If an NX is too small for your Lexus plug-in hybrid (PHEV) needs, the RX is your only other option.
We won’t blame you if you’re not familiar with the PHEV version of the RX – the Japanese luxury brand’s largest SUV, before you step up to the off-road-ready flagship LX, based on the Toyota LandCruiser.
The RX is Lexus’s third-best-selling model so far this year, behind the smaller NX and LBX SUVs, but buyers in this segment tend to look to BMW, Land Rover, or Mercedes-Benz instead.
The RX is therefore a bit of an underdog, particularly in the PHEV guise you see on test here.
You could describe the RX as being under the radar, given its silhouette doesn’t stand out from the SUV crowd, and it shares a platform with numerous mainstream Toyota cars, including the Kluger (of closest relation), RAV4, and even the Camry.
Its powertrain isn’t all that uncommon for the segment, with rivals like the BMW X5, Audi Q8, Land Rover Defender, Range Rover Velar, Volkswagen Touareg, and Volvo XC90 all available as PHEVs.
At least in the scheme of overall RX sales, the sole PHEV variant outdoes the two petrol models without trailing traditional hybrids by too much. That’s pretty impressive given it’s the second-most expensive RX currently on sale.
Beyond that, the PHEV was only added to the RX lineup in April of this year, despite the current, fifth-generation RX being launched in Australia in 2022. The RX lineage dates back to 1998, although this is the first iteration to omit a V6 engine, alongside its predecessor’s seven-seat capacity.
The model you see here is the 2026 Lexus RX450h+ Sports Luxury AWD, the sole PHEV variant, which is still somehow out-priced by the range-topping RX500h F Sport Performance.
It’s the first time the model has been available as a PHEV, which is still an uncommon powertrain for Lexus – and its parent company, Toyota.
Is this a sweet spot in the plug-in hybrid catalogue of Lexus?
How much does the Lexus RX cost?
There’s only one PHEV version available for the Lexus RX, and it’s priced at $123,500 before on-road costs.
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
|---|---|
| 2026 Lexus RX350h Luxury 2WD | $93,285 |
| 2026 Lexus RX350h Luxury AWD | $96,950 |
| 2026 Lexus RX350 F Sport AWD | $100,950 |
| 2026 Lexus RX350 Sports Luxury AWD | $106,950 |
| 2026 Lexus RX350h Sports Luxury AWD | $116,850 |
| 2026 Lexus RX450h+ Sports Luxury AWD | $123,500 |
| 2026 Lexus RX500h F Sport Performance AWD | $130,950 |
As mentioned, there are more direct rivals than you may expect.
Deep breath, these include: the BMW X5 xDrive50e M Sport ($153,600 before on-roads), Audi Q8 TFSI e S line ($154,284 before on-roads), Land Rover Defender 110 P300e ($131,100 before on-roads), Range Rover Velar PHEV P400e ($125,511 before on-roads), Volkswagen Touareg R ($133,490 before on-roads), and Volvo XC90 Ultra PHEV ($130,990 before on-roads).
The RX450h+ is cheaper than all these, though some models have cheaper PHEV variants too. Our comparison tool can give you a better idea of how everything lines up.
To see how the Lexus RX stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
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What is the Lexus RX like on the inside?
Certainly luxe, and seemingly well-considered.
As is typical of Lexus, there’s a pleasant flow from one side of the cabin to the other. The experience is complemented by the shapes and material choices, which all work together to not only make everything look nice, but also comfortable and functional.
For one, you’ll notice a cohesive colour palette. Yes, there’s a lot of black and it’s generally quite dark, but the ways chosen to present these dark tones make it interesting – between the black leather, suede, woodgrain panelling, and even the minimal piano black, there’s plenty to keep your eyes happy.
Not only that, but it all still looks premium, like your money has gone somewhere worthwhile. The gunmetal accents are subtle but impactful, there are suede inserts in the doors, and fortunately, none of these aesthetic choices impact usability.
Naturally, the cabin is headlined by the huge infotainment display, which is integrated into a piano black panel that melds nicely into the instrument display housing. A criticism is that the infotainment graphics are nearly identical to standard Toyota systems, and therefore not quite as exclusive.
It’s at least easy to navigate, responsive, and offers wireless Apple CarPlay (despite wired Android Auto), but a Lexus-themed skin over everything would be nice. You can say the same about the climate control system pulled straight out of the Toyota parts bin, which is mainly digital – aside from the two almost-real temperature dials.
These aren’t quite as notchy as we’d like, but their digital readouts look the part. The lowermost climate ribbon will also stay in place when Apple CarPlay is active, which means it’s always accessible.
