Is The Lexus RX400h Going To Be The Benchmark For A Green SUV?

I would day no. The RX400h is a performance hybrid and rightfully so it gives up some economy that is expect from any hybrid model. The Escape hybrid with it's 4 cylinder might have less performance but certainly offers the expected gains in mileage that the RX lacks. And as I am sure people will start yelling shortly an Escape isn't exactly in the same class as the RX but the Escape delivers excellent mileage that could certainly have been obtained by a different setup in the RX. And that would put it as a benchmark for the green SUVs.

— 91z4me (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 11:45:59 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 8   

Yes

— silver1 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 12:40:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -9   

this SUV has been looking the same ever since the introduction of the Nintendo GameCube. why is lexus so afraid redesigning it? its not gonna be sellin like how it first did if the design stays the same

— KZ258 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 12:49:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

NO fuel economy is no different than the gas version

— kpaxx (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 12:56:24 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

certainly not a benchmark. it only gets marginally better mileage than its gasoline-only sibling.

and since when is 25MPG green?

— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 1:00:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

Green SUV???
The only "geeen" SUV is the one that is non-operable, IMO.

— Shredmo (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 1:02:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 10   

And here we go with LEXUS haters!!

— EL44 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 1:14:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

Not the bench mark. It was an excuse to make a hybrid SUV, just as the LS600hl is another excuse.

These vehicles arent the benchmark for anything green.

— w209w114 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 1:32:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

the better question is why there is a review on a 5 year old car.

— LexusKindaGuy12 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 1:52:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

Is this POS even a SUV? Most are front-wheel drive.

— Dr550 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 6:58:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Agreed, LX-H will be so cool=Huge beast + economic + reliable.......

— hao420 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 7:11:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Benchmark? Well yes since TOYOTA is ahead with this technology ahead of the others. But in the real world they need to get quality up. What am I talking about? My ex-girl has two Toyota's (Lexus). They both broke down on the same day.

Her 2006 400h left her stranded. I told her to leave it at the dealership until they could figure it out. They couldn't replicate the issue, which is normal for most dealers as cars "behave" when at the dealer. They gave it back to her and it shut down again leaving her stranded again at night on the highway. Is this the same problem with as with the Prius? Very similar. She is now thinking of getting rid of it. She purchsed brand new and it now has 32,000 miles.

And the gas mileage is not good at all. But I will give Toyota much credit for looking ahead and putting money into this technology many years ago, knowing the payoff was much further down the road. And it is paying off much sooner than they expected.

— 1BadMan (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 2:23:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I heard someone comment on the Escape Hybrid, but for some reason people seem to forget the Saturn VUE greenline as well.

For a luxury hybrid it is spot on. Considering most SUVs get 17-23mpg (city/highway) and the RX400h gets 24-25, good improvement. This was also a test so the person was probably playing around and hitting the gas to get a feel for acceleration a lot.

Drive it like you are really conserving and you will see the # go up. Just owning the hybrid is not going to help a lot unless you can change your habits and slow down.

I just passed my mileage for my Matrix. It is rated at 23-29 for the AWD model, I hit 31mpg! Before when I drove like I usually do I was averaging 23mpg and 223 miles to the tank. Now I average 300 miles to a tank and 30mpg all from driving slower.

You want to make a difference, slow down.

— Whelan (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 4:48:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I would say that for my style of driving these would be much better options:

X5 3.0sd with a Combined European Cycle of 34.4 mpg ( 27.4 / 40.4 )
or the
Q7 3.0 TDI with a Combined European Cycle of 28.8 mpg ( 21.9 / 34.9 ) .

— I95SPEEDINGTICKETS (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 6:00:50 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

measuring the gas mileage after 100 miles makes no sense.

— olscuul (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 6:54:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Lexus will never build a car that can be called benchmark in any category. All Lexus does is build Japanese Buicks for badge whores who want their Toyotas to wear an L on the front grill. Lexus benchmark... yeah, right...ha, ha, ha...

— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 7:51:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

enthusiast,
25mpg with a 3.3L engine is greener than an X6's 3.0L 15mpg.
The RX performs as designed, a genuine crossover. The X6 is an inefficient hatchback that pretends its sporty.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 10:53:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Star,
Lexus invented the crossover and has always been the benchmark. BMW couldn't compete so they invented the SAC.

Don't be ashamed that you can't afford the financing rates that Toyota charges, best you stick with BMW's 1% poser rate.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 10:54:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

There's always Audi's 2.9% or MB's cash rebates if your parents can afford a little more.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 10:57:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Star,
Really.
http://www.toyota.ca/cgi-bin/WebObjects/WWW.woa/1/wo/Home.TFS-4kqXd7qbojBFNIkbzyNunw/10.9

2009 models are 6% and up.
Tundra is 8.5% and 9.35%.
Sequoia, 8% across the board.

Used vehicle rates are 9% and 10%.
http://www.toyota.ca/cgi-bin/WebObjects/WWW.woa/1/wo/Home.TFS-4kqXd7qbojBFNIkbzyNunw/13.11.10

Check out these rich-guy rates. 2% or $3000+ rebates.
http://www.bmw.ca/content/springSale/springSale_fs.asp?lang=en

Perhaps you should get your license before you pretend to even have a clue about cars little boy. If you're lucky, maybe BMW will give you a car to pad their sales numbers.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/28/2008 7:47:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

What's wrong star, facts got your tongue?

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 6/1/2008 1:19:14 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1