F Sport Handling 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
F Sport Handling 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
F Sport Handling 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
F Sport Handling 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
F Sport Handling 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
F Sport Handling 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
F Sport Handling 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
F Sport Handling 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
F Sport Handling 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
F Sport Handling 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
F Sport Handling 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
F Sport Handling 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
F Sport Handling 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
F Sport Handling 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
F Sport Handling 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
F Sport Handling 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
Razor-sharp angular lines and LED lamps along with the trademark grille lends it the unmistakable Lexus styling. To the inside, like all other Lexus cars, luxury awaits you.
For a long time now, the RX lineup from Lexus has been synonymous with luxury crossovers. A perfect balance of performance and luxury, the Lexus RX 450h makes its presence felt wherever it goes. The current generation is based on the 2016 generation when the entire RX lineup got a major facelift.
The RX lineup has 6 cars in its arsenal. The RX 450h is the 2 row SUV that can accommodate up to 5 adults. Powered by the same hybrid powertrain as its last iteration, the 2020 RX 450h is pretty powerful.
Trims |
Base |
Premium | Luxury |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP (AWD) |
$46,800 |
$47,550 | $50,880 |
Key Features |
Lexus Enform Connectivity |
Adds/Upgrades to Base | Adds/Upgrades to Premium |
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Captain's Chairs In Second-row Seats |
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Panoramic View Monitor |
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Head-up Display |
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Three-row Seats |
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LED Cornering Foglamps |
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Rain-sensing Wipers |
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Stability Control |
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Direct Tire Pressure Monitor System |
The standard features list of the 2020 RX 450h is pretty impressive. It has all the bells and whistles you would expect from a Lexus. There is also a lot of standard safety features as well. There are also 7 available packages to your aid if the standard features do not satisfy you.
Which trim do we recommend?
We recommend you equip the Lexus RX 450h with the Premium Package that adds a ton of luxury features such as Semi-Aniline interior, 20” alloy wheels, Gray Sapele wood with Aluminum interior trim, power lumbar support, ambient lighting and lot more.
The powertrain of the 2020 RX 450h remains unchanged from its last iteration. Thus, the same naturally aspirated V6 unit coupled with an electric motor makes a reappearance. This motor is good for 308 horses and 247 lb-ft of pulling force.
Transmission duties are taken care of by an Electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT) gearbox that transfers the power to all four wheels. The shifts are quick and efficient and you will have no complaints whatsoever.
Models |
Lexus RX 450h |
Acura MDX Hybrid |
Volvo XC60 Hybrid |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$46,800 |
$53,895 |
$53,950 |
Engine |
3.5L Naturally Aspirated V6 |
3.0L Naturally Aspirated V6 |
2L Twincharged Inline-4 |
Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | AWD |
Transmission |
e-CVT |
7-Speed Automatic |
8-Speed Automatic |
Power |
308hp@6,000rpm | 321hp@6,300rpm | 400hp@6,000rpm |
Torque |
247lb-ft@4,600rpm | 289lb-ft@5,000rpm | 472lb-ft@2,200rpm |
The motor is extremely fuel-efficient which makes the RX 450h an excellent daily driver. Yes, the power delivery of the engine at lower revs is not the best out there, but you’ll still have a good time driving this car within the city limits. On the highway, this car is pure bliss to drive. You can cruise all day long in triple-digit speeds.
Acceleration of the RX 450h is decent. Yes, it is the heaviest car in the segment at 4740lbs, but with the power of 308 horses and an AWD drivetrain, this car should have been quicker. The Volvo XC60 hybrid has the most powerful engine of the lot at 400 hp. Thus, it should not be surprising that this is the quickest car of the lot.
Models |
Lexus RX 450h |
Acura MDX Hybrid |
Volvo XC60 Hybrid |
---|---|---|---|
0-60 MPH |
6.6 sec |
6.3 sec |
6.1 sec |
Quarter Mile |
14.8 sec |
14.6 sec |
14.1 sec |
Top Speed | N/A | 143 MPH | 140 MPH |
Engine |
3.5L Naturally Aspirated V6 |
3.0L Naturally Aspirated V6 |
2L Twincharged Inline-4 |
This RX 450h takes 6.6 seconds to reach 60mph from naught. This is almost the same amount of time a cheetah takes to chase and hunt down its prey. The quarter-mile run takes 14.8 seconds to complete. This makes this Lexus the slowest car in the competition.
