2012 Lexus RX 450h: Video Road Test & Review

The Lexus RX 450h is a mid-size crossover that trades on its hybrid status and smooth, comfortable ride.  The four-door Lexus RX 450h is a strong seller for the Japanese luxury brand, and it delivers five passenger seating as well as 80 cubic feet of total cargo space with the rear row stowed.  Safety equipment found with the crossover includes seat-mounted side impact airbags front and back, side curtain airbags, forward airbags, and front knee airbags for both driver and front passenger.  The Safety Connect telematics system is also standard, as are electronic stability control and traction control.

The Lexus RX 450h makes use of a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that is teamed with either two (front-wheel drive) or three (all-wheel drive) battery-powered electric motors.  Altogether, the vehicle's hybrid system generates 295 horsepower and is managed by a continuously-variable automatic transmission.  Fuel mileage for the RX 450h shows as 32-mpg in stop and go driving and 28-mpg on the highway.

The Lexus RX 450h (MSRP $45,235) offers dual automatic climate control, a CD player, satellite radio, power seats, wood trim, and a reclining second row.  The crossover is meant to be ordered with one or more options packages in order to equip it according to the taste of the buyers.  The Premium package installs leather upholstery, a memory feature for the driver's seat, a sunroof, and a power liftgate, while the Comfort package includes adaptive HID headlights, seat heaters and coolers, a louder stereo system, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.  The Navigation package provides a navigation system backed by a unique touch interface and extended Bluetooth features (as well as the Enform telematics system), while the Luxury package features nicer leather seats, a side-view camera system, LED headlights and 19-inch wheels.

A list of cars similar to the RX450h include the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, 2012 Audi Q5 and 2012 Mercedes Benz ML350 BlueTEC.

See more details about the 2012 Lexus RX450h.