Combining Turbo + Hybrid = Great Result! (Lexus RX500h 2024 Review)

Detailed review and test of the Lexus RX500h F Sport Performance, including turbo hybrid engine, handling, interior, price and more.
The new Lexus RX is still a great quality luxury SUV but it’s now better to drive. You can have a regular hybrid (RX350h), a non-hybrid turbo engine (RX350), or you can combine turbo and hybrid propulsion in the range-topping RX500h, as tested here.
It’s expensive but as Chasing Cars deputy editor Curt Dupriez determines, you do get an effective result.
Rivals include the Volkswagen Touareg, Audi Q7, BMW X3 and X5, Mercedes GLE and other premium SUVs.
Time codes:
0:00 - What is the RX 500h?
0:13 - First Lexus turbo hybrid
0:35 - About the new Lexus RX
0:47 - Pricing and specs
1:17 - Styling
2:10 - Interior
4:58 - Back seats
6:10 - 612L boot space
6:29 - Hybrid system
7:24 - Power and torque
7:50 - Not a plug-in hybrid
8:06 - Driving dynamics
11:24 - 0-100km/h time
11:47 - Fuel economy test
12:24 - Servicing and warranty
12:38 - Comprehensive insurance
12:55 - RX500h Verdict
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[@GEE819]

Lexus reliability quality and durability I’m sure that the very expensive European options won’t last as long as this car.

[@jayh5641]

Germans can’t compete with the build quality of a Lexus I feel. That’s Lexus’s highest card in sales.

[@davidarter9670]

Excellent review, thanks. With the exception of the beloved clock, Lexus has answered the prayers of many a current Lexus owner. The BEST part was that there is NO CVT!!! YES!!!!!

[@ln5747]

What by getting rid of the V6 NA? 🤔 The new powertrain is clearly inferior to the previous one.

[@Mark-de4hj]

Great looking SUV! I love that Lexus is really stepping out with these futuristic looking vehicles, but I can see how the design might turn off some older folks. Great job with the review!

[@millionaire9122]

Hopefully that new grille will grow on me, the previous spindle grille on Lexus cars was so iconic. This one leans too Toyota for me.

[@tepidtuna7450]

Not a fan either. Otherwise a great car.

[@user-um4tq3rn2d]

I drove three generations of Lexus RX for several years each! In all these years, none of the cars has ever failed! I also wanted a Mercedes or BMW, but..... when you think about reliability, quality and consumer characteristics.... and I bought an RXH500 sport 3))). Which car is suitable for whom, it all depends on a combination of factors

[@chat2stephen]

RX450h+ is the pick in the RX range.

[@kanelheng1580]

Why some 500h has back seat heat and cool function and elictric folding back seat up and down and some don’t have ?

[@jasonlewis2990]

The fuel economy is a null event. For something that weighs this much, 8.6 is nothing. My 22 WRX does 14-15 lph and weighs a lot less. Great review as always

[@oggyoggy1299]

My Prado averages 9.0l/100km.

[@narensandeep1407]

I got the rx350h 2WD, everything is nice except the cabin noise is terrible. There is no Active Noise Cancellation and when trucks go past it's a nightmare... any ideas to dampen the noise ? Thanks in advance

[@AbhishekHari1234]

I also have the same vehicle. I think the cabin noise is ok, but sometimes the engine can get noisy.

[@pireina1]

I personally won’t touch any German vehicle period, there is a very big reason for that. To me Lexus is the way to go and the 500h is so good

[@supergee1070]

Lexus need to make a wagon.

[@BariarnilforG]

To be honest, this is quite good proposition. Id say maybe Lexus'es best product currently, in terms of balance of luxury and sportiness and expected reliability. Comparably equipped X5 40i is 25% more expensive, has worse fuel economy and 315mm rear tires with BMW reliability. As such, RX stays true to 'normal' people expectations of running costs and quality, while not overshooting with electromechanical systems used to make SUV drive like sports cars(like X5 does with air springs and active antiroll bars). Not bad Lexus; pitty its only top spec RX that got this interesting balance.

