Last year, the Lexus RX entered its 5th generation and it came with the usual updates that are bestowed upon new vehicles. Now, we’re getting the 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid. But at almost $90,000 CAD, is it worth the price tag?
Performance
Engine – The 2024 RX450h+ is powered by a 2.5L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine that is aided by a few electric motors. This powertrain is the same one that is found in the NX450h+. The engine produces 181 hp and 165 lb-ft of torque (134 kW & 224 Nm) on its own. With the addition of the electric motors, total output is 304 hp (227 kW). With this RX tipping the scales at 2,155 kg (4,751 lbs), Lexus claims a 0-100 km/h time of 6.2 seconds or about 0.2 seconds slower than the NX450h+. From behind the steering wheel, it feels adequately quick enough in Sport mode when the engine and electric motors are working in unison. While driving in EV mode, the car accelerates at a good pace without impeding anyone behind… unless it’s a tailgating Tesla driver. The electric motors also provide enough grunt to get the SUV up to highway speeds without much fuss.
Fuel Economy – If you drive the 2024 Lexus RX450h+ like a normal hybrid, then it will return 6.5 L/100km (36.2 MPG) in a city and 7.1 L/100km (33.1 MPG) on a highway. With consistent plug-ins and short trips, the actual fuel economy can be very good and not require any fuel fill ups for weeks at a time. I averaged 2.2L /100km (107 MPG) during my time with the car.
Battery & Charging – The 2024 Lexus RX450h+ is rated for 60 km (37 miles) of electric-only driving range. I managed to squeeze out 63 km (39 miles) out of the 18.1 kWh battery pack. This was in roughly 10°C (50°F) ambient temperatures with climate control constantly running and the drive included some uphills & downhills with some highway driving in addition to mostly city traffic. There is a hybrid mode which will hold the battery charge to whatever percentage it’s at and the car will continue to operate like a self-charging hybrid vehicle such as the RX350h. Additionally, you can tell the car to recharge the battery by using the engine. However, this uses up more fuel. Once the battery is depleted, the SUV behaves like a normal hybrid.
One thing to note, the car will always keep a small battery percentage in order to provide the maximum rated power output and to provide the AWD-e system. Like the NX450h+, this does not use a physical driveshaft from the engine to provide power to the back wheels. A separate electric motor provides power to those back wheels.
From a level 2 charger, the RX450h+ can be fully recharged in about 2 and a half hours. From a normal wall outlet, it could take 10 to 12 hours to fully recharge from 0% to 100%.
Transmission – Just like the NX450h+, the RX450h+ is equipped with an e-CVT automatic. Despite the name, it is actually quite different from a traditional CVT. However, it still functions in the same way. The engine’s rpms are kept at a constant rate until the car reaches the desired speed at which point, it will drop them back down for better fuel economy or shut off the engine if there’s enough battery charge. There are steering wheel mounted paddle shifters for virtual gear shifts.
Braking – The brake pedal in the NX450h+ has a smooth operation. The transition from regen braking to using the physical brakes is indistinguishable. There is an S mode on the transmission which will provide a bit more regen braking but it will also keep the engine running for peak performance. Unlike some other PHEVs, the RX450h+ does not have any stronger regen braking modes or a one-pedal mode.
Handling – The Lexus RX450h+ is an easy SUV to drive, just like every other Lexus vehicle. Steering is direct and light but without much feel. Unlike the RX500h that I previously drove, this RX does not come equipped with a rear-wheel-steering system for better slow speed maneuverability. But even so, this RX feels right at home in a city environment rather than a winding mountain road. At the very least, it is a bit more engaging to drive than the previous generation Lexus RX.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – With the price of this RX450h+, you’d expect it to be equipped with the adaptive dampers of the RX500h. But sadly, that’s not the case. However, the standard suspension is still really good. It feels plush without being overly floaty. But over bigger bumps, it will take a few more jounces before the suspension settles the body.
The seats are the other half of the comfort equation. They’re plush, supportive, and don’t induce any pressure points through your back, legs, or bum.
Interior Space – This new generation RX has a longer wheelbase than the outgoing model which means more legroom for occupants. I am above average in height at 6’4” but I have zero issues with legroom in the front seat nor do I have issues behind my tall driving position in the back. Headroom is ok in the front and it’s a bit less in the back seats. Happily, you can recline the back seats, electronically, for more comfort and a bit more headroom.
