Drive Notes: 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ Luxury AWD

by Tim Healey

Published: October 22nd, 2024

drive notes 2024 lexus rx 450h luxury awd

My most recent test ride was a 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ Luxury AWD plug-in hybrid. Whew, I need to take a breath already.

Long name aside, how does the PHEV version of the crossover that started it all work as a daily driver?

The answer, which I will expand upon below, is: Quite smoothly.

This PHEV mates a 2.5-liter four-cylinder to front and rear electric motors for all-wheel drive, and it has a continually-variable automatic transmission.

This is the first PHEV RX and it comes standard in the Luxury trim. Traffic-jam assist is available. The base price for this test ride was $68,730.

Standard features included multi-zone climate control, SafetySense+ 3.0 advanced driver-assist (lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, smart cruise control, and more), blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, digital door latch, satellite radio, navigation, infotainment, heated and cooled front/rear outboard seats, panoramic glass roof, heated steering wheel, 21-inch wheels, wireless cell-phone charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a head-up display.

Options included a Convenience Package (traffic-jam assist, panoramic monitor, LED headlamps, Mark Levinson audio, power tailgate, remote parking, digital key, rearview-mirror camera, puddle lamps, and more. Total price with destination? $76,505.

Here are my pros and cons.

Pros

As has been the case for the past two decades, give or take, the RX is smooth, silent, and nicely upscale though not opulent.
The ride is silky even on Chicago's pock-marked streets.
Outside noise stays outside.
Interior controls are intuitive and easy to use.
The overall package is well put together.

Cons

The RX's steering remains numb and not particularly engaging.
Handling is just "meh" at best.
That sticker price is cringe-inducing.
You'll never feel so anonymous.
It feels a bit too heavy.

The RX is put together well, easy to live with, sips fuel, and has an upscale cabin. All of those are nice attributes. But the driving dynamics are sleepy, the cost is high, and the styling anonymous.

That's been the RX story forever -- this time, it's just electrifed.

[Images: Lexus]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.

#DriveNotes #CarReviews #Lexus #LexusRX #2024LexusRX #RX #2024LexusRX450hAWD #ElectrifiedVehicles

Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

More by Tim Healey

Comments

Join the conversation

1 comment

Jbltg 2 hours ago
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

Like Reply
Urlik 14 seconds ago
Here’s another con: car will kill its 12V battery within 2 weeks if you don’t drive it. You can do it in an hour if you run accessories without putting the car in ready mode. Lexus’ 12V battery maintenance software has left way too many owners with a dead car.

Like Reply Unapproved!

Recent Comments

Plaincraig I am in the lower end of ladder of income ($50,000 a year with OT) I do have a house I bought just before the spike and I stayed within my budget. I was going to buy a new car as my 07 PT Cruiser with 240K is on its last legs. But the home insurance and taxes has doubled my house payment in seven years. Now I am looking for a used car. I could afford a new car in 07. I make more money, not much more after inflation adjustement, but darn I really was looking forward to a new car. I guess better to sleep in house at night then a car
The Oracle Won’t be in the market for a good bit myself, but I am liking the turbo I6 offerings lately. The 3.0 T6 in my long-retired company 2012 XC60R finally burnt a valve at 280K and I have a 100K motor/trans going back in for $1300 and a lot of sporadic self performed labor. Been a good vehicle, worth a service life extension.
MaintenanceCosts Frustrated seller hit his limit with Italian mechanical tomfoolery, lowballed himself. Hopefully he rethinks, because even with all those miles this is worth a lot more than $3k.
Fred If real, this car is probably sold or soon will be. Clean out the fuel, diagnosis the electrical, fix what you want and enjoy or flip onto BAT for $30,000.
Zerofoo Europe destroys itself every 100 years or so. The next time they do - we should not save them.