AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING8/10
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Safety9/10
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PRACTICALITY8/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS8/10
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FEATURES9/10
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POWER7/10
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COMFORT10/10
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DRIVING FEEL7/10
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FUEL ECONOMY9/10
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VALUE7/10
There’s no question the Lexus RX has been a runaway success since it launched some 25 years ago.
Not only has it gone on to lead its segment in sales rather handedly, but the RX has long existed as the only conventional hybrid its size on the premium market. With competitors like BMW and Mercedes-Benz fielding plug-in hybrid (PHEV) entries of their own, however, the 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ arrives as a range-topping trim that mixes familiarity with emissions-free range.
Styling: 8/10
Picking this PHEV out from across a parking lot is all but impossible, with nothing but a tiny badge on the tailgate – plus what’s effectively an extra fuel door, but that’s even harder to spot at a distance – setting it apart from its siblings in the RX lineup. That lineup was redesigned from top to bottom just last year, and this version adopts all those same styling cues that amount to an appropriately evolved SUV.
It remains the most aggressive-looking entry in the segment, although its signature spindle grille has been cut down this time around. In its place is something of an awkward fascia that almost looks incomplete, but the rest of the exterior is pure class, right down to the lightbar that spans the rear end like the one on the smaller NX.
Comfort: 10/10
The interior has fairly and squarely earned its spot as one of the segment’s best. Traditionally, there’s been no comparing the RX to its rivals from BMW and Mercedes when it comes to the quality of its ride, not to mention the materials inside. That’s certainly not the case here, however, with the RX 450h+ sold only with a loaded Executive package that lines its cabin with leather and suede upholstery that’s as supple as the suspension.
On that note, while this RX rides on a conventional setup that uses steel coil springs to absorb bumps and control body motion, it does a convincing job of feeling like a fancy adaptive system in most scenarios. It’s smooth and refined in ways its competitors can’t match, at least not without an air setup like the one the plug-in X5 is equipped with (a similar system is optional on the GLE 450e).
Value: 7/10
Sitting atop the RX lineup, this PHEV version is offered in one fully featured trim that’s priced at $86,950 before freight and taxes. Options are limited to a few premium paint choices – including this tester’s Cloudburst Grey ($500) – and a handful of dealer-installed accessories, that’s it.
Looking at the rest of the gas-electric RX lineup, there are two conventional hybrid models to choose from: the 350h that starts at $61,450, and the 500h that has an MSRP of $81,100. But both can be outfitted with various packages that add as much as $15,500 to the price of the former, and $5,800 to the latter. Meanwhile, the BMW X5 PHEV is priced at $90,500 before freight and tax, not to mention all manner of expensive upgrades. The same applies to the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e, albeit to a lesser extent, which starts at a mere $400 less than the X5 xDrive50e.
Power: 7/10
Where both of those rivals pair turbocharged engines and conventionally geared transmissions with their plug-in components, the setup here is a little more underwhelming. It uses a 2.5L four-cylinder that’s found throughout the Lexus and Toyota lineups, as well as an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Net output stands at 304 hp, significantly less than the X5 xDrive50e in particular, which puts out 483 hp (the GLE 450e makes a more modest 381 hp); and the powertrain can occasionally come across as a little undignified under the duress of aggressive acceleration – a penalty of the transmission more than anything else. But this RX offers a bit of quickness when called upon, with its electric motors chipping in where it matters low in the engine’s rev range.
Fuel Economy: 9/10
More significantly, the RX 450h+ delivers considerable fuel savings compared to its PHEV adversaries. In fact, it barely burns more gas than the RX 350h that uses the same powertrain components but pairs them with a smaller battery that can’t be plugged in, with an officially combined consumption rate of 6.7 L/100 km.
According to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the Mercedes GLE 450e is expected to burn through 9.9 L/100 km in combined driving, while the BMW X5 xDrive50e should be good for 10.6 L/100 km in the same conditions. All three call for premium-grade gas.
Where this Lexus comes up short of its rivals is all-electric range, with its 18.1-kWh battery pack providing an estimated 60 km on a full charge compared to the GLE 450e’s 77 km. (The X5 is good for 63 km, according to NRCan.) Even so, most short drives can be completed on nothing but electrons, which is handy if nothing else.
