2024 Lexus RX 450h+ Review | The Alphabet Soup Name Means: This Is The Lexus To Buy

What's an RX 450h+? Well, it's Lexus-speak for a soft riding luxury SUV with high fuel economy and the added luxury of visiting a gas station as infrequently as you'd like, ans that's all because of the +. In a nutshell what Lexus did is snag the 300+ horsepower plug in hybrid system from the RAV4 prime and jam it under the hood of the mid-size Lexus SUV and the combo is quite simply the best RX around. Despite the power ratings and the numbers, the plug in hybrid RX is just as fast and handles just as well as the RX 500h F-Sport but the engine and transmission are smoother and quieter and the fuel economy is at least 10 MPG better. So why have the RX 500? Honestly, I'm not sure.
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[@mrgurulittle7000]

Nobody is talking about that seamlessly integrated front grille? I find it very elegant. Out of all the Lexus crossovers, the RX does it for me. Love the design.👌

[@mark_u]

Love the new grille on the RX, especially the non-F-Sport models. Much better than the botched spindle body of the TX.

[@mrgurulittle7000]

@@mark_uI agree. TX is boring but this RX is very well done.

[@lexithelexus7377]

Looks so nice, Like my blue one hahah

[@FuncleChuck]

This is a fantastic vehicle, and PHEVs are absolutely the best way to go for most people with even a basic outlet available where they park overnight.

[@Mark-de4hj]

And here comes that stupid nasty BOT!

[@deanh2574]

My RX450h+ gets 54.5 mpg or 2.3 m/kwh depending on whether I run the engine or use the battery and consistently gets 35 miles of battery range which covers 90% of my commuting needs. Love the quiet smooth drive of this RX. My only complaint is the fact that a spare tire is not available, Lexus provides a fix-a-flat kit. I decided to buy a compact spare on-line that gives me more confidence for longer trips. Over the last year, my wife's 2023 NX450h+ got 62.4 mpg or 2.7 m/kwh depending on whether the engine or battery was used and gets 43 miles of battery range. The NX comes with run-flat tires, but still gives a quiet smooth ride even with run-flat tires. I didn't get a spare tire for the NX as we don't go on long trips in the NX but rather use the RX for longer trips. Note that during our cold Michigan winters, the battery range did reduce by about 25% (estimate) as the battery had to run the heat pump to heat the cabin and I always had the steering wheel heater on. I have noticed the battery range go up as we got into the warmer spring weather. Would definitely buy the RX and NX PHEVs again. The Lexus dealers were absolutely great, not charging $1 over MSRP for such a high demand vehicle. These vehicles did arrive completely loaded from the factory so be ready for sticker shock. Be warned that you will have to use non-polarized sunglasses to see the HUD as the windshield is polarized and having polarized sunglasses will try to blank out the HUD display.

[@alexiarai955]

So does your car switch between the charged battery and the engine on its own?

[@mj8495]

@@alexiarai955Yes, that is how hybrids work whether plug-in or not.

[@deanh2574]

@@alexiarai955you can let the PHEV decide when to switch or you can do it yourself by just pushing a button. For longer trips I select the ICE and keep the battery charged for short commutes.

[@deanh2574]

@@mj8495not true for all the models. My Acura MDX Sport Hybrid does not allow the driver to choose the driving mode. The computer does all the decisions. my Lexus PHEV’s both will let driver choose the driving mode.

[@alexiarai955]

@mj8495 Oh okay. I was always confused on the plug in versions because I thought they only granted around like 20-30 extra miles of range while HEVs could recharge their battery on their own constantly and just have a lot more range

[@RiceBROS90]

Unlike some I like what Lexus is doing. They’re focusing on the basics and nailing them. Is it as luxurious or as sporty as other cars in the class no but it does offer a smooth ride with a rock solid history of reliability. Some would argue that reliability doesn’t matter but if I’m buying a car I’d rather not have to stress out about maintenance costs or unexpected repairs. I’d buy any Lexus in a heartbeat and the same goes with Acura as well

[@robertehlers3757]

Lexus pioneered the passenger side seat controls near the driver on the LS in the early 2000s.

[@Mark-de4hj]

Great review as usual. Very informative. I have been looking hard at these but 500h having all that power and torque is tempting. I also really want an actual spare wheel. I like the Nautilus but not into the 'minivan like' look in my SUVs. Otherwise, I'd absolutely choose the TX. Much prefer the more sporty, modern specialness of the RX and like you said, it will most likely be more reliable. I also like the BMW but as a former owner, you end up paying thru the teeth for maintenance, even if you manage to pay a cheaper price for the car initially. Volvos reliability is poor so just no. FYI. Lexus has had those passenger seat adjustments since the early 2000s. I know my 2004 LS had them.