In the trunk, the Lexus RX450h+ does not lose any space in becoming a plug-in hybrid. It has 838 L (29.6 cu-ft) of space behind the 2nd row seats and 1,308 L (46.2 cu-ft) with the 40/20/40 split power fold seats in the down position. But unlike the RX500h, this RX450h+ does not have a spare wheel under the floor, just a small space for the charging cable.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The RX450h+ is as smooth as a Lexus should be. The transition from electric to gasoline is imperceivable while on the move. What you may notice are some vibrations from the 2.5L engine when it’s providing power in hybrid mode. Additionally, the noises from this engine can be evident in some situations such as overtaking slower moving traffic on highways. But when this RX is being propelled by electricity, it’s as smooth and quiet as the RZ450e. In other words, as smooth and as quiet as a Lexus is expected to be.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – There’s no way to sugarcoat this. The 2024 Lexus RX450h+ is the most expensive version of the RX that you can get with a price of $86,950 CAD ($70,580 USD). For the Canadian market, there are no optional packages to choose from. The only options are the paint and interior colours along with some accessories. In the United States, there are a few packages to choose from such as the Convenience package, technology package, and Cold Area package.
Gadgets – At least for the almost $90,000 price tag, this is a fully loaded Lexus RX. That means it has semi-aniline leather upholstery, heated & ventilated seats in all four corners, heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, power hands-free liftgate, a large panoramic sunroof which makes the cabin feel airy especially with the macadamia colour leather upholstery, there’s also a wireless phone charging pad, a head-up display, a rear camera mirror, and surround view cameras which provide an “invisible” view of the car as your park. Speaking of parking, the RX can locate and park, without driver inputs, into a parking spot. It can detect the lines on the ground and it does not require any other vehicles around it in order to perform the maneuver.
The large infotainment screen in the center of the dashboard measures 14” diagonally. It displays Lexus’ latest infotainment system which supports wireless Apple carPlay & wireless Android Auto connectivity. The system is intuitive to use and navigate around into different menu items. However, the built-in navigation system is subscription based and requires a monthly or annual fee. But if you carry your smartphone, you’ll always have Google Maps or Waze to use for navigation via CarPlay or Android Auto.
Interior Design – The old Lexus RX used a lot of buttons for each of the different functions. I thought it was ok because I prefer physical controls to touchscreen controls but I’m probably in the minority. This new RX has far fewer physical controls but at least the important ones are there like the temperate knobs.
One thing that you won’t find is the old infotainment system touchpad. It’s all controlled through the touchscreen. There are, however, touch sensitive controls on the steering wheel for different functions such as cruise control or radio tuning. These are displayed in the HUD, if equipped. But one control that is sorely missing from this Lexus RX is a dedicated drive mode knob or button. If you want to change the drive modes, it must be done through the touchscreen which is cumbersome and slow. You need to press on the 6 dots icon next to the climate and then if the drive mode is commonly used it will appear immediately there. But if it is not, then you have to swipe to the drive modes and then you can select your desired drive mode. It’s odd that the Lexus NX450h+ that I drove earlier had a dedicated drive mode selector while the RX does not.
The rest of the interior is refined luxury. The leather and suede upholstery is soft to the touch. There’s more suede on the door panels and dashboard. One price of trim that looks Ok but is actually fake, is the wood trim. It’s plastic. At this price point, real wood should’ve been used.
Exterior Design – The 2024 Lexus RX450h+ has evolved the modern day Lexus styling. The hourglass grille is still there but it now blends into the hood. The LED lights look sharper than ever and the taillamps blend into a lightbar that stretches the width of the car. I was not too keen on the overall design when I first saw this car back in 2022 in pictures, but it has grown on me.
Safety – All trim levels of the 2024 Lexus RX are equipped with standard Lexus Safety System 3.0+. These include a lot of the driver & safety aids that consumers have grown accustomed to such as automatic emergency braking and dynamic radar cruise control to name a few. Because this RX PHEV does not have any other options, it has every safety & driver aid in the Lexus catalog.
Warranty – Like many other Lexus vehicles, the 2024 Lexus RX450h+ has a 4 year / 60,000 km new vehicle, 6 year / 110,000 km powertrain, and an 8 year / 160,000 km hybrid component warranty. For more information on Canadian Lexus warranty, click here. For information on American warranty, click here.
Conclusion – It does cost a lot to get your hands on this plug-in hybrid Lexus RX450h+. It’s hard to justify spending $90,000 CAD on something that has the same powertrain as a Rav4. But this SUV is fully loaded, it’s spacious, quiet, smooth, and very fuel efficient. It’s also a Lexus so it should last a long time which is what many consumers are looking for in today’s increasingly expensive automotive market. Additionally, this RX should hold its value better than its competitors. So you are paying a lot of money for it, but if you plan to sell it in 5 or 6 years, you should get a big chunk of your money back.
Thank you to Lexus Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Lexus.ca
2024 Lexus RX450h+ Gallery