[@edwinpagaoa4308]

Unimpressive for a ‘performance’ SUV. It can’t even beat base trims of German SUVs

[@Jhayzt19]

Didn't know AMD builds cars now. :p

[@AndreiGonzalesDesign]

My Lexus is 10 years older (MY2014 GS450h F Sport), and returns the same fuel economy (8.3L/100) and a better 0-100 (low 5's), and has an old 2GR V6 + hybrid under the hood. One would think that after 10 years, a Lexus double hybrid 4cyl with turbo would be doing 2-4L/100 and sub-5 0-100 times. It's worse when one compares it to another modern luxury car where a pure ICE would be returning 7L/100 on a turbo straight 6 and hitting 0-100 in around 4 seconds (even in wagon form). Lexus should be embarrassed by their lack of innovation and improvement.

[@zaamuro8408]

You forgot to include the weight stay. Comparing it to a 3 series isn't exactly a like for like comparison is it?

[@AndreiGonzalesDesign]

​@@zaamuro8408 Sure. The closest BMW SUV is the X3 xdrive M40i (in terms of size and price). The X3 in that spec does 8.7L/100 and 0-100 in 4.8 seconds. I also found out that the Lexus RX500h weighs more than the X5 M40i, which is literally a class higher. As a Lexus owner, I'm disappointed by this new RX in this spec. Doesn't seem like there's been any improvement in 10 years.

[@zaamuro8408]

@@AndreiGonzalesDesign The RX is a X5 competitor segment wise. Independent test fuel use of 9.6L/100km for 40i so not the massive difference you are expecting. Should the fuel economy be better than 10 years ago? Absolutely, but alas we have negated 10 years of petrol engine tech with the switch to SUV's because its the trendy thing to have.

[@AndreiGonzalesDesign]

@@zaamuro8408 I wouldn't have listed it as a X5 competitor due to dimensions, as the RX comes up short (it's wheelbase is comparable to an X3 - the X5 is roughly ~100mm longer). But I still stand by my point: this is a 4cylinder vehicle supported by two electric motors and a turbo: all additional technologies that should be minimising consumption, but in this case, they don't.

[@rjbiker66]

This engine combo prioritises performance. Buy one of the lesser models that prioritise economy. This car gets awd and dispenses with a cvt at a price similar to the gs450h of 10 yrs ago.

[@daweigo6851]

Personally think lexus has become arrogant with pricing in Australia

[@one-rv2bx]

A bit heavy and would prefer just an ICE and more power. Will be looking to BMW instead it seems.

[@martintokinaga5261]

In Victoria, this is 140K on the road. I test drive this back to back with the Volvo XC60 recharge which is a smaller car. The performance, the handling, the feel of the body structure strength all win hands down by the Volvo and it is less expensive. If you need a bigger car, then the XC90 with 7 seat is about the same price and still beat this on those areas hands down. The only concern on the Volvo is the reliability and after sales services. But then this is a new turbo charge engine, which there is no track record on reliability. My view is that this particular Lexus does not have the sturdiness I expect from a 140k car.

[@ln5747]

The XC90 is inferior on almost all those metrics to an RX. The XC60 certainly is, not even in the same class - XC60 isn't a premium SUV.

[@Undisputed_King]

Bring back the old camera person. This one is bad

[@vustatube]

what a crap fuel economy for a so called hybrid

[@Undisputed_King]

Way too expensive

[@zset123]

Ain't made for cheap people

[@astroyt5398]

“Inflation”

[@gunsmokezz]

Not made for poor people. Get a Kia if you have no money

[@pireina1]

lol. Like everything else, so live a little. 😂

[@Undisputed_King]

What I meant was it's a rip off. Not worth the money

[@martingifford5415]

I'm not impressed.

[@faradaycool4058]

Uninspiring offering by Lexus. I'm leaving them after 20+ years

[@oggyoggy1299]

They’ve always been uninspiring.

[@aezean5618]

I think the black interior is unimpressive on video, but in person. The car is very good and it will meet expectations of most people who get a feel of it.

[@jihooncha-vs4om]

Very ugly. A vehicle for seniors over 70 years of age.

[@SirAMG63]

White doesn’t suit this car’s spec. It looks a lot better in the bronze or dark metallic blue