My mother-in-law has been on quite a journey to find her latest ride. She considered the Toyota Prius, appreciating its sleek style, utility and hybrid fuel economy. But…, it was small so she drove the much larger Toyota Crown hybrid. She liked it, but decided she wanted legit luxury, so the redesigned Lexus ES hit the map. Then, she saw the RX 350 crossover and found her vibe. Good choice, but I like the RX 450h+, the plug-in version even better.
She was pretty clear she wanted a modern car, but nothing wildly futuristic. The front greets with a monochromatic swath of Lexus’ trademark spindle grille flanked by squinty LED headlamps. The side profile is more crossover coupe planted over 21-inch wheels. A swoosh from the front rocker into the fat rear fenders adds sportiness while the floating rear roof imbues a sense of speed. You can park the original 1998 RX 300 next to this one and know one begat the other.
There’s a pretty large cargo hold behind the hands-free hatch, and the split/fold rear seats power up/down to toss in bicycles or surfboards, but the sloping roofline isn’t the best for large cargo. If hauling gear is your mission, check out the larger and squarer Lexus TX crossover.
Luxury is confirmed inside. It’s absolutely beautiful with contrasting leathers, soft quilting on the doors and wood on the steering wheel. Front seats are heated and ventilated; rear seats and the steering wheel are heated. Ambient lighting seeps from every crevice at night. Mark Levinson audio, long a Lexus hallmark, adds lush layers of sound. The cabin is kept light and airy via the panoramic glass roof. Details feel like they were curated by Luis Vuitton.
Tap into super intuitive technology. Flatscreen gauges and a 14-inch touchscreen provide infotainment. Devices connect wirelessly through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and charge wirelessly too. A button in the console automates parallel and perpendicular parking maneuvers should you need a little help. Of course, safety is paramount with automatic emergency braking, blind spot intervention, and rear cross traffic alert. The digital rearview mirror, head-up display and emergency steering assist up the ante.
You may be trying to decide if you want an EV, hybrid, or just a plain gas-powered vehicle. While my mother-in-law chose the regular hybrid, the 450h+ strikes the right balance. After plugging in on my home 240v charger for about four hours, the RX traveled 38 miles without burning a drop of gas. For most people, that’s enough to drive to work and back or run errands on the weekends. For daily use, it’s an EV. However, there’s also a 2.5-liter gas engine that carries on when batteries deplete. Drive anywhere without worries. All in with charging, it’s EPA rated 85-MPGe. Running as a regular hybrid away from plugs, expect 35-MPG.
I think owners most appreciate how serenely the RX travels. Tepid acceleration of 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds won’t excite Tesla owners, but it’s delightfully smooth and quiet. You slide in at exactly the right height and are greeted by an interior fit for a luxury crossover. Whether your 30 or 80, it fits right. The fact it comes with Toyota quality only means my mother-in-law will have many years to enjoy hers.
If you check all the options, expect to pay dearly. A base RX starts at $52,275, but moving up to a plug-in hybrid costs at least $66,680. Our lush test vehicle came to $77,595. Competitors include the BMW X3, Cadillac XT5, Genesis GV70, Lincoln Nautilus, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Volvo XC60.
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