A little more cumbersome are the steering wheel buttons, which look real but are actually touch-sensitive. This is Lexus’s way of hiding more controls behind fewer buttons, and you can change what each D-pad controls by pressing the large flat buttons on either side.
In practice, these are fiddly because they require more than one press to ‘wake up’ and respond to your input. There may be more controls hidden in here, but we’d rather these have their own dedicated buttons at the expense of an uncluttered wheel.
It’s worth mentioning that these also fiddle with the crisp instrument display, but there are loads of hidden menus that, when combined with the haptic buttons, can be difficult to wade through.
Not even the door handles are free from these small quirks, as they’re Lexus’s electric ‘handles’ that instead press like buttons to open the doors. These aren’t annoying, and you’ll quickly get used to them – but they may be something that will throw you off initially.
Otherwise, comfort is key, which the seats provide in bucketloads. Not only are they upholstered in a mix of quality leather and suede, but they are also heated, ventilated, and well-bolstered. Additionally, there’s a huge range of electric adjustment that makes it easy to get in and situated – the way everything angles towards the driver is also satisfying.
You’ll also notice black woodgrain inserts on the leather-wrapped steering wheel, which we like, even if they’re a little over-the-top.
We found the wheel to be nice to hold and sized appropriately for a car of the RX’s stature. The driving position is strong as a result, while nothing feels like it’s too far out of reach without stretching your hands or leaning forward.
Storage around the cabin is also good, even if it isn’t all immediately apparent. There are the standard passenger glovebox and large door bottle holders, as well as a soft central armrest that can open to face either the driver or passenger, revealing a sizeable storage box.
There are also two exposed USB-C ports, and a sliding cover ahead of the two cupholders. In there is another USB-C port and one USB-A port (totalling four ports), a 12V outlet, and a wireless phone charging pad – all very discreet, and keeps phones safely out of sight when driving.
You’ll find something everywhere you look in here – precisely as a high-spec Lexus should be – even without going overboard with the piano black plastic. Plus, the 21-speaker Mark Levinson system sounds incredible.
The RX’s second row is spacious, and the height of the floor, combined with the large door opening, makes it easy to climb in. You’ll find the bench seat is finished in the same leather-suede mix as up front, and they’re more supportive than you’d expect.
This makes them comfortable, and you’re unlikely to slide around as much as in other SUVs around turns. There’s plenty of room for adults back here, though a small ‘driveline’ hump compromises legroom in the middle.
Passengers at least get loads of niceties, including a dedicated climate control panel and dual USB-C ports on the back of the centre console, as well as both heating and ventilation for the outboard seats.
Rounding it all off is a soft central armrest with cupholders and retractable sunshades on the windows. Despite that black headliner, the space also feels super airy on account of the panoramic sunroof up top.
Annoyingly, Lexus doesn’t quote a boot capacity figure for the RX. In the metal, the floor space feels larger than the 500 litres offered in the X5, and comparable to the 810-litre area of the Touareg R.
The RX’s sloping roofline means there isn’t as much leeway for tall cargo as there is in its boxier rivals, but it won’t be any more difficult to load it up. Its floor sits at a nice height, and there’s a powered tailgate as standard.
Two electric switches make it easy to drop or raise the rear seatbacks for extra space, and you could add a fridge for long trips thanks to the 12V outlet nearby. Scattered around are also a series of cargo hooks and tie-down points, and under the floor are cubbies for loose items, including charging cables.
It all makes for a very practical space, even if there’s no spare wheel – a tyre repair kit is standard instead.
| Dimensions | Lexus RX450h+ |
|---|---|
| Length | 4890mm |
| Width | 1920mm |
| Height | 1695mm |
| Wheelbase | 2850mm |
| Cargo capacity | – |
To see how the Lexus RX stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
What’s under the bonnet?
The Lexus RX PHEV features a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, which is then mated with a continuously variable automatic transmission. Incorporated into the transmission is a 134kW/270Nm electric motor, contributing to a peak system power output of 227kW – though Lexus doesn’t quote a combined torque figure.
| Specifications | Lexus RX450h+ |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5L naturally aspirated 4cyl |
| Engine outputs | 136kW/227Nm |
| Electric motor outputs | 134kW/270Nm |
| System outputs | 227kW |
| Battery | 18.1kWh li-ion |
| Transmission | CVT |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Kerb weight | 2200kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 6.5s |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 1.3L/100km |
| Fuel economy (as tested) | 5.4L/100km |
| Energy consumption (as tested) | 22.1kWh/100km |
| Electric driving range (PHEV, NEDC) | 85km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 55L |
| Fuel requirement | 95-octane premium unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 29g/km |
| Emissions standard | Euro 6 |
| Braked tow capacity | 1500kg |
Additionally, the RX450h+ features a 7kW onboard charger. This means it takes around 7.5 hours to fully charge using a Type 2 cable at 10A, or 2.5 hours at 32A if at a public charger.
