Follow-up test: 2010 Lexus RX450h
Vehicle: 2010 Lexus RX450h with Ultra Premium Package
Price as tested: CDN$71400
The RX450h runs on the same 3.5 liter DOHC V6 engine as its lesser RX350 silibing. However, its the Atkinson-cycle electric power that is the highlight of this hybrid. What this Atkinson-cycle engine has 3 high-torque electric motor and 1 small battery to generate power. It delivers a silky smooth transition between electric and gasoline. When the batteries and gasoline mated together, this powersource has 295 horsepower at driver’s disposal. Unfortunately, it doesn’t deliver the fuel economy as we expected. We only manage to got 11 liters per 100km as an average, which is far from what Lexus have us to believe. The CVT with sequential shift works decently with the hybrid drivetrain, which is a godsent. Unlike some of its rivals, this CVT doesn’t generate annoying noise during acceleration. That’s really live up to Lexus’s quiet reputation.
The rest of the car is typical Lexus RX. The interior is nicely finished with leather seats and wood trim. We still found the gearlever an eyesore which placed on top of the dashboard. With our tester’s Ultra Premium Package, it got an amazingly sound Mark Levinson stereo.
Handling wise, it feels fairly confidence inspiring given RX’s usual softness. There remain plenty of body rolls and understeer is pronounced, despite of the instrusive dynamic stability control. Steering feels soft and numb, fortunately, its rather responsive during turn-in. Its regenerative braking doesn’t have the grabby feel once associates with hybrid. It got sure-footness feedback. The pedal actually have some lives in it.
Consider RX450h’s price is almost 10 grand more than the equivalent-equipped RX350. One has to wonder whether it really worths the premium given the fuel economy goes.
Likes:
Seamless transition between electric and gasoline motors
Amazing ride quality
Quiet and smooth
Dislikes:
Disapppointing fuel economy
Price/value
Won’t generate any driving excitement, as its RX silibing does