[@Caldwell1234]

Alex Lexus didn’t borrow the button adjustment on the passenger seat back from Genesis. I had that feature on my 2005 ls500. Lexus had that feature on their cars long before genesis.

[@rblbatb]

Looks better than before. Likely super reliable. Will continue to sell a ton of them.

[@mark_u]

Yeah, the new look is very much improved from the last gen's overstyled mess.

[@mrgurulittle7000]

@@naveenthemachineYou’re not the judge. The RX is class leading.

[@lexithelexus7377]

yep mines almost at 100K miles form 2018

[@johnkim6266]

I like the numeric scoring compared to just letter scoring! Thank you for the comparisons at the end!

[@rightlanehog3151]

Alex, It seems that for the last two decades a surprisingly large number of CUV buyers are excited at the prospect of not being excited by their vehicle. 😉 The boring, 36 mpg RX 350h is the unexciting RX that excites me most. 🥳🥳

[@phillm156]

NX35H for me.

[@notsodelusional]

@@naveenthemachine I've spent extensive time in both the R4P and the RX 350H. Night and day difference. Unlike you, Naveen, I do not pretend that my opinions are equivalent to facts. Shouting and making loud assertions do not make one's statements true.

[@Reu_ag]

​@@naveenthemachinelol just because they share powertrains doesn't mean they are the same vehicle, I know you are a hater but it wouldn't hurt to use your head when posting a comment

[@baoanprounited]

Yea, he's a Tesla fanboy and a Lexus hater. He once said Camry and Prius are luxuries and that the Camry V6 drives the same as the ES350​@notsodelusional

[@ALMX5DP]

@@naveenthemachine why did you delete all your comments? If you couldn’t tell much difference, I suggest spending more than 30 seconds in each vehicle to get a better feel.

[@Thebusdriverandgamermorefan790]

I'm a fan of Lexus & I will buy this PHEV SUV.

[@mark_u]

The RAV4 Prime's powertrain is all right in the NX PHEV but the TX's V6 PHEV setup would be more befitting for the RX PHEV's price tag.

[@giad117]

That would be so nice since the TX plug in number looks good

[@maestroadam]

One reason why I love my 2024 Rav4 -- spare tire is included!

[@joethebet7177]

Would you recommend the plug in TX too?

[@joec1774]

Great, fair-and-balanced review. I think the RX450h+ is a solid entry, but it's clearly not a segment leader based on dynamics and room. This said, it's a great powertrain, and I agree that the styling is MUCH improved inside and out. I think I'd get the Volvo were it my $$$.

[@bradcolby3624]

Lexus all day long

[@vgt67]

Hopefully one day Lexus will slot in the TX550+ phev into the RX body

[@ytj22]

They won't

[@lexithelexus7377]

Looks so nice, Like my blue one hahah

[@kennethawesome]

Glad you were able to locate the GoPro.

[@akim2007p]

Hey, Alex, very stylish outfit! 👍🤣 Yea, and a good review too! 🤣

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

Hey, thanks!

[@gianniclaud]

This is my dream car camper.

[@owjianbang01]

Definitely. A toyota hybrid is better than any plug in hybrid. Drive it normally and it will surprise you.

[@tylerdumez6723]

When new ES?

[@monkeyrun]

get the plugin hybrid, and you'll probably be visiting the gas station maybe once a year.

[@rdanda]

Just like Toyota Rav 4 prime, my local dealer wants 9grand more than msrp. The number of Toyo/Lex prime/plugin cars available are going to be counted on fingers.

[@donaldbanner2185]

Yep & econ 101 means the Re-Sale will be so much higher than ANY Euro!

[@ibrahimbashir6634]

It looks so good ❤

[@Mgoblagulkablong]

The issue is, they just build a tiny number of the PHEV version and refuse to build more, no matter how many people want one.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

It’s easier to find a PHEV RX than the others at least. Toyota is promising to buy batteries from alternate suppliers to help things out, but that’s probably a year away still

[@bobsctx8166]

We are on our 6th RX, this one is the RX 450 H 2020 model. It is the V6 hybrid. This is my best Lexus RX so far I love the transmission or lack of one. I previously had a 2016 all-wheel-drive eight speed and it was terrible. This car is very elegant. Our next car will be the 2026 RX 350 H. the new 450 H it’s just too pricey, the 500 would be tempting given its acceleration two is very expensive for me. Choosing the Lexus over a similar Nautilus or XC 60 comes down to more than just the car. It also includes the dealer experience and the repair records. I think both Ford explorer and the Lincoln derivative the Nautilus are overpriced for what they give you, and my wife owned a Volvo and says she’ll never buy one again due to their terrible repair records. The Lexus dealer experience is top notch I only wish Acura would try to achieve the same levels in our experience. They are simply a Honda dealer rebadged 0:02 as an Acura.

