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It would be easy to credit Lexus with creating the segment in which the RX350h resides. Long the leader in its class, the RX350h still deserves a first look from shoppers. One important aspect of this particular model and trim is that little “h.” It denotes the outstanding hybrid-electric powertrain from Lexus and Toyota, which is well known to the brands’ loyalists.
2023 Lexus RX350h Luxury - What Is It?
Lexus is a premium/luxury brand. The RX is a five-passenger crossover SUV with ample passenger compartment and a large and long cargo space. It is larger than a RAV4. The h stands for hybrid.
2023 Lexus RX350h Luxury - How Much?
Our tester had an as-tested price of $64,115. This price tag was a bit of a shock to us, honestly. We would have predicted $50K to $55K.
2023 Lexus RX350h Luxury - How Does It Drive?
The RX350h Luxury drives nicely in suburban, urban, and highway settings. It is comfortable almost to a fault. This particular RX is not the sporty one. That would be the RX500 F-Sport Performance. This RX we tested is more suited to being a capable daily driver. Steering is fine, but not sporty, handling is fine, but not sporty, and the brakes feel “normal.”
The powertrain is interesting. Since it is hybrid-electric, it is often completely silent. When the liquid-fuel engine kicks in, you notice that there is sudden sound. The sound is not overly loud or raspy, it is just normal engine sound. After a week or so, you forget it altogether.
In many scenarios, the RX350h operates entirely under the power of its electric motors. For example, at slow speeds in parking lots, when creeping along in traffic, and when you descend hills on the highway, you are regenerating power.
2023 Lexus RX350h Luxury - What Did We Like Most?
The fuel economy was our most positive takeaway. We observed over 36 MPG during harsh winter weather. The cost of energy to power this hybrid-electric vehicle in our Metro West Boston area is lower than a battery-electric vehicle would be since we have high electricity costs and low gasoline costs. Compared to non-hybrid liquid-fueled vehicles in its class, the RX350h saves its owner roughly $1,000 per year in energy costs.
Your tester has owned an RX in the past. The current RX has fixed the terrible infotainment system interface of the second generation. It’s touch-sensitive now. The silly mouse is gone. We felt that the infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay was nearly perfect.
We also liked that the RX350h had reasonable all-season touring tires sized with the real world in mind. Not silly low-profile performance tires. There is even a spare. In New England, with its severe potholes, this gives you confidence you won't end up on a flatbed some wintery night.
2023 Lexus RX350h Luxury - What Did We Like Least?
There were two things about the RX350 that we wished were different. First, the infotainment screen displays an advertisement for the Lexus subscription service every time you start the vehicle. It will only go away if you tap the screen.
Next, the door handles and latches were hard to live with. My family and I were still struggling to use them on day seven of testing. The morning of our test’s conclusion, the driver-side doors would not open or close, no matter what we did. The fleet driver had to enter via the passenger side to get the vehicle back to the garage. We suspect frozen electro-mechanical switches that operate the door handles, but it was just 30F. Commenting on the Lexus door handle situation, online publication Savage Geese said, "...it's really frustrating..." Online publication The Care Care Nut said of this Lexus door handle design, "Why did they do this? It's just not well thought out. It's always a fight with the door to open it."
2023 Lexus RX350h Luxury - Living Hybrid-Electric
The RX350h has a fantastic powertrain. The all-wheel-drive system is outstanding in snow. We say this with confidence because it snowed or iced every day we had the RX during this test week. The transmission is an eCVT with gears, motors, and no belt. It does not feel like the lousy CVTs you find in other cheaper makes. The hybrid-electric drivetrain is just right for its mission, and the fuel economy is 36 MPG regardless of the driving conditions. The RX350h uses roughly 50% less fuel, and has roughly 50% fewer emissions than a non-hybrid-electric vehicle in this class.
2023 Lexus RX350h Luxury - Conclusion
I’m a two-time Lexus owner and a fan of hybrids. For me, the RX350h makes sense, but the lofty $64K+ price is hard to wrap my mind around. Perhaps inflation has just confused me. Shoppers can make up their own minds about the RX line, but those shopping for a daily driver in this segment will not find a better powertrain.
John Goreham is an experienced New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can follow John on Twitter, and connect with him at Linkedin.
Images of 2023 Lexus RX350h by John Goreham.
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