The braking performance of the 2020 RX 450h is good. The electronic brake force distribution does well to minimize the effects on the occupants. Under regular usage, there is a mild nosedive. However, when applied under emergency situations, the nosedive becomes very prominent.
Model |
Lexus RX 450h |
Acura MDX Hybrid |
Volvo XC60 Hybrid |
---|---|---|---|
Brake Rotors Front |
13.3" |
12.6" |
13.6" |
Brake Rotors Rear |
12.9" |
13" |
12.6" |
Curb Weight |
4740 lbs |
4471 lbs |
4638 lbs |
60-0 MPH |
N/A |
116 ft |
169** ft |
** used for 70-0 MPH
Talking about the braking setup, the RX 450h ships with ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels assisted by ABS and EBD. the front wheels get 13.3-inch rotors while the rear ones get 12.9 inchers. The regenerative braking also helps to increase the hybrid range on the go as you use the brakes.
Lexus RX is laid back, luxurious car. Its primary job description is to ensure a smooth and comfy ride, and as such does not really pay much attention to the handling. The body roll isn’t well contained, and spirited cornering is sure to unsettle your nerves more than the car.
The steering feel is quite vague and offers poor feedback. Even in Sport and Sport+ modes, things don’t get much better. Still, due to the light steering, leisure driving is this car’s forte. The electric motors aid with instant torque whenever called upon and the AWD system provides a good amount of traction.
Fuel economy is the forte of this Lexus. Assisted by a mild-hybrid powertrain, the RX 450h has a combined fuel economy of 30 MPG. In the city, this Lexus will drive for 28 miles for a gallon of gas, making it one of the best luxury SUVs for daily commutes.
Model |
Lexus RX 450h |
Acura MDX Hybrid |
Volvo XC60 Hybrid |
---|---|---|---|
MPG (City) |
28 |
26 |
23 |
MPG (Highway) |
31 |
27 |
28 |
MPG (Combined) |
30 |
27 |
26 |
Fuel Capacity |
17.2 gallons |
19.4 gallons |
18.5 gallons |
Range (City/Hwy/Combined) |
482/533/516 miles |
504/524/523 miles |
425/481/481 miles |
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/yr) |
5.9 |
8.4 |
N/A |
While cruising on the highway, the RX 450h will drive for 31 miles to the gallon. This Lexus is way better than any of the competitors in this regard.
The dashboard of the 2020 Lexus RX 450 is a perfect blend of art and tech. The sturdy build is perfectly complemented by the premium material that adorns it. The contrasting seams are visually appealing.
Adding intrigue to the interior is the ambient LED lighting that brightens and dims in a coordinated series to welcome the driver and the passengers into the RX 450h. Soft lighting also illuminates the area surrounding the vehicle the moment you approach, for added visibility and security. Now that’s Lexus for you, an eye for detailing that sets it apart from other manufacturers.
Model |
Lexus RX 450h |
Acura MDX Hybrid |
Volvo XC60 Hybrid |
---|---|---|---|
Seating Capacity |
5 |
7 |
5 |
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
39.4/57.8/44.1 |
38.1/61.1/41.4 |
38/58.2/41.5 |
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
38.2/57.8/38.0 |
38.3/59.1/36.6 |
38/56.3/38 |
Staying true to its brand, the cabin of the 2020 Lexus RX 450h is extremely spacious and comfortable. The two rows of seats can accommodate 5 passengers. The well-tuned suspension is very efficient and you won’t have any complaints about it. However, it cannot completely musk bigger bumps which will keep from the floating experience you will get with the more expensive Lexuses. What is on point with the more expensive cars is the acoustic insulation of the RX 450h. You will hardly hear any wind or tire noise, even at high speeds. However, the regenerative braking makes an audible whining noise which cannot be muted even by the efficient insulation.