Driving Feel: 7/10
With its big and bulky battery pack mounted under the back seat, this version of the RX feels like any other from behind the wheel. It offers a smooth and satisfying drive experience, with throttle response that’s rather unlike most hybrids out there in its eagerness, even in eco mode.
The all-wheel drive system that uses a dedicated electric motor to motivate the back half of the RX works just as it should – entirely imperceptibly. There’s barely any indication beyond the pair of screens that can be pulled up on the infotainment display that the rear wheels are chipping in, but this SUV never feels any less surefooted than one with a more traditional setup.
But the highlight from the driver’s seat has to be how easy it is to pilot this PHEV exactly as desired. While that really should include an emphasis on efficiency, it can accelerate with urgency while remaining as capable and cooperative as a conventional family hauler. The steering is noticeably overboosted, leading to a sense of laziness when spinning the wheel, especially at low speeds, but then it’s not out of sync with the smoothness that permeates the drive experience.
Practicality: 8/10
The tidy packaging of its PHEV components means the RX 450h+ feels a lot like the lone gas-only model in the lineup. Quite literally, there are no discernable differences from one to the next in terms of interior dimensions, up to and including this version’s relatively limited headroom – a result of its standard panoramic sunroof. (The same one is optional across the rest of the lineup.)
Cargo room is reasonable, too, with 838 L behind the back seats, although the 1,308 L that’s opened up with them folded is less impressive – at least on paper. In practice, this RX can swallow all manner of furniture or whatever else might be stashed inside, while the back seats have power-folding mechanisms to raise and lower them.
User-Friendliness: 8/10
With big doors and a reasonable ride height, it’s easy to climb in and out of this sport utility. Visibility is good from the driver’s seat, which is power adjustable 10 different ways, while the rearview mirror can be toggled to a camera view should the back window be obstructed by occupants or cargo.
The front half of the cabin is an approachable one thanks to the RX’s overhaul for 2023, which saw awkward infotainment screen location and dated controls ditched in favour of a setup that’s far more modern. Granted, it isn’t perfect, but the interface is vastly improved in this SUV’s fifth generation. The 14-inch touchscreen is simply massive, with a fixed array of climate and seat controls occupying the lower third, plus an easily accessible menu of shortcuts that’s just a tap away.
Down on the console, a conventional-ish gear selector is surrounded by buttons that handle drive-related functions including toggling between hybrid and electric modes. And when it comes to the latter, it should take about 2.5 hours to fully charge the battery when hooked up to a 240-volt Level 2 connection.
Features: 9/10
There’s little to be desired here when it comes to creature comforts, with the RX 450h+’s standard Executive package boasting nearly every feature a luxury entry like this should. While the seats don’t include massage mechanisms, they’re comfortable and supportive – and heated and ventilated both front and rear. It’s also equipped with memory settings for both front seats, a 21-speaker stereo, tri-zone automatic climate control, and more.
Safety: 9/10
Advanced safety features are generous, too. There’s the usual stuff like forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, emergency braking front and back, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning and keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control that works in stop-and-go traffic.
This version of the RX also comes with extras like front cross-traffic alert, although the system is rather sensitive, plus so-called “proactive driving assist” that can detect traffic as it slows and pre-emptively apply the brakes. On top of that, there’s a head-up display, camera-based driver attention monitoring, and automatic high-beam and windshield wiper control.
The Verdict
Whereas the all-electric Lexus RZ feels like a compliance vehicle – one built specifically to meet zero-emissions mandates in places like Quebec – the RX PHEV is like the culmination of years of experience. It takes all the good stuff about the conventional hybrid version of this SUV and adds 60 km of all-electric range, plus a fully featured cabin and an incredibly plush ride. There’s no hiding from the high price of admission, with the 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ commanding a $9,000 premium over the non-pluggable hybrid version with the same package; but its smooth-driving ways mixed with its ability to cover most short trips without a drop of gas make this SUV the best entry in the entire Lexus lineup.
| Engine Displacement | 2.5L |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | PHEV I4 |
| Peak Horsepower | 304 net hp |
| Peak Torque | N/A |
| Fuel Economy | 6.4 / 7.1 / 6.7 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb, 2.8 Le/100 km; 60 km est. range |
| Cargo Space | 838 / 1,308 L seats up/down |
| Model Tested | 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ |
| Base Price | $86,950 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | $2,205 |
| Price as Tested | $89,755 |
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Optional Equipment
$500 – Cloudburst Grey paint, $500
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