The Lexus RX 450h is a large self-charging hybrid 4×4 SUV that is powered by a petrol engine and battery-driven electric motor. It has a premium image and decent towing ability.
Details
Seats: 5
Engine: 3456cc (Petrol)
Towing capacity: 2,000kg
Power: 309 bhp
Gearbox : CVT auto
0-60mph: 7.7secs
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Top speed: 124mph
Economy: 35.3mpg
CO2: 178g/km
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Economy
Only average figures at first glance, but this is a sizeable car, so they’re actually okay. If you can make full use of the on-board battery that charges itself as you go along, you’d trundle around at town speeds using no petrol so those figures will be achievable. 35mpg will probably be close to your overall average.
Towing ability
Good. With a towing limit of 2,000kgs, this Lexus RX 450h would easily manage most horse boxes with a decent sized horse on board. All-round cameras make hitching simple, while the 4×4 capability is always a bonus.
Performance
Good. At town speeds or setting off from traffic lights, you use battery power only and ride along in near silence. If you need more “oomph”, the 3.5 litre engine bursts into life. The CVT gearbox needs the revs to rise to a high level to produce performance, but once you settle into a cruise, the revs will drop. It’s not noisy… it just sounds a bit odd.
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Boot space and day-to-day practicality
You get five seats. Rear seats slide and recline for extra comfort and legroom. The boot is 539 litres, which is okay although other big SUVs offer more. The rear seats flop forward on the press of a handy button in the boot to increase your load area to 1,579 litres. The boot opening is quite high above the ground so care is needed with heavy items. It’s a wonderfully relaxed long-distance cruiser and the ride is super-cushy. You can also choose various driving modes between comfortable and sporty.
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Value for money
Lexus models retain their value. Standard equipment is decent with sat nav, air con, parking sensors, LED headlights, heated, ventilated and powered front seats, heated steering wheel, and an electronic tailgate, which handy if you’ve got your arms full of tack. Keyless entry also means the car senses when you’re approaching and unlocks the doors and boot automatically. A really clever device, and useful when attaching a trailer, is a camera system that shows the car’s exterior on the dashboard colour touchscreen. Yes, it’s not cheap, but compared to other luxury cars of this ability and specification, it’s pretty good. Go for the entry level models and they’re even better value.
Verdict
Lexus has been named as the UK’s most reliable car brand in the What Car? 2022 Awards. If you buy new, you can extend the warranty to 100,000 miles or 10 years. The Lexus RX 450h is good to drive, reasonably economical if you’re careful, and well equipped. The all-wheel drive transmission makes towing very assured. If luxurious 4×4 motoring is something you fancy, this is a good place to start.
Graham Courtney has road tested in excess of 2,000 cars in his career so far. He writes for a number of magazines and newspapers that require a motoring expert and coming from a farming community, he’s well placed to advise equestrians seeking a towing vehicle.
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