2010 Lexus RX 450h Hybrid Mileage Announced

Toyota’s redesigned luxury hybrid crossover, the 2010 Lexus RX 450h, will get an EPA-estimated 28/27 mpg city/highway with two-wheel drive and 28/26 with all-wheel drive.

After introducing the crossover at the L.A. auto show a couple months ago, Lexus has yet to say how much it will set you back when it arrives at dealerships this spring, but the mileage it’s now announced is an improvement over the RX 400h (which was rated 27/24 mpg with FWD and 26/24 with AWD). The AWD version comes in just 1 mpg less than the AWD 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid’s 29/27 mpg rating, and that’s a much smaller, much less powerful hybrid. And if it isn’t already assumed, yes, it is the most fuel-efficient model in Lexus’ lineup, car or SUV.

Toyota improved the fuel economy with a new exhaust-heat recovery system and cooled exhaust-gas recirculation system, in addition to a new Eco driving mode and, most interestingly, a new EV drive mode. The EV drive mode allows the RX 450h to run exclusively on battery power in low-speed, stop-and-go situations, like parking garages, allowing it to run without producing an ounce of emissions.

We’ll keep our eye out for pricing information and a more concrete on-sale date. For now, you can read Mike Hanley’s full review of the Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h here.

Comments

Congratulations to Lexus - the new RX Hybrid gets better city mileage than the Honda Fit. That mileage is almost unbelievable when you consider they upped the size and the curb weight to a whopping 4,500 pounds. This looks like a major improvement over the current RX. It makes me wonder what kind of mileage the new Prius will be getting.

hybrit,

This is not all that amazing. The GM trucks get 22mpg with a V8 and a 3 ton curb weight and more space. The Vue two mode will get 28/31 based on what I have read and it weighs at least 4300lbs. The Lexus hybrids mileage on the highway barely increases. You can get 25mpg with the regular RX and save thousands. The success of this vehicle depends on the price. If it remains around $50k it wont sell much, especially now.

Sheth,
The regular RX is rated at 18 mpg in the city. That means the Hybrid version gets 55 percent better city mileage and bests the Honda Fit that everyone raves about. So I call it amazing. If your information about the GM hybrids is correct, that's great. I like all hybrids but Toyota is still the big dog. It will be interesting to see the mileage figures on the new Prius. I'm guessing 50 mpg in town.

hybrit,

I dont think the Fit gets great mileage for a car with a 1.6L engine but the US media is obsessed with the car and gives it a free pass. The Malibu weighs 700lbs more and matches the Fit in highway economy.

Toyota is the big dog because they have the battery capacity in Japan. No one else has access and Ford said before Toyota wont let suppliers deal with competitors. The US has no battery making capacity (or little) and thus Toyota has a virtual monopoly on hybrids. No one is likely to pass Toyota in hybrid sales soon but those hybrids did little to stave off Toyotas 16% drop in sales in the US which was the worst of any import automaker.

Ford has said that it plans to be #2 in hybrids next year so they are planning to ramp up production if the demand is there.

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