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The Lexus RX 450 Hybrid – For a quiet day in the country

Car Reviews

The Lexus RX 450 Hybrid – For a quiet day in the country

The Lexus RX 450 Hybrid

For a quiet day in the country

In an article published on April 1st in that day’s Washington Post, reporter Rebecca Tan defined what the stay-at-home orders mean for residents of DC, Maryland and Virginia. And yes, you can walk your dog, you can grab takeout, you’re allowed (in Virginia) to play golf, and – pay attention, ‘cause this is important – you can drive to relax. In a move that has to be more than mere coincidence, Lexus builds a hybrid crossover, the RX 450hL, for just that…a drive to relax.

Since its U.S. debut in the spring of 1998, the RX has evolved into the gold standard among midsize luxury crossovers, becoming the bestseller in its category, as well as the bestseller in the Lexus SUV/CUV space. Given its combination of relatively nimble size, reasonable efficiency and (almost) accessible price point, it’s easy to understand why. In our old neighborhood one family owned three(!), while on a recent drive behind the wheel of our test hybrid I saw three current models at the same intersection.

For 2020 the RX received a modest reboot, something most OEMs are given to doing every couple of years. For the midsize Lexus that reboot included updates to its front and rear fascias, along with a new 18-inch wheel design. Inside, there’s now an available 12.3-inch touchscreen, which is paired with the remote touch pad – and that mod supports “added dynamic voice and navigation functionality.” In a similar vein, the Lexus Multimedia System provides advanced in-dash tech to, as Lexus puts it, simplify a guest’s life. As if the recent ‘shelter in place’ orders haven’t done that…

And that, of course, brings us back to our need to relax. There are, of course, any number of luxury carriages – what we used to call luxury barges – offered on American showrooms. But with urban congestion and suburban sprawl, piloting a 21st century take on Buick’s Electra 225 simply doesn’t hold the appeal it once did. And while the midsize luxury crossover may not be an exact substitute for your father’s (or grandfather’s) big Buick, its combination of high hip point, reasonable greenhouse and manageable size constitutes a great argument for a get-out-of-town getaway. 

Our test RX, the RX 450hL, offers a slightly stretched wheelbase in combination with a third row. To be sure, this is an occasional third row, but as the grandfather of a 7-year old I have more appreciation for the concept than I did seven years ago. And the additional room provides more reason for hanging out, as the RX’s furnishings remain – in this limited view – as one of the best in the near-luxury category. 

In both the first and second rows, there’s more than enough room for us overfed Americans to get comfortable, even in a day’s worth of driving. This isn’t the loose-pillow luxury of the aforementioned Buick, but instead a credibly executed interpretation of what Europeans and Asians have typically done incredibly well: supply a perch for comfortably maintaining control of your automotive domain. Whether the seat covering is the standard NuLuxe or available leather, the impression – both physical and visual – is one of durable luxury, with none of the excess that so often pervades the ‘luxe’ specification.

Under the hood, the hybrid drivetrain nets you a viable combo of performance and efficiency. Lexus Hybrid Drive combines the 3.5 liter V6 with two high-torque motor-generators for what Lexus describes as strong acceleration and passing performance. And it’s been that way since the inception of a Lexus hybrid. Economy – the ‘L’ receives a 29 Combined estimate in EPA testing – goes hand-in-hand with over-the-road performance, and if you want 50 miles per gallon Toyota builds the Prius. We like the dynamic, and despite the downward trend of gas prices, we’ll always like 30 miles per gallon from a luxury crossover, rather than the low 20s you’ll typically net.

With the 3-row RX 450hL offering a base of $50K, if you don’t go ‘stupid’ with the build you can get out the door for $55,000. And if you’ve visited a Hyundai or Kia website, you know that a Palisade or Telluride can easily approach $50,000 when hard-loaded. 

For that quiet, relaxing ride in the country, few things will beat a Lexus.

Boldt, a contributor to outlets such as AutoTrader.com, Kelley Blue Book and Autoblog, brings to his laptop some forty years of experience in automotive retail, journalism and public relations. He is a member of the Texas Auto Writers Association, The Washington Automotive Press Association and L.A.'s Motor Press Guild. David is the Managing Editor of txGarage, a regular panelist on the AutoNetwork Reports webcast/podcast, and the automotive contributor to Dallas' Katy Trail Weekly.

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