RonC

I have been away from these boards for some 2 years now after buying a RX300SE and outing it very quickly due to very poor economy (18 MPG average).

My local Lexus dealer has asked me if I would test drive the NEW RX450h when it arrives as he says "It will be very much more economical than any of the others"................ Well the last RX400h I borrowed from a mate only gave 27MPG nursing it so this new one me suspects will not be much better, your thoughts?.

Your dealer is not lying (this time) . I owned a 2006 RX400h and averaged 27.6 for all kinds of driving ... better in town and lower on the road. It had EXCELLENT power, and if you used it the mileage would definately go down. I also only used premium fuel, it would run regular, but the mileage hit was proportionate so I just stuck with premium.

The real reason I am posting is that I just traded my '06 in on a new 2010 RX450h. What an upgrade! MUCH nicer car! Nav system controls are the best I've ever seen. Mileage is 10% better than the '06 (consistently getting 30 mpg). Although the advertised horsepower is up, I admit that the '06 "felt" stronger ... the 2010 is no dog mind you, just that the '06 was a HOT ROD and the 2010 is heavier and the power seems to be more smoothly applied. It is still quite strong and 0-60 numbers are nearly the same, just doesn't have the "kick in the pants" feel that the '06 had. Price is up, but the content is up more so the value proposition is improved ... buy one ... you'll love it. It's a better value for the money than the '06 was. The '06 wasn't real "upscale" in it's feel ... the 2010 definately has that upscale feel ... it feels like a Lexus should feel. The '06 felt more like a "fancied up" Toyota, IMHO.

I have owned an RX400h SE since October last year.

My one criticism is the petrol consumption is nowhere near Lexus quoted figure, I get around 31mpg on my journey to and from work and around 28mpg on a motorway journey.

This is still very good for a vehicle of its type, but I do wonder why they don't make a diesel hybrid, surely this would be the true fuel saver.

bill

Hi Bill, I have owned the Lexus hybrid since July of 2005. We are only getting 23-24 mph on the highway and the same in town, so you are doing much better. How do you get such great mileage?

Steve

I have no idea why you are getting such low MPG.

The worst I've had is 27mpg on a run.

If I keep to 60mph I can get 32mpg.

bill

I have owned an RX400h SE since October last year.

My one criticism is the petrol consumption is nowhere near Lexus quoted figure, I get around 31mpg on my journey to and from work and around 28mpg on a motorway journey.

This is still very good for a vehicle of its type, but I do wonder why they don't make a diesel hybrid, surely this would be the true fuel saver.

bill

Hi Bill, I have owned the Lexus hybrid since July of 2005. We are only getting 23-24 mph on the highway and the same in town, so you are doing much better. How do you get such great mileage?

Steve

I have no idea why you are getting such low MPG.

The worst I've had is 27mpg on a run.

If I keep to 60mph I can get 32mpg.

bill

I am in the USA, and it sounds like you are in England. Are you figuring your mileage in miles per hour and miles per gallon as I am? Consumer Reports and all of the auto magazines over here are finding the same reduced mileage that I am getting.

Steve

I owned a 2006 RX400h and averaged 27.6 for all kinds of driving ... better in town and lower on the road. It had EXCELLENT power, and if you used it the mileage would definately go down. I also only used premium fuel, it would run regular, but the mileage hit was proportionate so I just stuck with premium.

The real reason I am posting is that I just traded my '06 in on a new 2010 RX450h. What an upgrade! MUCH nicer car! Nav system controls are the best I've ever seen. Mileage is 10% better than the '06 (consistently getting 30 mpg). Although the advertised horsepower is up, the '06 "felt" stronger ... the 2010 is no dog mind you, just that the '06 was a HOT ROD and this one is heavier and the power seems to be more smoothly applied. It is still quite strong and 0-60 numbers are nearly the same, just doesn't have the "kick in the pants" feel that the '06 had. Price is up, but the content is up more ... buy one ... you'll love it. It's a better value for the money than the '06 was. The '06 wasn't real "upscale" in it's feel ... the 2010 definately is ... it feels like a Lexus. The '06 felt more like a "fancy" Toyota.

I think the ride is one of the strong points of the RX. It is just so cosseted and so well refined that you forget how well it actually rides...OK so the trade off is a little more body roll, but even still, it is SO luxurious and comfortable.

But the 400h, I think is a weak vehicle that really doesn't do anything more than gimmicky techie stuff that wears very thin very quickly.

I don't know why anyone would refer to a 400h as a "weak vehicle". It will outrun a Porche Cayenne (standard V6 - not the V8 or Turbo), Get 30 MPG with just a little care, and retains it's value amoung the best. What's weak about any of that? I personally love the whine of the brake re-gen system, sounds like money to me.