On 10/7/2025 at 4:01 PM, Oldngold said:

Well - just managed this in  311 mile round turn on A roads and M ways. 
 

I’ll admit no speed over 65 as there really isn’t any point due to M25 congestion etc 

TFS

TTFN

ROFL

Lol

On 10/8/2025 at 9:29 AM, rich1068 said:

35.5mpg is pretty good  I'm sure I could have managed something like that if our holiday had been a longer run.

I watched one of JJ On Cars recent videos the other day and that RX had the small display and did look odd initially but really in 2025 the big screen is just a bauble. It's not like the nav is usable any more. If I drove round Sheffield using the 2018 maps Royal Mail would need a van to deliver all the bus gate fines.

He also did a recent one on the GS450h

 

Great video and I align with his thoughts. Analogue really is easier on the eye in the cabin and tech is out of date the moment you buy it. Phone suffices for navigation so overall, very happy not to have the big screen to worry about. 

For those interested I did a test over the weekend, as I was travelling from London to Bath, about 100 miles each way, with approx half being motorway miles and half being on reasonably fast A roads, with fairly light traffic.

I filled up before setting off with Esso premium petrol (E5), and on both the outward and return trips used cruise control where possible/practical. The only difference was that outbound I used normal mode, and for the return I put the car in Eco mode. Both jouneys took about 2 hours and 20 minutes.

According to the car I achieved 38 mpg in normal mode on the outward trip, and 37.5 mpg in Eco mode for the return journey. So, at least for lonegr trips, using motorways and fast roads, Eco mode was of no use at all.

Eco mode dulls the throttle response so long motorway journeys at a steady speed won't really change anything ,now if it had been a nice drive along country lanes you should notice a bigger difference due to the varying speeds

14 hours ago, MCav said:

Eco mode dulls the throttle response so long motorway journeys at a steady speed won't really change anything ,now if it had been a nice drive along country lanes you should notice a bigger difference due to the varying speeds

That's what I figured but had never tested it for myself.

I should also have added above that for the most part I kept to a speed of 60-65mph. I've found it makes little to no difference to journey times, and instead allows for a fairly constant speed, without much need for braking and accelerating.

6 hours ago, Bluemarlin said:

journey times

Agree on that. On short stretches 100-200 miles with mixed roads it doesn’t make much difference in journey times between 65 and 70 mph. 60-65 is sweet spot for better mileage and relaxed driving. However, we need lot of patience to do that. 

Or drive it like you stole it with a big grin on your face and worry about the fuel milage later👍

I suppose if you did mega miles pa and money is tight, being very light-footed might be sensible.  I only drive a few miles nowadays but enjoy the experience, which I wouldn't if I were constantly concerned about getting two or three additional mpg.  When I consider all the  heavy costs of depreciation, Insurance, maintenance etc., that small difference in mpg would make a very small difference in annual cost of running my car. 

Mine, (Rx400h, 160k miles and maintained regardless of cost) is generally used for short, local town trips - a few hundred miles of this sees an average of 32mpg.

I do use it for work trips occasionally, and always reset the trip for this - motorway use, maintaining a good speed and accelerating normally etc see's a return of 28mpg, although glancing at the trip during the drive indicates it fluctuates between 18-26mpg on the motorway.

TL;DR - low mpg is a fact of life for the Rx on motorway journeys.

I had a 2019 Rx450hL for a year and that wasn't significantly different in mpg.

 

Just back from a loooong trip up the A1M. Cameras/roadworks aplenty. Cannot argue with this level of MPG for a 2 tonne 2008 car! Waze also worked a treat alerting me to cameras although I wish the alerts were louder if the radio is also on.

 

1 hour ago, BrettMRC said:

Mine, (Rx400h, 160k miles and maintained regardless of cost) is generally used for short, local town trips - a few hundred miles of this sees an average of 32mpg.

I do use it for work trips occasionally, and always reset the trip for this - motorway use, maintaining a good speed and accelerating normally etc see's a return of 28mpg, although glancing at the trip during the drive indicates it fluctuates between 18-26mpg on the motorway.

TL;DR - low mpg is a fact of life for the Rx on motorway journeys.

I had a 2019 Rx450hL for a year and that wasn't significantly different in mpg.

 

Obviously there'll be some difference between different cars, but my experience is the opposite.

My 2009 RX450h, with 120k miles, has an average over the last 4yrs/25k miles of around 32mpg. Driving around town on short trips is usually between 28-32mpg, often dependent on what petrol I put in. However, when I go on a long run to France, with E5 fuel, I get around 40mpg on the way out, doing 60-65mph, and around 32mpg on the way back doing 70+.

Think it's slighltly over reading, 365 miles for £59 at 1.32 a litre. MIght try E5 fuel and see if I can crack 40mpg. Not too shabby for a 2 tonne nearly 20 year old car with 150k miles on the clock.

Edited October 19, 2025Oct 19 by Russell Wheeler