabin. If comfort and refinement are things that you look for when choosing a car, the Lexus RX should be high on your list of test drives.
words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Lexus
