2024 Lexus RX 450h + AWD PHEV - Bottom Line Review

CORD -ABLE NUMBER ONE LUXE MOVER: Fully revised and less amorphous ovoid, a fifth generation "Radiance X [Cross]over," from Japanese luxury automaker Lexus, dawned in 2023 to carry on the most popular luxury car in America mantle. Amenities have been enhanced and user interfacing entered a remote mouse free AI age. Propulsion options doubled to four, and, for the first time, a petrol six-cylinder was nowhere to be found. Instead, all power was either turbocharged of hybrid electric four-pot cooked. As part of the parent, Toyota's, Beyond Zero carbon neutrality goal, an all important cord -able hybrid electric returns in the guise of the 2024 Lexus RX 450h + AWD.

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WHAT: 2024 Lexus RX 450 + AWD PHEV two row, mid size crossover sport utility vehicle. "RX" = "Radiance X for Crossover". This ALA10 fifth generation of the Godfather of luxury crossover utes succeeds the successful AL20, and is constructed on the modular TNGA GA-K platform. It shares wheelbase with Toyota's S235 Crown sportback and XU70 Toyota Highlander three row SUV.

Standard Power: 2487 cc VVT-i, e DOHC 24V start-stop idle Dynamic Force A25A-FXS I-4 cylinder gasoline engine + 2 traction PSM motors + 18.1 kWh plug-in LiIon battery + e-CVT transaxle

• 304 net hybrid hp/ 168 lb-ft @ 3600 r.p.m.

Powertrain Hits and Misses:

• +1 More emphatic torque; Multitude of drive modes; Pronounced gear shifts,^{(Sport S, Sport+ modes)}
• -1 Long throttle step-in; Fuel economy less than advertised;^{(though still competitive)} Piped into cabin by audio system exhaust growl under throttle; No offroad / trail or regenerative drive mode(s)

WHAT (A) STYLING DIFFERENCE(S):True to the legacy of Radiance X [Cross]over design, the new 2024 Lexus RX 450 + AWD PHEV banks on a muscular parabolic silhouette derived from the classic laterally laid egg shape. The tall tall beltline, slim greenhouse, contrast dark accent floating sloping roof and cinched rear end are reprised. Designers went so far to perform a Highlights children magazine puzzle on the polarizing spindle grille. A new spill over hood and solid body colored lattice imprint molding cloak the upper half of the beak. A widening mid to lower black lattice trapezoid grille fills out the remainder. A smooth body has but one crease, rising at the 2nd Row. Another neat visual trick are wheel arch top tandem creases emitting a flared look without actual widening. Rear mid liftgate lighting has gone full raceway style, lateral inboard "L" flared at the ends.

F-Sport Touches: √ Piano black lattice insert full nose depth spindle grille & corner fangs; √ Darkened window & lighting frames; √ Gloss black accenting and wheels; √ Body colored front& rear fascia; √ Muscular wheel arches and lower body skirts.

WHY: The Sun Also Rises for a new generation cord -able Radiant X [Cross]over utility vehicle.

WHEN: On-Sale (in the U.S.) since Autumn 2024

WHERE: Lexus new vehicle dealers

WHERE MADE: Miyawaka, Fukuoka, Japan

WHERE TO: on-demand "all-weather" drive, w/ rear wheel decoupling, e-varies front/ rear traction from nominal 100/0% to maximum 20/80%, ABS torque vectoring; 8"-inches clearance = Inclement weather beater & dirt road, light mud treader; -1 No Off-Road or torque split lock modes

HOW ROADWORTHY: These days, taking a Toyota Four-E hybrid approach to plug-in hybrid electric propulsion is rather conservative. The atmospheric Dynamic Force petrol inline-four stuffed into the 2024 Lexus RX 450h + is essentially what propels the 1200 pound lighter Toyota RAV4 Prime. Thus while the latter is downright quick, the former feels more deliberate. The spin from the front and rear traction motors peaks late in the engine speed curve. Factoring in an extra 500 pounds, acceleration from a stop feels less potent than in the non-hybrid turbocharged RX 350 (previously tested by Roadblazing.com). Audibly, there is a change from under-throttle raspy to a meek purr.

-1 Difficulty in sensing position detents with the new corporate toggle shift lever becomes maddening when searching for Neutral in a tunnel car wash.

• Drive Modes x 2: Eco, Sport
• Electric Vehicle Modes x 3: Automatic EV, Manual EV, Battery Hold
• -1 No regenerative slowing mode

Adaptive dampers compress the jumbo 21" inch alloys wheels gently, though rebound can produce some jitter. Springing is on the soft side, lending to a bit of roll. The main focus of all-season Bridgestone rubber is silent touring. Absent the big front brakes, fitted to F-Sport trims, the four corner single piston calipers squeeze the ample vented rotors less emphatically. Although the 2024 Lexus RX 450h PHEV is loaded with heft, the rotation is a bit static and offers feeble road feedback.