The size of the infotainment screen of the RX 450h remains the same as its last iteration. However, the 8-inch screen of the older RX 450h was not touch-enabled like the one found on the 2020 RX 450h. The screen runs on Lexus’s Enform UI with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.
The sound is taken care of by a standard 15 speaker audio system. However, there is an option for Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound Audio System that features proprietary Clari-Fi technology that restores audio quality from compressed music that results in crisp, clear and dynamic sound from any source.
The default cargo space of the 2020 RX 450h is 18 cubic feet which might feel a little less if you travel a lot. It is more than the 15 cubic feet of cargo space found on the Acura MDX Hybrid but lags behind Volvo XC 60 Hybrid who have cargo space of 29.7 cubic feet respectively.
Model |
Lexus RX 450h |
Acura MDX Hybrid |
Volvo XC60 Hybrid |
---|---|---|---|
Cargo Capacity |
18.0 cu.ft. |
15.0 cu.ft. |
29.7 cu.ft. |
The 40/20/40 split-folding seats increase the cargo space to 55 cubic feet. It comes handy when you are preparing for the long weekend or a summer holiday trip.
Being a Lexus, the RX 450h comes with a lot of convenience features. Some of them are
The exterior shell of the 2020 RX 450h has received a mild refresh. The front fascia consists of a redesigned “spindle grille” and angular LED headlamps. Strong lines connect the “hourglass” grille to the roof. The C pillar of this Lexus is also partly blacked out giving the illusion of a floating roof.
The side profile is beefed up and much more muscular than the previous iterations. There are also strong body lines that make it look aggressive. The wheels are also redesigned. Thus, the new RX is easily distinguishable from its older variants.
Model |
Lexus RX 450h |
Acura MDX Hybrid |
Volvo XC60 Hybrid |
---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight |
4740 lbs |
4471 lbs |
4638 lbs |
Length |
192.5" |
196.2" |
184.6" |
Width |
74.6" |
77.7" |
73.3" |
Height |
67.7" |
67.4" |
65.3" |
Ground Clearance |
8.2" |
7.3" |
8.5" |
Wheelbase |
109.8" |
111.0" |
112.8" |
The rear end is not as aggressive as the rest of the exterior. The redesigned LED taillamps are connected by a chrome bar. There are no lines and as such, it is very minimal. Two exhausts are present at both the corners and surrounds the diffuser.
The refreshed exterior shell of the 2020 RX 450h packs quite a few highlights. Some of them are
Lexus has never compromised with the safety of any of its cars. Since it’s a luxury car manufacturer, Lexus cars come equipped with a wide range of safety features. The chassis of the Lexus cars are also specially designed to absorb the shock in the event of a crash. The RX 450h has specially designed crumple zone which absorbs the force and redistributes it keeping the passengers in the cabin safe in the event of a crash.
Some of the available safety techs on the 2020 Lexus RX 450h are
In the battle of the Japanese luxury SUVs, it is difficult to pick a clear winner between the two. Both of these cars have similar power figures and performance. However, the Lexus is has a better fuel economy that gives it a slight advantage over the Acura. The MDX Hybrid has 3 rows of seating arrangement while the Lexus RX 450h has only 2. You'll have to upgrade to the RX 450hL if you want 3 rows in the RX lineup.
The Volvo XC60 Hybrid is much more powerful than the Lexus RX 450h, thanks to its twin chared unit. Thus, if you spend most of your time on the highway, the Swedish SUV should be your pick. The Volvo also has a bigger cargo space that adds to its overall utility. On the other hand, the RX gets you the reliability of Lexus with an extremely comfortable and upscale cabin. Thus, if you spend most of your time within the city limits, the Lexus RX 450h should be the car for you.
The 2020 Lexus RX 450 Hybrid is packed with all the Lexus staples, aggressive angular design language, spacious and upscale cabin covered with premium materials, a smooth drive and extremely comfortable seats. The infotainment system has been upgraded with a touchscreen, but still lags behind the segment standard. Sans this, everything about this car is on point. Therefore, if you want people to notice you and a car that reflects your love for refinement and luxury, the all-new Lexus RX 450 Hybrid is the car for you.