Our week with the car involved primarily highway driving, though there was also a bit of time spent on inner-city errand-running. This car was also tested for a video review on the CarExpert YouTube channel, which involved some higher-intensity driving at the Lang Lang Proving Ground.
Some of this will have contributed to our higher-than-claimed fuel economy figure, but it’s generally very difficult to get any PHEV to be as efficient as manufacturers claim.
To see how the Lexus RX stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
How does the Lexus RX drive?
As has long been the case with non-performance Lexus models, the RX’s validity as a luxury SUV boils down to uncompromised comfort.
For the most part, it behaves as it should. The ride is naturally far better sorted than most mainstream models, though its tendency towards the firmer side makes the car feel much more substantial, with no unexpected behaviour that suggests any lack of effort from the Lexus engineers.
Being a Sports Luxury model, drivers also get the benefit of adaptive suspension as standard, which is especially compliant compared to standard passive models. It also means that firmness changes depending on the drive mode selected, ranging from a compliant daily ride to a sharper, sportier vibe.
A downside is that, unlike in some of its more expensive rivals, you don’t have quite as much control over the RX’s suspension, as it lacks capacity for nuanced adjustments.
Still, it all makes for an SUV that can confidently tackle inner-city bumps, and the nicely weighted steering should make the driver feel equally as confident when diving down side streets or navigating carparks.
This steering also gets heavier when dialling up into the RX’s sport modes, complementing the firmer ride. It’s still a big, heavy SUV, but body control is impressively managed if you decide to push into some more spirited driving.
As a baseline though, you’ll be impressed by how quiet the RX is on the move. Having a significant portion of a vehicle’s power come from electricity naturally leaves a lot of space to be filled by road noise, but the cabin’s insulation is such that movement is barely audible at urban speeds.
The car will also prioritise electric driving where it can, which is usually at lower speeds, or when under low demand like coasting on the freeway. You may notice a tiny bit more noise when the 2.5-litre engine fires up, but like the mechanically related NX450h+, it’s still surprisingly quiet inside.
It’s simply the level of sophistication we’ve come to expect from high-spec Lexus models. Mind you, that maturity doesn’t mean the RX can’t get down and boogie, as laying your foot into the throttle will have the SUV shoot away in a hurry.
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Its acceleration will take you by surprise, especially given the vehicle’s size and otherwise reigned-in demeanour. But even then, it’s still just as smooth as any other time – you’ll struggle to notice any transmission quirks or the shifts between petrol and electric power.
The electric portion of the drivetrain also means torque delivery is practically instant, mitigating any time that is needed for the engine to fire up or for the transmission to kick down.
There are paddle shifters behind the wheel, but we found their usefulness to be limited. They don’t seem to control regenerative braking strength; instead, they ‘shift’ the CVT between simulated gear steps.
This is only practical for achieving an engine braking effect, like maintaining speed when going downhill or for a quick overtaking manoeuvre. The RX will still recuperate charge as you drive along, but it’s not something you constantly have to think about – there are at least buttons to lock it in electric mode, or avoid draining the battery.
Otherwise, the RX behaves in a predictable manner, which makes it easy to settle in once you’re on the move. Even if its size is daunting to someone coming from a smaller car, you’ll still find it isn’t unwieldy or necessarily difficult to place when driving on narrow roads.
If you’re still uncertain, the RX450h+ offers a comprehensive suite of safety gear that includes an array of high-resolution cameras. These can be accessed at any time using a button below the infotainment screen, and are especially useful when trying to squeeze into a tight parking space.
There’s also adaptive cruise control with lane-tracing, which works reliably on the freeway. We found it to be a little hesitant to apply a lot of steering lock around tighter curves, but for the most part, it performs well to match traffic.
The only real complaint is that it takes a second to accelerate after changing lanes, a common Toyota quirk that often requires manual throttle input to overtake a slower car.
To see how the Lexus RX stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
What do you get?
There are four distinct trim levels in the local Lexus RX range.
