IS the 2024 Lexus 450h+ the BEST LUXURY Plug In Hybrid?

This is the 2024 Lexus RX 450 H + and it's the first time the RX has been available as a plug-in hybrid. Surprisingly it’s about as quick as the quickest RX the RX500h F Sport. The good news it does so with less power and way better fuel economy, the bad news is it costs more. Time to dig into the details and see if it’s worth those extra pennies.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:28 Exterior
1:42 Cargo Space
2:03 Wheels and Tires
2:21 Engine and Transmission
3:52 Pricing
4:28 Rear Accommodation
5:41 Interior and Tech
9:45 Driving
16:22 Verdict
Under The Hood
Lexus gives you a lot of choices when it comes to power trains. The entry-level RX350 switches out last year's V-6 for a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four. It’s mated to an eight-speed automatic and it makes 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque.
The Hybrid version has a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four, a continuously variable transmission with two electric motors that power the front wheels. A third electric motor drives the rear wheels giving a combined output of s 246 horses and 233 pound-feet. Step up to the RX500H F-Sport which has a bigger rear motor and you get a combined 366 horsepower and 406 pound-feet.
The one with the most complicated name is essentially the same as the NX 450+ with a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated I-4 and electric motor driving the front wheels via a CVT. Another rear motor powers the rear wheels and the total system output is rated at 304 hp. This gives it a 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds, which is almost identical to the RX500H F-Sport. Of course, it gets 36 highway mpg versus the F-Sports' 28 mpg
Electric-Only Range
The 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ offers an estimated electric-only range of 37 miles which is similar to its in-house offerings the Toyota RAV4 Prime and the Lexus NX 450h+. This bests similar plug-in hybrid SUVs like the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe (26 miles) but it's bested by the BMW X5 xDrive50e (39 miles) and the Mercedes-Benz GLE450e 4Matic (48 miles).
Charging
The battery can accept Level 1 charging from a standard outlet or Level 2 charging from a 240-volt charger. A 6.6-kW on-board charger is standard, which Lexus says allows the RX 450h+ to charge to full in around two and a half hours.
2024 Lexus RX 450h+ Numbers
BASE PRICE: $68,730
PRICE AS TESTED: $75,930
VEHICLE LAYOUT: Front-engine, AWD, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
ENGINE: DOHC 16-valve Atkinson-cycle 2.5-liter inline-4
ELECTRIC MOTOR: 2 Permanent-magnet
COMBINED POWER: 304 hp
TRANSMISSION: Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable
0-60 MPH: 5.8 sec
CURB WEIGHT: 4,750 lb
CARGO CAPACITY: 22.7 ft³, 46.9 ft³ with seat area
FUEL ECONOMY: 35 mpg hybrid combined and 83 mpge electric
EV RANGE: 37 MILES
OUR OBSERVED: 36.1 mpg
PROS: Super smooth, beautiful interior, very economical
CONS: No labels on the steering controls

[@weaesq]

What plug is used for the plug in now? CCS1? Does it include a DC fast charge capability in case you wanted to charge it on the road or just AC charging for Level 1 and Level 2 chargers? You never showed how it plugged in to determine answers to these questions.

[@Bob-oh7pq]

Great review, love the Lexus. Like the typical Brit humour too, "Bollocks" on the dash readout is classic :D.

[@desdonaghy]

My manual says gas octane 91 recommend but also 87 minimum …meaning I guess absolutely no harm in using regular 87 fuel - correct?

[@Mark-de4hj]

Great review! This in on my list but was concerned about power especially when compared to the 500h. Very curious to hear your impressions when you drive that car as well. These plug-in hybrids are definitely the way to go. My only gripe here, and this is very important to me, is the lack of a spare wheel or dedicated space for it.

[@donaldbanner2185]

It is much better to carry a 12 volt inflatoR and a HOLE / rope tar impregnated string.....D0-Not wait for AAA for two hours on the fwy....however get RID of the DOG "run flats AT THE SHOWROOM AND GET mICHELINS FOR A TWICE AS SMOOTH RIDE AND BECAUSE OF LESS ROLLING RESISTANCE GET BETTER pLUG -IN bATT MILEAGE AS WELL!

[@donaldbanner2185]

Power is the same as 500....................... HOWEVER Un-Like the 500 this is Naturally Aspirated ...NON Turbo...quieter and MUCH BETTER

[@Mark-de4hj]

@@donaldbanner2185 The RX500h has combined power of 366 horses and 406 lb feet of torque. The 450h+ has combined 304 horses. Lexus didn't provide torque figures for the 450h due to how different operating conditions impact torque delivery in battery vehicles but there is a different in power.

[@black_number_one]

Can you use this RX 450h+ (plug-in) without plugging it in? If electricity gets too expensive (I live in CA, prices getting way high recently), can I use this plug-in RX like an RX 350h and never plug it in? Or will this degrade the battery over time.

[@TheDrivewire]

You don’t need to plug it in if you don’t want to. Shouldn’t affect the battery.

[@black_number_one]

@@TheDrivewire Do you know if the 450h+ Plug-In can get fully charged by driving (maybe there is a mode that forces this)? Or the only way to fully charge the battery is by plugging it in?

[@TheDrivewire]

As per Lexus driving won’t charge the battery. You should consider plugging it in now and again to help preserve the battery.

[@rogerparker9026]

I live in California and even night charging is more expensive than petrol. There is a setting called HV where you minimize use of the battery (it can hold a charge for over a week). Break even between charging and gas for me is when gas goes over $5.30 per gallon.

[@blacknumberone1900]

Thanks for the reply@@rogerparker9026 ... the crazy thing is California is pushing EVs hard, but the damn cost of electricity is so high here! If they want us to drive EVs they need to give us a special EV rate, which they do have a "special EV rate" if you charge between midnight and 2pm, but it's a small savings compared to the regular rate (pennies / kWh). Yes, over $5 per gallon that's what I got with the breakeven point (if my math is correct ?). ... Then again low gas prices are good for the low-income working families.

[@wadepulliam3695]

Is it big enough for a regular sized person? This guy is too small to really judge. (Plus not understanding that the passenger seat controls on the driver side of the seat is so the driver can create room for a task without getting out of the car and going around the vehicle)