2021 Lexus RX 450h: 6 Things We Like and 2 Things We Don’t
The 2021 Lexus RX 450h fixes much of what was wrong with this luxurious mid-size SUV, while simultaneously sidestepping the quirks that come along with many hybrid-powered vehicles: strange engine noises, modest passing power at highway speeds, a wooden-feeling brake pedal or cargo area compromised by a bulky battery. Nope, you won’t find any of these faults in the RX 450h.
Related: 2021 Lexus RX 450h Review: The Best RX?
${price_badge_description}
The EV Battery Rating is based on this vehicle's current expected range relative to the vehicles expected range when new. ${battery_badge_text}
Certified cars are manufacturer warrantied and typically go through a rigorous multi-point inspection.
This car is likely to sell soon based on the price, features, and condition.
Looking to have this car delivered to your home? This dealership offers home delivery on some or all of its cars. Contact the dealership with our tools to get details such as qualifying cars, test drive options, and any applicable fees.
You can get more information about this car from your couch through a virtual appointment! Use our tools to contact the dealership to schedule a video consultation. A video walkaround of this car may be available upon request.
${award_blurb}
${award_two_blurb}
After a recent test drive, we’ve decided the hybrid variant is the best of the RX lineup. For not much more than the cost of a gas-only RX 350 fitted with all-wheel drive, the RX 450h offers the same level of cabin comfort, trunk space and driving refinement. Bonus: It offers significantly better fuel economy, with an EPA-estimated 30 mpg in a mix of city and highway driving. Also important: Our major gripes with the infotainment system in the RX are officially a thing of the past.
You can read more about this in our complete review of the 2021 RX 450h, which you’ll find via the related link above. For a rapid recap and list of the things we liked most, plus some lingering annoyances, keep scrolling down.
The main point of opting for a hybrid is the improved fuel economy. The RX 450h delivers an impressive 31 mpg in city driving and 28 mpg on the highway; that’s much better than the 19/26 mpg city/highway posted by the RX 350. What makes the RX hybrid even more appealing is that it starts at only $1,250 more than the non-hybrid model. (Just remember the RX 450h requires premium gasoline.)
Lexus knows how to craft an elegant and (mostly) user-friendly cabin. The materials are high-quality, with soft-touch surfaces and dampened controls that create a truly premium look and feel. During our time behind the wheel, we noted the roominess of the front and rear seating, as well as generous cargo space.
With 308 total system horsepower, the gas-electric powertrain doesn’t run out of steam when you need some quick acceleration. What’s even better is how the RX 450h doesn’t act like a hybrid. Sure, there’s some drone from the engine here and there, but from behind the wheel, the RX 450h gets about its business minus the weird chirps, whirrs and buzzes that often bedevil other hybrid vehicles. The brake pedal also earned praise during our test drive; its smooth and linear action is reassuring, and much better than other hybrid Toyota vehicles we’ve driven.
This was big news for the 2020 model year, though it bears repeated celebration. The RX received long-overdue touchscreen controls. Previously, all infotainment controls were done via a maddeningly imprecise touchpad on the console. That dreaded touchpad remains, though you’ll never need to use it thanks to the available touchscreens that measure in at 8 or 12.3 inches, depending on the model.
The 2021 Lexus RX lineup, including the hybrid (but excluding three-row L versions), score the highest marks possible in crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Newly standard active-safety features on the 2021 RX 450h include blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. This is in addition to the already lengthy list of standard safety features that are part of what Lexus calls its Safety System Plus 2.0.
The available F Sport trim gives the RX 450h a little more swagger thanks to alloy wheels and aluminum trim pieces scattered throughout the exterior and interior. An available handling package retunes the suspension and steering, though the differences are mild. If you like the looks of the F Sport, that’s great; if you’d rather save your money and can live with the design and slightly less sporty dynamics of the standard 450h, that works, too.
More From :
Forgotten but not gone — that’s how best to sum up the touchpad controller that lurks within this Lexus. The touchscreens make it redundant, thank goodness. During our test drive, we only used the center console-mounted touchpad when using the Home button. Other than that, this system is better off ignored.
We’re sorry to disappoint anyone who thinks the lowercase “h” at the end of this Lexus hybrid’s name equates to significant electric driving range. It doesn’t, not at all. Like many Toyota and Lexus hybrids, any electric-only driving is limited to extremely low speeds (think parking lot) and very short distances (once again, limit those EV aspirations to traversing that same parking lot you just imagined). A Tesla-hunter, this Lexus is not.
Related Video: 2021 Lexus IS 350 Review
’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with ’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of ’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
