Lexus RX 450h+ PHEV: Plug and play

What is it?

Twenty years ago, Lexus lit up the luxury vehicle segment in Australia across a range of vehicles to take the lead in pioneering battery-electric hybrid technology, which carries on to this day.

With the present surge in EV sales the company is in good shape to add to its petrol/electric luxury SUV line-up with a new plug-in hybrid offering — the RX 450h+ AWD.

The SUV comes only in Sports Luxury grade, tucking in just under the RX 500h Sport Performance in price — at $123,500 as opposed to $127,700.

Major plug-in rivals are the BMW X5 xDrive50e, from $125,885 and the Volvo XC90 Ultra, from $124,466.

The latter does offer seven seats to the Lexus’s five.

What’s it cost?

In 2023 the fifth generation SUV came to market completely redesigned, according to Lexus, to ‘look sharper on the road’.

This has been carried forward to the just released plug-in hybrid model.

Designers have pulled back from the ‘overpowering’ hallmark spindle grille, with it playing a more integral role in the new RX.

It is now more upright, accentuating the elongated bonnet and improving airflow into the engine compartment.

Flowing smoothly from the grille, signature L-shaped daytime running lights frame a stylish new headlight design, which aligns with the bonnet’s character lines to further emphasise the updated spindle shape.

A swooping roofline leads to a rear distinguished by muscular fenders and new L-shaped LED light clusters with signature blade lighting in a bar that spans the width of the vehicle, a feature first seen on the UX compact luxury SUV.

On the tailgate the Lexus emblem has been replaced with the L-E-X-U-S name, creating a more modern and simpler look.

Convenience comes from triple-zone climate control, a panoramic sliding sunroof, head-up windscreen display and keyless entry.

Multimedia includes a 14.0-inch touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charger, five USB-C charging points and Lexus Connected Services.

The latter enables remote locking or unlocking of the vehicle, activation of pre-sets for the three-zone climate control, to configure driver profiles, or to use a phone as a digital key.

Sound is well looked after by a premium 21-speaker Mark Levinson surround system.

RX boasts a five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on testing conducted in 2022. This applies to all variants, including the PHEV.

A comprehensive suite of Lexus Safety Sense+ of active safety features, including a Pre-Collision System with intersection collision avoidance support, emergency steering assist and low-speed acceleration suppression, lane departure warning, radar cruise control, lane tracing assist parking support brake, blind spot monitor, plus rear cross traffic alert.

The driver is monitored for checking the ‘pilot’s’ degree of attention when on the move.

Eight airbags take care of passive safety.

All new-generation RX grades feature safe exit assist, where an e-latch electrically activates door handles to detect cyclists or other vehicles passing close to the SUV and can keep the door closed to avoid an accident.

Lexus RX buyers enjoy the Lexus Warranty Experience featuring a 5-year, unlimited kilometre warranty and for RX 450h+ a leading 10-year, unlimited kilometre battery warranty.

This takes in the leading Encore owner benefits program incorporating events with brand ambassadors, special offers with hotel partnerships, and a 5-cents-per-litre Ampol/Caltex fuel discount offer on premium unleaded – among other benefits.

Capped price servicing is offered on all Lexus NX grades, with intervals of 12 months/15,000km, for up to three years or 45,000km, whichever comes first.

What’s it go like?

As expected from a Lexus, the car combines sophistication with comfort.

Features include semi-aniline leather-accented seat trim, 10-way power adjustable front seats with memory, and heated and ventilated front and outboard rear seats.

The power adjustable steering column offers easy access to the steering wheel, with paddle shifters, plus an auto dimming rear-view mirror.

Ambient lighting and carpeted floor mats set a relaxed tone.

Four cup holders are conveniently positioned for occupants, while the boot is accessed via an automatic tailgate and contents hidden by a tonneau cover.

There’s a woodgrain-look instrument panel and steering wheel styling, as well as power reclining and folding rear seats.

The new RX450h+ calls on a 2.5-litre series parallel plug-in hybrid and two electric motors to produce 227kW of combined output in the same powertrain as the NX450h+ mid-size SUV.

Power comes from a powerful lithium-ion battery designed as the primary driver in urban conditions.

Acceleration to 100km/h from standstill comes up in a claimed 6.5 seconds.

Spritely off the mark for its size, the plug-in hybrid system contributes to a claimed fuel use of just 1.3L/100km.

In the real world of town-and-country conditions the test car came up with 4.5L/100km.

MG IM6 Performance: Code for lightning fast

The 18.1 kWh battery is good for a maximum of 85km on a full charge without the petrol engine chiming in.

Should the battery charge drop too low, the PHEV defaults to operating like a regular hybrid (HEV) with the petrol engine providing most of the power. Little range anxiety here.

An air-cooled AC charging system uses a 6.6kW on-board charger, which can charge the battery in as little as 2.5 hours when using a 32A current, or around 7.5 hours with a 10A current.

The variable suspension adds a sporty edge to ride and handling, while the steering stays balanced and responsive.

One final ‘trick’, Lexus’s internal electric door handles are buttons that need to be pressed to open the doors

What we like?

Safe exit assist
Grille not so over-powering
21-speaker Mark Levinson surround system
Encore owner benefits program

What we don’t like?

Only five seats
Internal electric door handles
High fuel consumption than claimed

The bottom line?

‘Luxury of choice’ is the reason for the existence of the RX 450h+ PHEV, says the maker, and in true Lexus tradition of ‘kaizen’ (continuous improvement) the SUV delivers in spades. A smart rival to the European aristocrats.