Prescription for fuel savings

After being the first ever luxury hybrid on the market in 2005, the Lexus RX was nowhere to be found for the 2009 model year. One would think this would give competitors the chance to steal some sales away from the luxury arm of Toyota.

There’s just one hitch - there never has been, and currently isn’t, a single true competitor to the RX hybrid. There are diesel-powered SUVs out there (such as BMW’s X5) and full-size luxury hybrid SUVs (Cadillac Escalade Hybrid), but nothing quite in the same size and class as the RX 450h.

And not one to rest on its laurels as it pursues perfection, Lexus has come out with a brand new RX hybrid for the 2010 model year. As the new iteration of any self-respecting hybrid should be, it’s more fuel efficient, while power has been increased. In fact, if you’re looking at a Lexus RX in any capacity and power is high on your priority list, you’re actually better served getting the hybrid over the 350.

There are plenty more changes for the latest RX, many of which help with the aforementioned improvement in fuel efficiency, including driver-selectable EV and Eco modes, along with an exhaust gas recirculation system that not only helps reduce fuel consumption, but also reduces smog-forming emissions - because hybrids are about saving the environment just as much as they are about saving you money, right?

EV mode allows the driver to drive at speeds of up to 10 km/h using only the vehicle’s three electric motors, while the Eco mode adjusts throttle response to maximize fuel efficiency. The RX hybrid’s behaviour in each mode is very noticeable; that much is obvious in EV mode. In Eco mode, though, with the gasoline-powered engine working in tandem with the electric motors, there still isn’t nearly as much ‘oomph’ when you need quick acceleration for, say, merging onto a highway. This mode is sure to prove who is truly eager to gain the most fuel efficiency out of their vehicle.

Hybrid or not, the interior of the RX450h is all Lexus, with superb fit-and-finish, a whisper quiet cabin - even with the engine running, we could swear it’s still quieter than some hybrids running in electric-only mode! - and big, soft, comfy seats fitted across two rows.

One thing we weren’t initially sold on, but that we came to like quite a lot, is the mouse-like joystick that’s used to control all of the multimedia functions (similar to BMW’s iDrive or Audi’s MMI). The cursor will ‘stick’ to icons it passes over on the navigation screen, and buttons are smartly placed exactly where your thumb sits. It’s all very intuitive, and something we’d like to see more of in the future.

We’re suckers for any vehicle - no matter what size or body style - that proves it has a little versatility, and though the RX450h doesn’t exactly set new standards in this way, it’s still roomy enough to hold several golf bags or weeks of groceries in the rear cargo area. It has 60/40 split fold-flat second row seats that can be moved up or down easily with one hand, along with plenty of hooks for bags and cubbies to store smaller items that could easily tumble around and get lost or broken if not otherwise secured.

The new RX is very good at what it does and it’s obvious that Lexus still put a lot of thought into it. It should appeal very much to both luxury crossover shoppers, as well as those looking for a fuel-sipping hybrid. Only catch is, this one will cost a pretty penny.