Lexus RX400h AWD

Lexus RX400h AWD - The primary purpose of a hybrid vehicle is to save gas, yet hybrid technology has made some models, such as the Honda Accord hybrid and the RX400h, quicker than their gas-only counterparts. Getting more miles per gallon and going quicker from 0 to 60 mph is the kind of thinking we like.

For 2007, many previously standard features on RXs — such as the leather interior, sunroof, and navigation system — are now options. That brings the base price of a 2007 AWD RX400h down to $43,295, but that’s still about $3800 more than the base price of a 2007 AWD RX350.

What we really wanted to know about this hybrid, of course, was how it fared at the pumps. The EPA rates the RX400h at 31 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, and we averaged 24 mpg over 40,000 miles. It’s true that we have heavy feet here in Ann Arbor, so we sent the RX out to Pat Bedard in Arizona because he loves to tease every last drop of juice out of hybrids.

On the other side of the performance equation, the RX400h was indeed a quick SUV, turning a respectable 0-to-60-mph time of 7.5 seconds and a 15.9-second, 90-mph quarter-mile time in its initial test. But we didn’t have time between acceleration runs for the steady-state cruising required to fully charge the batteries.

To many drivers the transition from purely electric to gas and electric power wasn’t always smooth, and the amount of added power delivered was unpredictable. Many also felt a lurch and heard a clunking sound when the gas engine kicked in when the vehicle was at a complete stop. Most drivers thought that a $50,000 Lexus should behave more smoothly.

The RX400h required service every 5000 miles, most just oil and oil-filter changes, tire rotations, and inspections, and the bills ran from $124 to $172. The more complicated service at 30,000 miles set us back $330. We spent $1316 on routine service, which was $400 more than it cost for our long-term Cayenne S.

Interestingly, because of the regenerative braking assistance, the RX400h’s pads wore down very little: we estimated that the front and rear brake pads should last well over 100,000 miles and might not need replacement for the life of the vehicle.

Despite its quirks, our RX400h turned out to be a spry and fuel-efficient luxury SUV, which is a rare combination in this price segment. For some people, that will be more than enough to justify the premium over an RX350.