[@rickb296]

Friends of ours have the XC60 PHEV. Very nice car but.... $4000 to replace a failed headlight. Thankfully under warranty. Last month, $25,000 to replace the entire faulty hybrid drivetrain, just weeks before the B2B warranty ran out. We have a 450h+ coming in a month. Lexus all the way.

[@samsonokoro5036]

I don't agree that Lexus borrowed the power adjustable passenger front seat from the sides from Genesis. Lexus has had that feature on the LS and GS for years. It has been on the LS for over 20 years. Has been on the older gen GS since 2015 or thereabouts. There's nothing borrowed from Genesis, instead Genesis copied the feature instead.

[@PaulHo]

I can't tell if the F-Sport still comes with the digital/analog moving speedometer anymore. That may have something to do with the smaller screen for the instrument panel that isn't upgraded, but it really should be more streamlined. Those digital readout climate knobs are too nice to be contrasted next to that phone-sized gauge cluster.

[@user-tk7km1sr7e]

Heads Up = look away and duck. Head Up Display is proper lingo.😊

[@dcuccia]

Alex, surprised not to see the Crown Signia in the comparo. Thoughts on that matchup?

[@rightlanehog3151]

Signia reviews will post on June 6.

[@dcuccia]

@@rightlanehog3151 ah, thanks, didn't realize they were still under embargo

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@dcuccia I guess Toyota wanted reviews delayed until we get closer to launch.

[@tailslapguru]

I wish I could afford one

[@pablo.blanchett]

I can but I’m Mexican somebody could steal that from me

[@tailslapguru]

@@naveenthemachine all of these cars are overpriced imo

[@tailslapguru]

@@naveenthemachine I like those cars but I don't have time or patience to be broken down on the side of the road asking for help

[@tailslapguru]

@@naveenthemachine I have a Camry right now and it sucks . I hate it. My ass hurts after 30 min. Lexus seats are more comfy

[@wpelfeta]

Doesn't look bad. But man, I feel like every SUV looks so similar. They're just not exciting anymore.

[@notsodelusional]

Were they ever that exciting?

[@leeharrell777]

Suggest adding a “reliability” category to comparison graphs at the end. Great content!

[@naveenthemachine]

Reliability doesn’t matter in a luxury car No one in their right mind prioritizes that over anything else You prioritize relaibltiy you give up basically everything

[@mervinprone]

$90,000 in Canada and $1700/month. Who in the world would pay that, for an RX that whines at you when you step on the gas pedal.

[@MrRaitzi]

I have Rav4 prime. Perfect version would have more suspension comfort, less road noise and bigger electric motor at back. Now car feels like fwd.

[@mj8495]

It's almost like they save refinement for Lexus vehicles...

[@MaxPower-11]

Yeah, it’s supper annoying that the Prime only comes in a “Sport” variant. A touring variant is definitely needed.

[@InvestBetter.]

The Toyota Rav4 Prime is quicker than any new RX, and probably has the same passenger/cargo space

[@MrRaitzi]

More cargo maybe because rear does not slope like with Lexus.

[@FuncleChuck]

If you’re shopping for “quickest and biggest” you probably aren’t buying a RAV4 anyway.

[@whiteandnerdytuba]

It’s the best selling luxury period, including evs. 75 grand hybrid is tx money, that’s a much better buy

[@phillm156]

I thought Toyota CVTs had a real launch gear before shifting to the CVT?

[@garbagevision9515]

Many of these are 'ecvt' , it's a two motor system rather than a cvt belt system.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

This isn’t a CVT in the traditional sense

[@jben212]

Nice go pro ad

[@wccrispy]

Wow, I'm early!

[@Rioichi4]

Driving dynamics at the far right with Efficiency at the far left. Haha, oof, yup

[@petegalindez9961]

The real question is ….is the 450h+ 20K+ better than the RAV4 Prime?

[@donaldbanner2185]

Question answered: Far and Away better Heck all the dog EURO's start at 80K!...get a grip!

[@ballislife2351]

Yes

[@Aikynbreusov]

Who cares about cargo space..... drivers don't load up their RX with junks.... drivers of this income magnitude don't haul around junks...

