2020 Lexus RX 450h Hybrid

Hybrid and electric cars have been slowly creeping into the market, but are still a few years away from dominating the market. The added bulk, lack of power, higher purchasing cost, all add weight to the other end of the balance. Thankfully, advancements in technology have made hybrid and electric cars much more accessible to the general public.

The 2020 Lexus RX 450h is a product of these times, and what a good product indeed! You don’t get a downsized engine as compared to the conventional gasoline-powered car on which the hybrid is based. Rather, you get the same engine, complemented by three electric motors that lend additional power and torque to the car.

There is just a single trim on offer, the base “RX 450h” variant with a lovely gas-electric hybrid motor combo.

Trim	RX 450h
MSRP (AWD)	$46,095
Key Features	Lexus Enform Connectivity
	Captain's Chairs In Second-row Seats
	Panoramic View Monitor
	Head-up Display
	Three-row Seats
	LED Cornering Foglamps
	Rain-sensing Wipers
	Stability Control
	Direct Tire Pressure Monitor System

 

We Recommend

There is just a single trim for the 5-seater hybrid RX, we recommend you buy it in the Red Matador Mica shade. 

The RX 450h uses a similar V-6 and some batteries to provide hybrid fuel economy benefits, and two electric motors at the rear wheels give all hybrid RXs all-wheel drive capability. -The Car Connection

Engine and Transmission

The 2020 Lexus RX 450h uses both, a conventional gas engine and electric motors, to power the car. Individually, the V6 engine churns out 295 horsepower, and when paired with the battery-powered motors, the power rating increases to 308 horsepower. Although the power output is plenty, the engine itself isn’t as exciting as you would expect. You get fine performance, but none of the drama associated with a V6. Put your foot hard down on the throttle, and the car quietly starts building speed.

Models	Lexus RX 450h	Toyota Highlander Hybrid	Acura MDX Sport	Lexus RX 350
MSRP	$46,095	$37,170	$59,550	$44,595
Engine	3.5-L V6	3.5-L V6	3.0-L V6	3.5-L V6
Transmission	e-CVT	e-CVT	7-speed auto-shift manual	8 Speed Automatic
Horsepower	259-hp @ 6,000 rpm	231-hp @ 5,800 rpm	257-hp @ 6,300 rpm	295 hp@ 6300 rpm
Torque	247 lb/ft. @ 2900 rpm	215 lb/ft. @ 4,800 rpm	218 lb/ft. @ 5,000 rpm	268 lb/ft. @ 4700 rpm

 

The hybrid market has had a lot of entries in recent years. Still, finding direct competitors for a hybrid car is a difficult task. There are some upmarket hybrid SUVs too, like the lovely Jaguar I-pace, but those are quite a few dozen grand

Acceleration

While Lexus may look quite sporty, that isn’t really the case here. The car isn’t particularly fast but does well for itself. The 2020 Lexus RX 450h takes 6.6 seconds to go from 0-60 and can complete a quarter-mile drag race in under 15 seconds. The naturally aspirated V6 though has quite a lot of power, which helps move the two-ton-plus SUV.

Models	Lexus RX 450h	Toyota Highlander Hybrid	Acura MDX Hybrid	Lexus RX 350
0-60 MPH (sec)	6.6	6.6	6.1	5.9
Quarter mile (sec)	14.8	14.9	14.7	14.3
Engine	3.5 Liter V6	3.5-liter V6	3.0-liter V6	3.5L V6
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	5.9	6.0	6.6	8.0

Braking

Braking is quite nice as well, mainly due to the pair of 13.3-inch disc brakes in the front, and a pair of 12.9 in the rear. The curb weight of the car is quite generous in numbers, well over 2 tons, but it is well masked and does not hinder the braking at all.

Model	Lexus RX 450h	Toyota Highlander Hybrid	Acura MDX Hybrid	Lexus RX 350
Brake Front (in.)	13.3	N/A	N/A	12.9
Brake Rear (in.)	12.9	N/A	N/A	13.3
Curb Weight (lbs.)	4,740	4,398	4,471	4222
60-0 MPH (ft.)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Ride and Handling

Lexus RX is laid back, luxurious car. Its primary job description is to ensure a smooth and comfy ride, and as such does not really pay much attention to the handling. The body roll isn’t well contained, and spirited cornering is sure to unsettle your nerves more than the car.

The steering feel is quite vague, and even in Sport and Sport+ modes, things don’t get much better. Still, due to the light steering, leisure driving is this car’s forte. The electric motors aid with instant torque whenever called upon and the All-wheel drive system provides a good amount of traction.

Even though the engine is a big V6, the RX 450h turns out to be quite an efficient car. Its hybrid motor pulls in power from the battery, shutting the engine off when it isn’t required. This not only improves efficiency but also reduces emissions.

Model	Lexus RX 450h	Toyota Highlander Hybrid	Acura MDX Hybrid	Lexus RX 350
MPG (city)	28	28	26	20
MPG (highway)	31	30	27	27
MPG (combined)	30	29	27	23
Range (miles) (city/highway)	482/533	481/516	504/524	384/518
Tank Capacity (gal)	17.2	17.2	19.4	19.2

Inside, it looks great, feels upscale, and provides plenty of standard features and passenger space. However, some rivals are more fun to drive, and many have more cargo space. -Cars.usnews

Seating and Comfort

Lexus used to be the most conservative styled, and if you are a Jeremy Clarkson fan, utterly boring cars as well. Gone are those days, and now Lexus cars have more shapes and curves than a children’s coloring book. The design philosophy is extremely daring and, sadly, polarizing. The hourglass front grill and sharp side profile is an eyeball magnet, and if you love attention, this one will bring you a lot. There isn’t much to distinguish the hybrid from the regular car, except for the “hybrid” badging on the tail.

