Lexus RX350h Long-Term Review: The Good AND The Bad After 6 Months of Testing

After six months and around 8000 kilometres of custodianship, Deputy Editor Curt Dupriez bids farewell to the Lexus RX350h Luxury long termer with around 15,000km on the odometer.
While pricing rose - from $92,000 in 2023 to $95,660 for MY24 - during our time with the affectionately nicknamed ‘Chief’, so too did Chasing Cars’ regard for this fifth-generation RX large SUV and the compelling combination that is the ‘base’ Luxury grade with all-wheel drive.
What did we love? What did we dislike? Were there any issues or surprises along the way?
And crucially, is the Japanese marque’s staple five-seat family hauler worth recommending, particularly given the model year-to-year pricing creep? Keep watching to find out.
Time codes:
0:00 - Intro
0:14 - Why do we test long term?
0:42 - Spoiler alert!
1:00 - Fifth-gen RX
1:08 - MY24 lineup pricing
1:30 - Styling
2:00 - Design
2:30 - Still rock solid
3:00 - Cabin
3:23 - Hazel trim
4:22 - Lack of annoyances
4:29 - Seating
5:19 - 14-inch media system
6:04 - Plenty to love
6:28 - Row two
7:20 - Boot space
7:36 - On road
7:52 - Long-term fuel usage
8:24 - Hybrid drive
9:26 - Powertrain
9:52 - Quicker than expected
10:45 - All-wheel drive
11:27 - On-road manners
11:57 - Ride comfort
12:36 - Gripes
13:25 - Ownership
14:00 - Faultless and dependable
14:12 - Final six-month verdict
15:03 - Still loving this grade?
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[@cdds113]

So helpful, thanks!!

[@geocape7060]

Very good review.

[@Mark-de4hj]

Nice review of a great looking car. You're my favorite reviewer on Chasing Cars as you give real practical information that shoppers like myself are looking for.

[@Thulebeez]

I think these long term reviews actual paint a better picture of the ownership experience. Great car Lexus

[@danielbest98]

Any ideas for how to get a spare tire installed?

[@vrs76r]

Just completed round trip to Melb from Syd in my Ti-L X-Trail e-power and return was 6.7l/100km real world. Display showed it as 6.0l/100 so Nissans mathmeticians may need to revisit their formulations again! Comfort and feature wise its a few notches ahead of the RAV4 hybrid cruiser but not sure how it compares to the RX350h as whist i have the means, I could not bring myself to spend that much on a car. The Melb trip was effortless for the 9 hours each way with active cruise on and I’m sure economy would have been even better with less weight in the boot, no passengers and if cars could keep to the limit as my ACC would slow down as it approached the car in front only to accelerate more aggressively as I changed lanes. One thing that was noticeable was that the engine was on for almost the entire 18+ hours of driving and only vey rarely did it run on battery only but I guess that’s expected with the small battery trying to keep the car at 110km/h. Having now done just over 8000km in 9 months of which 5000km has been all Sydney suburban driving, the real world economy is sitting at 6.63l/100km which for only .4l/100km worse than the R350h, makes its a great value proposition given that the top of line X-Trail e power is just over $60k on road vs this $100k + car. And 0-100km/h in just on 7 seconds is also fun from a car thats close enough to 2 tonnes. Would like to see a mid/long term review of the e power as I think it will continue to take sales off Toyota,

[@alexi21san]

Nice cruise through Brighton-le-sands.

[@kubanskiloewe]

ok, my predecessor 3.5ltr V6 Hybrid needs1-2lt more /100km but after test driving the new RX350H i was happy to hear the nice deep low rpm growl of the V6 again ! Only the suspension is more sporty in the new one which i also have no need for since our roads get worse with every year. Big Display ?...no need for such things either; when driving we should focus on traffic !

[@jarosawozga7369]

Agree 100%

[@donnalmich8398]

Can a 6’4 inch man fit in the car (ceiling)?

[@swedishbob_7315]

I do prefer the big L badge on the rear rather than the L E X U S

[@jeronica5148]

I really thought I was the only one! I completely agree!!

[@gosman949]

disagree

[@yeethao1165]

is your car running 50m/g yet if you do I like to trade it in now

[@Hashiest]

I wish you had one of 500h

[@guppy360]

You spent HOURS trying to find the sound balance controls? Wow it’s a pretty simple system I don’t think I’ve ever heard that before 😂

[@lexithelexus7377]

really cool my car almost half 100K ! will also make a video on it soon

[@k.j.hulander2204]

I still think the old (4th gen) RX F-sport is better looking, at least in the front and from the side. I also cannot understand why they moved from a very button-heavy dashboard to such an ascetic one. Surely a physical drive-mode selector could have fit in somewhere? Considering the old gen RX hybrid has the bulletproof V6 and returns similar fuel economy, I’d go with that one until this new gen gets refreshed. The mid-life facelift of the 4th gen really worked wonders and very small changes could make this new RX so much more attractive. I just hope the RX remains as popular despite the questionable choices for this new model. Great review. Thanks!