[@drewyager4020]

Is that a Filson Jacket?

[@michaelvella8511]

Really like to buy one but worrying about it being stolen is not worth my time....🤔

[@lexithelexus7377]

why stolen ?

[@JogBird]

i wonder if the tx will cannibalise rx sales

[@charname-player]

definitely

[@gengstar09]

It’s not. It’ll actually replace the GX in sales and the redesigned GX will be a low volume product like the LX, LS, and LC.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

It’s hard to say since the TX is so new. The TX is expected to mainly pull GX intenders, but it also seems to be pulling people that had shopped for the LX as well. Some RX shoppers may opt for the larger model, but it’s main mission is to prevent Lexus customers from defecting to an MDX when they want a 3rd row and a more on-road focused SUV

[@deanh2574]

Not likely. I compared the TX size to the RX size at the Lexus dealership and my wife said the TX reminded her of a bus. So, if you have to haul a lot of people or cargo the TX is definitely the way to go, but if you don't have a lot of people or cargo, the RX is just right.

[@donaldbanner2185]

................................... Hmmmmmmm? ONE WORD: "Choices"......Plug-in or use Regular Gas.....NOT Premium as required by all the Euros!...I have a NX 450h+ "F" Sport...(similar however smaller, with a better front Fascia) ADVANTAGE = I Never buy gas ( and get 49 miles per 120 Volt plug-in, and if required it uses REGULAR& I get 89 miles per gal in Hybred!......My ICE (internal combustion engine) has hardly ever been used..so it is virtually Brand New internally...... On elec the car is virtually Silent / Quiet.....People who buy LEXUS are SMART People un-like the beeemer cedes porsche ego driven crowd who simply RENT / Lease and loose their "A" to dump those dogs in 2 or three years at a LOSS of 30 to 50K.... YEP,,,, real money! because They are NOT Reliable...(they get scared as they Know Service is HIGH Cost. Those stupid people know their warr. is about to run out. (worse yet because the aforementioned vehicles are so bad they PAY Even more money on "Extended Warr.) It never ends, that vicious cycle, so they have a cycle of 4 to 5 k per month and NEVER OWN anything. True RICH people, OWN their house and their cars. When you glance over at those euro car drivers you know they Do Not even own them. GET a LEXUS because of one word RELIABILITY Rich people know being reliable is key and they sleep at night!

[@dystopia-usa]

Not interested in Lexus until they bring the subcompact LBX to the USA - which will never happen, sadly. People who like smaller vehicles in this demographic are a severe minority & thus overlooked. Shame that the compact UX is so unattractive & weird looking towards the rear, & resembles an over-styled station-wagon more than a crossover.

[@Jojoba-wz6ri]

Buy this and you’ll never need another vehicle. Too expensive? Buy an older model and it’ll still be the only vehicle you’ll ever need.

[@steverogers7211]

The imitation would is so cheap in person. Worse than what you expect on Ikea furniture.

[@blaken3824]

all that touch screen bs means my parents won't be buying one

[@Van-Hammer]

11:49 Actually, those seat controls could already be found on 1990s Toyota Crown models.

[@dynamicremakes5592]

74k for a suv with a 4 cylinder is crazyyy very disappointing

[@wyw201]

Wait till you pay 74k for a vehicle with 0 cylinder

[@JGT733]

Choosing a luxury phev to be "lighter on your pocketbook"? 😂

[@FuncleChuck]

Your fuel costs will be significantly lower than an equivalent gas model, saving ~1 gallon per day or thousands of dollars a year. Luxury doesn’t mean comfort without any regard to cost.

[@lexithelexus7377]

Looks so nice, Like my blue one hahah

[@user-et5tu1yk6q]

Good, but why bother buying the Lexus, just get the highlander or grand highlander

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

Really the same question can be applied to any luxury brand product. If you don’t care about brand, then you’re not the target customer. Honestly brand is the biggest difference between a mainstream vehicle and a luxury brand

[@pablo.blanchett]

Yeah but =its ugly

[@socal20001]

@$75k grand? how does that make sense? How much gas are you going to save? RX350 is $50k....do the math!

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

A comparably equipped RX350 is more than 50k. There’s always a premium for higher performance and since the majority are leased and will get a $7500 cap cost reduction, the actual cost for the intended consumer is not far off.

[@ruffmadman]

​@@naveenthemachinethis is not based off a RAV4.

