One of the most important vehicles in the Lexus range, the RX, is finally getting connected 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ The plug-in hybrid comes to market with 60 kilometers of electric range from the Toyota RAV4 Prime powertrain, in a flashier and softer package.
As I discovered when I recently drove the RX 450h+, it’s a luxury crossover SUV with all-electric range, a comfortable ride and competitive technology.
But it’s not cheap; it is not elegant; and Lexus’ technical weaknesses are inherited from the standard RX and other models.
Here are the pros and cons of the 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ after a week of being plugged in and driving around town with the family.
2024 Lexus RX 450h+
Pro: The Lexus RX 450h+ offers all-wheel drive in all-electric mode
In contrast to the Plug-in hybrid Volvo XC60, the Lexus RX 450+’s plug-in hybrid powertrain can be locked to remain in all-electric mode. Volvo’s system automatically turns on the gasoline engine when the accelerator is depressed, but Lexus in EV-only mode only turns on the gasoline engine when it runs out of juice. The system provides all-wheel drive safety even in slippery situations. The Toyota RAV4 Prime’s plug-in hybrid powertrain has been effectively incorporated into the RX 450h+ with a number of additional sound deadening measures. It features two motor generators as part of a planetary drive system, as well as a separate electric motor on the rear axle. Volvo’s system has rear-wheel drive in pure electric mode because the transmission consists of a single electric motor.
2024 Lexus RX 450h+
Disadvantage: Lexus RX 450h+ is expensive
The 2024 Lexus 450h+ is priced at $71,930 including a mandatory destination charge of $1,350. That’s $18,480 more than the RX Hybrid and $20,630 more than the base RX 350, since the plug-in is only available in the upper Luxury trim. It would take longer than I calculated to offset this premium in fuel savings. My tester cost $76,505 and included adaptive LED headlights for $1,565; a $1,420 Convenience Package with a surround-view camera system, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning; and the worthwhile $1,160 Mark Levinson sound system upgrade. This is more than an electric car 2025 Polestar 3 with a range of over 300 miles. The value proposition here seems to create a short circuit in the overall automotive market picture.
2024 Lexus RX 450h+
Pro: The Lexus RX 450h+ offers quiet comfort
Every person who slipped into my test RX, whether it was my parents or my children, all commented on the fit, finish, materials, and comfort inside. My son liked the fact that the back seats were heated and cooled. My dad noticed that the rear seatbacks reclined power and that was “nice.” The ride on the luxury Bridgestone Alenza tires was compliant but more controlled than previous RXs, which could wallow and felt like driving on a marshmallow. Like previous RX models, the 450h+ is whisper-quiet in all-electric mode. When the 2.5-liter inline-four gasoline engine kicks in, it’s muted and in the background.
2024 Lexus RX 450h+
Disadvantage: The Lexus RX 450h+ lacks elegance
At worst, the RX was harmless and disappeared into the background. That is no longer the case. There is no bumper to be seen and the gaping radiator grille extends the entire height of the front section. All of this leads to what feels like an overbite. My mother, who currently drives a third-generation RX, called it “ugly.”
Inside, the materials, from the soft leather to the cloth-covered speaker grilles, are nice, but my mother called it “busy” and didn’t like the hanging suede that jumped from the door panel to the passenger-side dash. She also asked me why the speaker grills were covered with fabric. She tried my best to explain how things used to be in Lexus vehicles and how it felt luxurious. She just shook her head. The rear design is clean and consistent with that of the smaller NX.
2024 Lexus RX 450h+
Pro: The Lexus RX 450h+ has usable electric range
The RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid has an EPA-rated electric range of 37 miles. I did not see that. During my week with the plug-in RX, I saw about 32 miles of electric range, as the heating system lost some range when ambient temperatures were below 20°C in the early morning and reached mid-40°C during the day. My mother quickly realized that this would be enough range for her daily commute and would probably use very little gas throughout the week. The This is what the US Department of Transportation said As of 2021, the average American drives 37 miles per day.
2024 Lexus RX 450h+
Disadvantage: Technology and controls of the Lexus RX 450h+ are tolerable
The RX 450+’s infotainment system and controls are far from class-leading and will be familiar to anyone who has sat in a Lexus recently. The 14.0-inch touchscreen houses virtually all vehicle controls, including climate and driving modes. It is not possible to split the screen to display infotainment and navigation at the same time. So I hope you like everything it uses, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. At least these two projection systems are wireless here. There are buttons on the screen to control the cabin temperature, which, while nice, are glued to the screen itself.
2024 Lexus RX 450h+
2024 Lexus RX 450h+
The unmarked touchpads on the steering wheel come directly from the smaller NX. These touchpads and buttons each have a dual function, which is changed by the window pane button and displayed on the head-up display. The head-up display is not easy to see with polarized sunglasses. Good luck. At least the volume buttons on the steering wheel are labeled and don’t switch between functions.
The plug-in hybrid RX 450h+ adopts all the weaknesses of the model range while relying on the quiet powertrains with which Lexus has cemented its reputation. The all-electric range is significant, it’s just a shame that the package is priced as if Lexus doesn’t really want anyone to buy this thing.
______________________________________
2024 Lexus RX 450h+
Basic price: $71,930, including a $1,350 destination charge
Price as tested: $76,505
Drivetrain: 302 hp plug-in hybrid, all-wheel drive
EPA fuel economy: 35 mpg combined, 37 miles of electric range
The hits: Smooth, quiet, usable electric range, AWD in EV mode
The failures: Expensive, lacks elegance, tolerable infotainment and controls