[@kimnewcom]

Is RX really a mid sized SUV? It looks really small. Almost the same size as RAV4 or Crv

[@chasingcars]

If you look up the dimensions you’ll see that it’s considerably larger than either of those vehicles

[@michaelfredmon4748]

Probably a great review butI have difficulty understanding his report monologue

[@aussie8114]

Exterior looks good but not sure why the exhaust pipe hangs down and can be seen from the rear. Interior is good though I don’t like the steering wheel controls and the gloss plastic around the instrument cluster, both which are bothersome to me in the RX and NX. I chose a top spec CX5 turbo instead.

[@alexi21san]

I got the top spec cx5 also .Very happy with it to be honest .

[@aussie8114]

@@alexi21san ZOOM ZOOM

[@demihani5062]

How’s the fuel consumption with the cx5? I’ve heard it’s the biggest drawback for an otherwise excellent suv

[@aussie8114]

@@demihani5062 my display tells me 12.4 litres per 100 kilometres. Not sure how accurate that is. I don’t seem to get great economy but for me that doesn’t matter. I don’t do many kilometres these days. I’ve recently started using high octane premium to see if it would improve a very brief acceleration delay from a stop, it has so I will stay on premium. Like most cars if you drive with economy in mind you will gain a benefit. Gentle on the accelerator where possible.

[@alexi21san]

The fuel consumption is terrible 😆.Go for the diesel variant if that’s an issue.

[@kkunal123]

Please suggest Rx 350h vs Cx90 ?

[@seevi7041]

They did a long term review on the cx60, same platform with the cx90

[@MRP4U2B]

wow this is now difficult decision given the fact that both Mazda and Lexus (premium/luxurious Toyota) have proven to be very reliable. If money is not an issue go for a Lexus, but if money is a constrain Mazda will never disappoint if you want to have the premium feeling and their fun zoom zoom drive!!!! The CX-70 and CX-90 have similar appearance to a BMW but less costly to maintain of course.🙂

[@kkunal123]

@@MRP4U2B yeah … add gx550 and defender to the mix as well…. Making things even more difficult to decide 😊

[@emadalruwishan8305]

I leased RX350h 23YM Ultra Luxury for a year and I am suffering from powertrain! It’s bit slow and throttle respond is bad! Where I live they sell it @ 85k US $! So buying it wasn’t an option but leasing it for 9500$ a year is a bargain I managed to get. Why they dumped V6 engine for 2.5 Hybrid junk engine? Just to make more money I would buy GV80 over this car just for the engine

[@GEE819]

Again Lexus built quality and robust engine . Brilliant cars I think 👌

[@rottendubstepro7298]

6 months is not a long term review when it comes to cars, merely a short one

[@rufus001]

No.

[@brianiswrong]

After 6 months, any annoying things are going to have shown up, a true fuel mileage and niggles. It's plenty of time to get to know a car.

[@longdang3379]

@@brianiswrong i needed to read your comment twice if u know what i mean

[@FilmScape4K]

Lexus cheaped out on the engine, the 2020-2022 RX450h drivetrain is much smoother.

[@JimmyjimmyJimmyjimmy-ih3yd]

The only design element I do not like is the floating roof.

[@johnm7251]

We have the 2023 NX350h and are disappointed with the dumb software compared to our Volvo. But the economy is excellent.

[@danielbest98]

Whats wrong with the software

[@dixonkim8659]

Who's Chief???

[@N1WP]

I'd rather have the 3.5 normally aspirated v6 engine than a turboshit engine!

[@MRP4U2B]

100% Agree!

[@ms-jl6dl]

This version (350h) has no turbo. It's 2.5 liter Miller cycle four cilinder naturally aspirated engine + 2 electric motors and small battery hybrid combo. In the city it uses less fuel than diesel.

[@zinmintun2001]

For over 100k, I am getting a LX600.

[@omnimoeish]

These are $96k Australian vs $160k starting for the LX600.

[@guppy360]

Stop wearing blue jeans and you won’t have staining issues. Problem solved

[@Markcantfindausernam]

Spare us you pet names for the car ( Chief....eye roll ) makes you sound like a nob.

[@brownhairydog6472]

Knob?

[@ejandersen2878]

I know these comments will not be well accepted but to me, the styling of all Lexus SUVs looks disjointed and over styled. It seems someone designed the front to the A pillar, someone else from A to C, and then another person to the tail, and then they put it all together. I'm not knocking the quality of the Lexus or anything else, just the styling.

[@l.n.6132]

Agreed! Speaking As a 2022 rx350 owner. I love the "unpopular grill" from the 4th generation. This redesign grill for the 5th gen is so bulbous.

[@longdang3379]

this guy has such an annoying muffled voice, can we get Tom more.

[@lorizavisca1736]

His voice sounds fine to me.