[@ruffmadman]

@@naveenthemachine and the MQB platform from VW underpins the VW Golf and VW Atlas. They are not the same vehicle. Because the platform doesn't mean much when it was designed to be modular. The wheelbase, dimensions, suspension and chassis tuning are all very different. But go ahead and continue to be ✨ uneducated ✨. This isn't your crusty Camry

[@wyw201]

@@naveenthemachineWho? Why don’t you ask all the RX buyers. And all your buddies who steal RX and ship them to India 😂

[@ruffmadman]

@@naveenthemachine You miss the point entirely. The point being that just because a platform is shared, it doesn't mean that the vehicles are even remotely similar in size, ride, and handling. Because there is so much more that goes into how a vehicle rides and drives. Also, dimensionally, The RX is closer to a Highlander.

[@guerro327]

PHEV owners are driving 25-65% fewer electric miles than vehicles allow and consuming 42-67% more fuel than EPA estimates. An IOPscience study found that between 15% and 33% of 12-mile range PHEVs, 5%- 12% of 20-mile range, and 2%-8% of 36 miles PHEVs did not report plugging-in frequently.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

Most of the data cited on PHEV use is either limited in nature (IOP used mainly Volt data from public sites) or from European data sets where PHEVs are mainly provided to employees as company cars. The most honest answer here is that we have no idea how often the average PHEV is plugged in because the Volt data is getting fairly old and not representative of what a luxury SUV shopper might do in terms of behavior. However, most data sets point to over 90% of PHEV owners charging overnight just about every night.

[@swainp2012]

With PHEV you never know because it doesn't mandate charging. So it is a wild guess, unlike pure EV or hybrid. It is up to the consumer to use it efficiently.

[@guerro327]

@@AAutoBuyersGuide So, that fits in line with the percentages I presented. The fact of the matter is, PHEV owners are buying for the subsidies and driving like they used to. Which is gas only usage. PHEVs are not the solution.

[@wyw201]

Time to expand your sample size

[@ahmedsyed3436]

I never concern myself with fuel efficiency, I'll go for the GV70 3.5T AWD.

[@mrgurulittle7000]

GV70 is crap. Might as well go all in on the Germans.

[@mrgurulittle7000]

@@naveenthemachineLook at the likes of my comment versus yours before you tell me “no one agrees”.💀

[@kaizen5180]

Lexus dont make cars for regular people anymore.

[@JGCbike]

Lincoln Nautilus Made in China, so NOPE

[@naveenthemachine]

Just like your phone or computer are made in China…

[@Ride_Runner]

Why, why are there paddle shifters on a hybrid? This is not a sports car or even a sporter kind of car. No need for paddles, no one will ever use the paddles. Please for the love god(or whatever spiritual guide you have chosen) stop putting paddle shifters on cars that DON'T need them or won't use them. Good review of a bad car. Thanks

[@readyplayer2]

I drive a non-sporty Honda with paddle shifters and I use them frequently to change the CVT gear ratio to engine brake going downhill (I live in a very hilly region) so I’m not riding the brakes all the time. Who died and made you King Knowitall?

[@Ride_Runner]

@@readyplayer2 nobody had to die. I just assumed the throne.

[@ytj22]

Lol, bad car. You really take your paddle shifters seriously there fella!

[@Ride_Runner]

@@ytj22 yep.

[@LetMeCook86]

Garbage tail light design. Massive amount of red plastic, yet you get a sliver of 3 teeny-tiny led lights for brake lights. The most important part. Ken you blew it!

[@ytj22]

Ok, I'll bite. Who is Ken?

[@jaeyocho]

Toyota pushing hybrids because they don't know how to build all electric vehicles. Bz4x was a joke of a first ev car.

[@majed6956]

People aren't buying evs. It's that simple. If Toyota wanted to own the ev market, they could.

[@kjay5056]

EV are a no go because of recharging infrastructure and time to recharge. More expensive...I could go on and on. Even the car companies know it. Until a lot of those deficiencies improve, EV sales will be low and be loss seller at the bottom line.

[@jaeyocho]

@kjay5056 what are you talking about? Shell just divested from hydrogen fuel cell by closing all california locations, and have pledged to invest in ev charging stations across the country, plus tesla super chargers are open to most of legacy auto makers, and 7 legacy auto makers already pledged 2 billion dollars to build 30000 charging stations by 2030. Next to tesla, Hyundai/Kia are killing it ev sales.

[@JD-yx7be]

they know full well how to build them they just don't want to lose money so they made a low volume compliance car bz4x to hold over till battery cost come down. Toyota is making the highlander ev next year.

[@ytj22]

Yes, BZ4X really seems to be negatively impacting Toyota sales and profits.