2025 Lexus RX Luxury equipment highlights:
- Bi-LED headlights
- LED daytime running lights, fog lights
- Heated exterior mirrors with driver’s side auto-dimming
- Rear privacy glass
- 19-inch alloy wheels with bright machined finish
- Roof rails
- Power tailgate
- 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Android Auto
- Wireless Apple CarPlay
- 12-speaker Panasonic sound system
- Satellite navigation
- DAB+ digital radio
- Lexus Connected Services
- Five x USB-C outlets, two x 12V, one x USB-A
- 8-way power front seats with two-way power lumbar
- Heated front seats
- Leatherette upholstery
- Tri-zone climate control
- Power-adjustable steering column
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Paddle shifters
- Ambient lighting
RX F Sport adds:
- 21-inch gloss black alloy wheels
- Bi-LED headlights
- BladeScan technology
- Adaptive high-beam
- Dynamic auto-levelling
- Cornering lights
- Headlight cleaners
- F Sport exterior appearance package with unique bumpers, grille
- Adaptive suspension
- Aluminium monobloc six-piston calipers
- Hands-free power tailgate
- Surround-view camera
- Dimpled leather-wrapped steering wheel
- F Sport scuff plates
- F Sport shifter
- F Sport instrument cluster
- Heated and ventilated front sport seats
- Aluminium pedals
- Easy access driver’s seat
- Touch-sensitive steering wheel controls
- Multi-colour ambient lighting
- 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system
- Active Noise Control
- Wireless phone charger
- Rear door sunshades
- Smart key card
RX Sports Luxury adds (over Luxury):
- Bi-LED headlights with adaptive high-beam
- 21-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels
- Surround-view cameras
- Adaptive suspension
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system
- Active Noise Control (RX350 only)
- 10-way power front seats with semi-aniline leather upholstery
- 4-way lumbar support and memory
- Heated steering wheel with woodgrain trim
- Power-folding and reclining rear seats
- Heated and ventilated outboard rear seats
- Panoramic sunroof (RX450h+ only)
- Digital rear-view mirror (RX450h+ only)
- Semi-autonomous parking assist (RX450h+ only)
RX500h F Sport Performance adds (over F Sport):
- Enhancement Package(s)
- Matte black 21-inch alloy wheels
- Black aluminium monobloc front calipers
- Piano black bumper side moulding
- Body-coloured rocker trim
- Active Sound Control
- Dynamic Rear Steering
To see how the Lexus RX stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
Is the Lexus RX safe?
The Lexus RX boasts a five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on testing conducted in 2022. This applies to all variants, including the PHEV.
| Category | Lexus RX |
|---|---|
| Adult occupant protection | 90 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 89 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 89 per cent |
| Safety assist | 93 per cent |
Standard safety equipment includes:
- 8 airbags
- Adaptive cruise control
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Driver attention monitoring
- Emergency steering assist
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Intelligent parking assist
- Intersection collision avoidance support
- Lane departure warning
- Lane Tracing Assist (lane centring)
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Safe exit assist
- Speed sign recognition
- Surround-view camera
- Tyre pressure monitoring
To see how the Lexus RX stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
How much does the Lexus RX cost to run?
The Lexus RX is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km – whichever comes first.
| Servicing and Warranty | Lexus RX450h+ |
|---|---|
| Vehicle warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Battery warranty | 10 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | 3 years (Lexus Encore) |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years or 75,000km ($695 each) |
| Total capped-price service cost | $3475 |
It’s worth noting the high-voltage battery warranty for Lexus PHEVs is five years with no mileage limit, but it can be extended by an additional five years subject to an annual battery health check “in accordance with Lexus specifications”.
RX buyers also get three years of free Lexus Encore membership, which includes enticements like access to complimentary loan cars when you service your vehicle.
To see how the Lexus RX stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
CarExpert’s Take on the Lexus RX450h+ Sports Luxury
The RX450h+ is, without a doubt, deserving of its flagship PHEV status.
In the context of its direct rivals and luxury SUVs in general, it’s an option that proves to be a competent all-rounder that’s well worth a look if you’re in the market. It hardly does anything wrong, while nailing all the important things to a high standard.
Even our main complaint of it being slightly less efficient than claimed is barely worth kicking up a fuss over, as it’s a large SUV that’s still more efficient than many mainstream mid-sizers. Manufacturers’ economy claims for PHEVs are never really indicative anyway.
Of course, it’s still easy to roll into a BMW or Land Rover dealership without so much as a second thought, and end up with the keys to quite a good SUV – PHEV or not. We just believe that Lexus’s efforts here present a real challenge for the Europeans, as the addition of a PHEV powertrain has genuinely elevated the RX within this space.
If you can stretch for it, the RX450h+’s ride, comfort, and performance are well worth the premium over the more common NX, while running costs will keep you satisfied at this level of attainable Japanese luxury.
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