The Lexus RX has a brilliantly insulated cabin, which shields out the road and wind noise. The hybrid variant is even quieter and feels extremely well built, with great fit and finish as well. Seats are well cushioned and comfy, both in the front and rear, and the space inside is extremely generous as well. Coupled with easy ingress and egress, the RX SUV races ahead in terms of seating and comfort.

The F Sport variant has a synthetic engine sound pumped into the cabin, which tries to elevate the sporty feel, but doesn’t fit in well with the lethargic handling. It ends up feeling like an afterthought. The standard car comes with faux leather interiors, but you can get real leather as an option.

Model	Lexus RX 450h	Toyota Highlander Hybrid	Acura MDX Hybrid	Lexus RX 350
Passenger capacity	5	8	7	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.4/57.8/44.1	40.7/59.3/44.2	38.1/61.1/41.4	39.4/57.8/44.1
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.2/57.8/38.0	39.9/59.6/38.4	38.3/61.1/38.5	39.1/57.6/38.0
Third (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	-	35.9/55.0/38.4	35.6/54.7/28.1	-

Infotainment

The 2020 Lexus RX 450h offers a slightly-difficult-to-learn infotainment system with an 8.0-inch display as standard. You have the option to upgrade to a better, wider 12.3-inch display too, which is much easier on the eyes as well. You also get:

• Voice Command
• Lexus Enform Remote Smartphone integration
• Traffic and weather service via HD Radio
• Siri Eyes free system
• Scout GPS link navigation
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• HomeLink System
• SmartAccess key
• Bluetooth Technology
• Optional equipment includes:
• Full-color heads-up display
• Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound Audio System
• Remote touch
• Lexus Enform location assist
• Sadly, the RX 450h gives a miss to both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Cargo

Cargo capacity is pretty decent, with 18 cubic feet at your disposal in the trunk. The battery pack usually takes up a lot of space in a hybrid vehicle, but here, it is very well masked. Fold the seats down and you get a smidge more than 56.3 cubic feet, which is simply amazing. You can carry pretty much everything in the trunk, and if your family loves weekend excursions, you can also pack enough luggage for everyone.

Model	Lexus RX 450h	Toyota Highlander Hybrid	Acura MDX Hybrid	Lexus RX 350
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	18.0	13.8	15.8	18.4

There's a sweeping view to the front and sides, with slender pillars and peekaboo windows ahead of the nice-size mirrors. The rear three-quarter blind spot is not terribly large. -Edmunds

Design and Dimensions

The 2020 model carries the same dimensions as the 2018 Lexus RX and is a mid-size SUV. It is well under 200 inches in length, and almost 75 inches wide. The wheelbase is also quite compact, just under 110 inches. The weight, however, is a bit too much. The hybrid car is especially heavy at 4,464 pounds, which makes it a little difficult to muscle around.

Model	Lexus RX 450h	Toyota Highlander Hybrid	Acura MDX Hybrid	Lexus RX 350
Curb weight (lbs.)	4,740	4,398	4,471	4,222
Length(in)	192.5	192.5	196.2	192.5
Width(in)	74.6	75.8	77.7	74.6
Height(in)	67.7	68.1	67.4	67.7
Ground clearance (in)	8.2	8.0	5.6	8.2
Wheelbase (in)	109.8	109.8	111.0	109.8
Track width (in) F/R	64.4/64.0	64.4/64.2	66.3/66.3	64.4/64

2020 Lexus RX also gets a slew of safety features in its arsenal. Standard features include the following:

• Lexus Enform Safety Connect
• 10 Airbags
• Smart/Stop Technology
• Backup camera with dynamic gridlines
• Vehicle Stability Control
• Rigid Body with crumple zones
• Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Brake assist and electronic brake force distribution
• Rain sensing wipers
• Apart from all these, you get optional safety tech as well
• Windshield wiper de-icer (optional)
• Premium triple-beam headlamps (optional)
• Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Braking (optional)
• LED cornering Foglamps
• Panoramic View Monitor

Lexus RX 450h vs Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Lexus RX is nothing more than a fancier Toyota Highlander, and it shows. The spec sheet is full of identical data for both these cars. Still, the Lexus is a lot more luxury-oriented (hence the high price tag) and a little more powerful as well. If money is an issue, but you would still prefer a hybrid people carrier, then get the Highlander instead.

Lexus RX 450h vs Acura MDX Hybrid

Acura MDX is a great car. So shouldn’t the Acura MDX Sport be an even better car (or possibly the sporty version), right? Wrong! The “Sport” badge isn’t for a performance model, but the hybrid model. It gets an additional electric motor to aid driving, improved fuel economy, and lower emissions. Sadly though, it isn't a very exciting car. As a driver, you might feel that the RX is a little better to respond to steering inputs, but in the real world, the difference is overshadowed by the softness of its suspension, which improves the ride but dulls the cornering ability. Overall, no clear winner here. Except if you want additional seating capacity, but then again, there is the RX 450hL.

 

The 2020 Lexus RX 450 Hybrid is packed with all the Lexus staples, aggressive angular design language, spacious and upscale cabin covered with premium materials, a smooth drive and extremely comfortable seats. However, the infotainment system, especially the joystick used for input is very difficult to use. You will have to develop ambidextrous abilities to use it efficiently. Sans this, everything about this car is on point. Therefore, if you want people to notice you and a car that reflects your love for refinement and luxury, the all-new Lexus RX 450 Hybrid is the car for you.