There’s a common trend among luxury automakers of taking their most popular models and arming them with hybrid capabilities. It’s genius, actually, seeing as they’re taking vehicles that appeal to their clientele and enhancing them, providing drivers with even more options to enjoy their favorite nameplates. They don’t start from scratch; they merely upgrade what’s already working. This is exactly what Lexus has done to its midsize SUV, the RX, over the past couple of years, and if you see a Lexus RX for sale, pay attention to its hybrid variants. Not only does this signature nameplate offer all the luxurious features drivers have come to know and love, but it can also be enjoyed in various hybrid flavors, which makes it even more desirable in the industry.
In a highly competitive segment, luxury automakers are proving that their hybrid options are perhaps even better than the originals. When it comes to the RX, this crowd favorite is turning even more heads than ever. So, is the Lexus RX the best hybrid luxury SUV? Now that drivers are able to enjoy it with traditional hybrid and plug-in hybrid capabilities, it may just be one of the best, if not the best, and here’s why.
Meet the First-Ever RX PHEV
The RX has been a staple in the luxury SUV arena for decades, with hybrid variants gracing the pavement since 2005. This has given Lexus drivers the chance to enjoy one of the best SUVs that ever existed in a whole new way. For 2024, the RX is now available in even more hybrid flavors, with the debut of a plug-in hybrid variant adding even more value to the overall drive. Plenty of luxury automakers have decided to toss a PHEV variant into the mix, like BMW with its X5 PHEV and Mercedes-Benz with its GLE450e PHEV. This is nothing new. However, the RX is a gem in the luxury SUV arena, and arming it with these types of hybrid capabilities takes it to a whole new level of greatness.
The RX 450h+ PHEV takes a spirited 2.5L four-cylinder gasoline engine and pairs it up with a high-density lithium-ion battery pack to heighten efficiency and performance on the streets. With 304 hp driving it forward, the RX 450h+ knows how to energize the ride. Plus, with outstanding efficiency, travelers are able to take advantage of a better ride with fewer stops at the gas station. Able to travel on electric-only power for an estimated 37 miles and get 83 MPGe, the 2024 RX 450h+ perfectly blends the power of gas and the efficiency of electricity to create perhaps the best experience to date in this iconic SUV.
Power Packed Experience
The Lexus RX showcases hybrid performance in a way that you just can’t find elsewhere. It’s a more powerful hybrid, and the proof is in the feeling it gives you behind the wheel. With F Sport performance, the RX’s hybrid variants deliver an exciting ride, with customizable drive modes and personalization options to heighten the drive in every way. Gone are the days of being disappointed in hybrid capabilities, believing that hybrids can’t offer an invigorating ride. With today’s luxury hybrids, like the Lexus RX, Volvo XC60 Recharge, and others, drivers are able to enjoy more horsepower, a more dynamic ride, and better handling combined with the efficiency that can only be found in a hybrid.
Enhanced Handling
In addition to a more energetic ride quality, the Lexus RX handles like a dream, allowing drivers to sink into the drive like never before. With an Adaptive Variable Suspension, the RX F Sport models elevate control as they’re traveling around the twists and turns of the road, improving handling and the overall experience, no matter where you’re traveling. Consistently changing with the various road conditions it’s traveling on, the RX evaluates the terrain and responds with up to 650 levels of damping to ensure the most comfortable ride possible at all times. Available Dynamic Rear Steering helps enhance control even more by adding steering to the rear wheels to ensure maximum control while traveling at low speeds. Through these fantastic features, the RX is able to offer a one-of-a-kind ride, which is exactly what luxury buyers are looking for in their everyday travelers.
Go Anywhere
The luxury segment is showing that its vehicles aren’t just limited to highway driving; they can travel anywhere they please with confidence. That’s why models like the Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid and others are available with all-wheel drive capabilities to allow drivers to traverse uneven terrain and dangerous road conditions with certainty. The RX hybrid models showcase an exceptional AWD system that prioritizes traction and control in some of the most challenging environments imaginable. This electric AWD system utilizes an independent rear motor to provide instant torque to the rear wheels so that you can remain safe and controlled no matter what.
You’ll also find the DIRECT4 all-wheel drive system in the lineup on the RX 500h hybrid, with a high-output rear motor that sends the right amount of power to the rear wheels. Consistently addressing each wheel and sending power to the wheels that need it the most, this intelligent system further solidifies the RX’s reign in the luxury industry. Today’s luxury hybrids are showing the world that they’re unafraid of bad weather, challenging road conditions, uneven terrain, and anything else.
The Luxury Hybrid Revolution
For Lexus and other luxury brands, offering hybrids in their arsenals that deliver the features and capabilities that drivers want has become the norm. How Lexus is positioning itself apart from the crowd is its focus on performance, with its RX hybrid lineup showcasing powerful rides, exceptional handling, and control in some of the most challenging driving conditions. Luxury hybrids are taking over the industry, as they perfectly pair heightened levels of extravagance with hybrid innovation, making them more efficient and appealing to those who are searching for a luxury-level traveler. Drivers are able to have enhanced confidence while traveling while also enjoying the elegance that you’ll only find in high-end vehicles. It creates an experience that many drivers haven’t had before, allowing them to enjoy impeccable fuel efficiency and performance, all wrapped into a refined luxury package.
The Trendsetting RX
Is the Lexus RX the best hybrid luxury SUV on the scene? It certainly is one of them, considering that it was the world’s first luxury crossover utility vehicle and has only continued to set trends ever since. It’s been a game-changer in the industry since it first made its way onto the scene in 1998, and Lexus has transformed it to meet the ever-changing demands of modern-day travelers. Lexus is doing what many of its fellow luxury automakers are doing—enhancing its very best nameplates with hybrid capabilities to draw in more drivers who prioritize efficiency during the ride.
The famed luxury brand sets itself apart by going a step beyond this and offering elevated features to improve the overall experience. From a specialized suspension system to all-wheel drive capabilities that blow competitors out of the water, the RX hybrid lineup is able to travel anywhere with confidence, offering their occupants sophisticated features and an air of superiority surrounding them. The RX is a true superstar in the luxury SUV arena, and when it comes to hybrid technology, the luxury segment is taking these capabilities to a whole new level of excellence.
