Twenty years ago, Lexus lit up the luxury vehicle segment in Australia with battery-
assisted hybrid performance powertrains across a range of vehicles to take the lead in
pioneering battery-electric hybrid technology, which carries on to this day.
With the present surge in EV sales the company is in good shape to add to its
petrol/electric luxury SUV line-up with a new plug-in hybrid offering, the RX 450h+ AWD.
The SUV comes only in Sports Luxury grade, tucking in just under the RX500h Sport
Performance in price, $123,500, as opposed to $127,700.
Major plug-in rivals are the BMW X5 xDrive50e, from $125,885, and the Volvo XC90
Ultra, from $124,466. The latter does offer seven seats to the Lexus’s five.
Lexus RX buyers enjoy the Lexus Warranty Experience featuring a five-year, unlimited
kilometre warranty and for RX 450h+ a leading 10-year, unlimited kilometre battery
warranty.
This takes in the leading Encore owner benefits program incorporating events with
brand ambassadors, special offers with hotel partnerships, and a 5-cents-per-litre
Ampol/Caltex fuel discount offer on premium unleaded – among other benefits.
Capped price servicing is offered on all Lexus NX grades, with intervals of 12
months/15,000km, for up to three years or 45,000km, whichever comes first.
STYLING
The fifth generation SUV in 2023 came to market completely redesigned, according to
Lexus, to ‘look sharper on the road’. This has been carried forward to the just released
plug-in hybrid model.
Designers have pulled back from the ‘overpowering’ hallmark spindle grille, with it
paying a more integral role in the new RX. It is now more upright, accentuating the
elongated bonnet and improving airflow into the engine compartment.
Flowing smoothly from the grille, signature L-shaped daytime running lights frame the
stylish new headlamp design, which aligns with the bonnet’s character lines to further
emphasise the updated spindle shape.
A swooping roofline leads to a rear distinguished by muscular fenders and new L-
shaped LED light clusters with signature blade lighting in a bar that spans the width of
the vehicle, a feature first seen on the UX compact luxury SUV.
On the tailgate the Lexus emblem has been replaced with the L-E-X-U-S name, creating
a more modern and simpler look that strengthens the car’s identity.
INTERIOR
As expected from a Lexus, the car combines sophistication with comfort from a list of
features, including semi-aniline leather-accented seat trim, 10-way power adjustable
front seats with memory, heated and ventilated front and outboard rear seats.
The power adjustable steering column offers easy access to the steering wheel, paddle
shifters, and auto dimming rear-view mirror. Ambient lighting and carpeted floor mats set
a relaxed tone.
Four cup holders are conveniently positioned for occupants, while the boot is accessed
via an automatic tailgate and contents hidden by a tonneau cover.
There’s a woodgrain-look instrument panel and steering wheel styling, as well as power
reclining and folding rear seats.
INFOTAINMENT
Convenience comes from triple-zone climate control, a panoramic sliding sunroof, head-
up windscreen display and keyless entry. Multimedia includes 14-inch touchscreen
display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charger, five USB-C
charging points and Lexus Connected Services, enabling remote locking or unlocking of
the vehicle, pre-set three-zone climate control, configure driver profiles, or use a phone
as a digital key.
Sound is well looked after by a premium 21-speaker Mark Levinson surround system.
ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
The new RX450h+ calls on a 2.5-litre series parallel plug-in hybrid and two electric
motors to produce 227kW of combined output in the same powertrain as the NX450h+
mid-size SUV.
Power comes from a powerful lithium-ion battery designed as the primary driver in
urban conditions, leaving the system with a claimed combined fuel consumption of 1.3
litres per 100 kilometres. Acceleration to 100km/h from standstill comes up in a claimed
6.5 seconds.
SAFETY
The Lexus RX boasts a five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on testing conducted in
2022. This applies to all variants, including the PHEV.
A comprehensive suite of Lexus Safety Sense+ of active safety features, including a
Pre-Collision System with intersection collision avoidance support, emergency steering
assist and low-speed acceleration suppression, lane departure warning, radar cruise
control, lane tracing assist parking support brake, blind spot monitor, plus rear cross
traffic alert.
The driver is monitored for checking the ‘pilot’s’ degree of attention when on the move.
Eight airbags take care of passive safety. All new-generation RX grades feature safe
exit assist, where an e-latch electrically activates door handles to detect cyclists or other
vehicles passing close to the SUV and can keep the door closed to avoid an accident.
DRIVING
Spritely off the mark for its size, the plug-in hybrid system contributes to a claimed fuel
use of just 1.3 litres per 100 kilometres. In the real world of town-and-country conditions
the test car came up with 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres.
The 18.1kWh battery is good for a maximum of 85 kilometres on a full charge without
the petrol engine chiming in. Should the battery charge drop too low, the PHEV defaults
to operating like a regular hybrid (HEV) with the petrol engine providing most of the
power. Little range anxiety here.
An air-cooled AC charging system uses a 6.6kW on-board charger, which can charge
the battery in as little as two-and-a-half hours when using a 32A current, or around
seven-and-a-half hours with a 10A current.
The variable suspension adds a sporty edge to ride and handling, while the steering
stays balanced and responsive. One final ‘trick’, Lexus’s internal electric door handles
are buttons that need to be pressed to open the doorsSUMMARY
‘Luxury of choice’ is the reason for the existence of the RX 450h+ PHEV, says the
maker, and in true Lexus tradition of ‘kaizen’ (continuous improvement) the SUV
delivers in spades. A smart rival to the European aristocrats.
RATINGS
Looks – 7
Performance – 7
Safety – 8
Thirst – 8
Practicality – 7
Comfort – 8
Tech – 7
Value – 6
AT A GLANCE
MODEL LINE-UP
RX 350h Luxury 2WD $90,350
RX 350h Luxury AWD $93,700
RX 350 F Sport AWD $100,950
RX 350 Sports Luxury AWD $106,950
RX 350h Sports Luxury AWD $113,600
RX450h+ Sports Luxury AWD $123,500
RX500h F Sport Performance $127,700
Note: this price does not include government of dealer delivery charges. Contact your
local Lexus dealer for drive-away prices.
SPECIFICATIONS (Lexus RX450h+ Sports Luxury PHEV 2.5-litre, 4-cyl petrol, CVT,
AWD, SUV)
ENGINE
Configuration: four cylinders inline
Capacity: 2487cc
Maximum power 136kW
Maximum torque: 227Nm
Fuel type: Premium unleaded petrol, 95 RON
Combined fuel cycle: (ADR 81/02) 1.3L/100km
CO2 emissions 29g/km
HYBRID SYSTEM
Two synchronous permanent magnet motors
Max Combined Power: 227kW
PHEV front transaxle
7kW AC Type 2 charging system
Auto EV/HV mode switch
Motor Generator Rear (AWD)
Max power: 134kW
Max torque: 270Nm
BATTERY PACK
Lithium-ion
Capacity: 18.1kWh
Electric driving range 85km
DRIVELINE: CVT, AWD
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT, AND CAPACITIES
Length: 4890mm
Width: 1920mm
Height: 1695mm
Wheelbase: 2850mm:
Turning circle: 11.8m
Kerb weight: 2280kg
Fuel tank: 55 litres
BRAKES
Front: Ventilated disc
Rear: Ventilated disc
STANDARD WARRANTY
Five years / unlimited kilometres (vehicle)
Ten years / unlimited kilometres (HEV battery)