HOW FAR: 31 combined miles per gallon rated, 498 miles maximum range, 33 miles BEV range

HOW BIG/ LITTLE: √ 5 Occupant seating; √ Snug sloped headroom owing to optional panorama roof; √ Nominal cargo volume nearly doubles from predecessor. +1 Loses no cargo capacity from non-hybrid RX 350

• HOW USEFUL: √ Power liftgate^{(avail. Approach Activation)}; √ Power cargo bay release 40:20:40% split folding + tilting 2nd Row seat backs; √ Cup holders x 4, Bottle holders (doors) x 4; √ Deep center armrest bin w/ power, connectivity + reciprocal lateral fold lid; √ 2nd Row center armrest storage & power ports

HOW SAFE:10 airbags; IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus ; Rear camera; First Aid Kid x 1^{(cargo bay)}

STANDARD Lexus Safety System 3.0 Plus = √ Pedestrian & cyclist detection braking; √ Forward collision avoidance braking; √ Left turn oncoming traffic warning, braking; √ Oncoming traffic warning; √ Lane Departure Warning, Keep Assist, Trace; √ Full adaptive cruise control w/ variable curve speed reduction; √ Safe Exit Assist, traffic side warning (no lockout); √ Automatic High beam LED headlamps; √ Rain sensing windshield wipers

Optional:^{(included on tested 2023 Lexus RX 350 F-Sport)} √ Blind spot & Rear Cross-traffic warning; √ Surround camera; √ Fore and aft sonar audible park warning, braking; √ Digital rear view mirror; √ 10.0" inch multi-mode Heads Up Display (HUD) + road sign detection; √ Triple beam LED headlights + washers

• View Outwards: +1 FORE sloping hood, door mount wing mirrors; -1 SIDE looming over shoulder blindspots; +/- REAR: short backlight mitigated by digital rearview mirror.

HOW PEOPLE FRIENDLY: Releasing doors for entering the 2024 Lexus RX 450h + PHEV merely requires a light grab of the handles, with nary a tug, sets the tone for a nearly effortless cabin occupant situating. The newest RX challenges the competition to offer such uniformly close panel seams, Japanese minimalist artistry, ingot build, buttery aperture or control movement and a pampered sensation without extolling excessive complexity. Media display mice / touch pads remote controllers have been comprehensively nixed. While the instrument binnacle and center infotainment screen share unified framing, the former retains a modern TFT recessed cluster.

√ Semi-aniline leather Rows 1 & 2 seating, heated & cooled; √ Power 10-way front seats, w/ 3 position memory driver's memory; √ Split power reclining 2nd Row seatbacks; √ Heated leather + wood power tilt, telescoping steering wheel with spoke integrated touch controls; √ 7.0" inch 3-D gauge cluster Multi-Function display; √ 3-Zone automatic climate control + 2nd Row digital controller; √ Keyless entry, push button ignition; √ Full express power windows x 4; √ 2nd Row + cargo bay privacy window tint; 2nd Row manual sun shades

• + 1 Generous steering wheel reach adjustment; Wide center armrest; Adjacent front center console dual cupholders
• -1 Narrow front seat cushions

Cool Gizmo(s): √ Lexus Interface 14.0" inch infotainment display bottom virtual climate controls overlay, twin rotary climate adjust knobs, with integrated temperature displays; √ 10.0" inch Heads Up Display includes dual function left media / right cruise controls, w/ forward vehicle into lane movement, navigation and road sign recognition display; √ Soft touch power ventral exterior door handle, interior door button Digital Latch actuation; √ Digital rear view mirror.

Details Done Right: √ Contrasting stitched seat & soft panel surfaces; √ Microsuede door and dash accents; √ Center stack to console contrast padded saddle; √ Open pore wood steering wheel and center console panels; √ Tight grained plastic panels; √ Precision rotating control dials; √ Soft close power windows; √ Cabin pillar & ceiling velour fabric; √ Dense pile carpeting, including 3rd Row outboard walls; √ Foot well & door panel 64 color, 11 theme ambient lighting;

Nearly Non-Descript: -1 Simulated matte metallic accents

HOW CONNECTED: √ Lexus Interface center dashtop tablet 14.0" -inch portrait HD LCD capacitive touch infotainment screen; √ Adaptive voice command interaction & Bluetooth hands-free communications; √ GPS Cloud based Navigation w/ real time re-routing, √ Google POI, OTA updates; √ Lexus Interface wireless device apps; √ 400 watt, 10- speaker, 8-channel DSP Pioneer streaming audio, HD-Radio; √ USB-A x 1, USB-C x 4, 12V x 2; √ 110V, 1500 W AC x 1,^{(cargo bay)}

HOW "APP" -LICABLE: Lexus Human Machine Interface infotainment employs voice interactive via "Hey Lexus" wake-up phrase; √ Google browser search; √ Driver profiles x 5, personalized operation, comfort convenience & infotainment settings, portable (to other equipped Lexus Interface equipped vehicles); √ Driver digital key card (via wireless device app)

• Apps: Apple Music, Amazon Music, Amazon Alexa, Siri Eyes, Doppler weather, Traffic Updates
• By Subscription: √ Sirius XM satellite radio (1 year trial); √ Safety & remote connect (1 year trial); √ Drive Connect (3 years trial); √ AT&T 4G LTE Wi-Fi (2GB trial)

HOW AUDIBLY: 21 speaker, 1800 Watts, 12 channels Mark Levinson, Clari-Fi audiophile audio = soothing timbre, potent low frequency, accurate imaging

HOW MUCH: $76,505 = 2024 Lexus RX 450h + AWD PHEV Luxury

WHAT'S MISSING: Tactile rather than touch steering wheel spoke controls; Gated joystick shift lever; More pronounced & artful puddle lamp projection

ANY COMPETITION: Audi Q5 55 PHEVe-tron; BMW X5 xDrive50; Mercedes-Benz GLE450e