2014 Lexus 450h SUV

Reviewed by Susan Frissell

Any excuse for a road trip. I tossed the 4 dogs into the Lexus 450h (oh, horrors!!) and headed to my brother’s home in Tulsa, OK for a quick back/forth trip to deliver some furniture. The roads were great throughout Illinois, Missouri and Oklahoma, and the weather cooperated so that the journey seemed easy.

Driving and riding in the luxo-boat Lexus 450h was a treat and with all its modern technology (read: Distance Pacing Cruise, $1,500, power moonroof, $2,070), navigating the route was too easy.

2014 Lexus RX 450h

We did not receive a Monrony on the Lexus 450h but some homework proved worthwhile as we put the stats together. Although looks don’t change a whole lot in the Lexus family, there is no denying that this SUV, the RX 350 and its stablemate the 450h are probably one of the most popular vehicles on the road. In our area of Chicago, one spots an RX of any year every two minutes.

It is hard to match the Lexus ride, quiet and available option/standard technology. The RX 450h offers good fuel economy for a sport-ute this size and weight. In fact, the RX has the highest ratings of combined positive reviews and long-term ownership costs in its class.

With its V6 engine and electric motors, the RX 450h offers plenty of healthy power for highway driving, and of course, around town. The Hybrid motors, coupled with Lexus’ CVT standard transmission lend a gliding feel to the 450h. Starting off the line won’t win the RX any awards, but it is adequate for a vehicle that weighs over 4,500 pounds.

The Lexus RX 450h is a big vehicle, but driving it doesn’t necessarily feel that way. All manner of drivers can operate this SUV with ease and its turning radius is more than acceptable.  Our test RX 450h came in Obsidian Black-which showed every fingerprint placed on its exterior. Standard features, as expected, as generous and include, among other things 4-wheel ABS, dual front/rear-side mounted airbags, remote anti-theft alarm system, turn signal mirrors, traction control, tire pressure monitoring, stability control, engine immobilizer, Emergency Service (SOS), Glass breakage sensor.

There aren’t many features left off the RX 450h, but that is to be expected. We especially enjoyed the Mark Levinson 12-speaker premium sound. Lexus’ navigation system is fairly intuitive and can be operated with even the lowest level of tech experience. We-by mistake-hit the Enform feature button while searching for a restaurant in Tulsa and got a live voice. Much like GM’s OnStar system, Lexus’  Enform feature worked nicely.

Some of the optional equipment on our test vehicle included leather seating ($2,070), power moonroof, as noted above ($2,070), navigation System ($2,775), Distance Pacing Cruise ($1,500), HID headlights ($515), Reverse sensing system front/rear ($500), leather shift knob ($330), leather/wood steering wheel ($330) and heated front seats ($640). A lot of expensive extras, but all worth having.

Traveling over 700+ miles one way to Oklahoma, we had plenty of opportunity to experience the cruise control with optional distance pacing cruise. It takes some getting used to, but is wonderful technology for safe highway driving, particularly when the driver has been on the road for hours. Lexus’ Intelligent Cruise Control System uses laser/radar to maintain a preset following distance behind another vehicle, providing automatic braking or acceleration, as required. We managed to coast along at speeds of 80 mph on Oklahoma freeways, the car slowing down to 60 mph when encountering a vehicle ahead of ours.

It’s not hard to like the RX 450h’s cabin: it’s friendly, refined and well-equipped.  Seats are more than comfortable over the long haul, and the second row seating area offers plenty of legroom. Most of the trip the rear seats were down, to accommodate furniture on the way out and dogs on the way back. In fact, this writer even crawled back there herself to catch a few winks. Fuel economy averaged between 32-38 mpg, hovering just under 40 mpg.  We wondered if the extra weight compromised fuel economy by a gallon or two.

Some reviewers give the Lexus infotainment system controller bad marks. We don’t mind it and actually, find it easy to operate. One problem we encountered was getting the nav system to allow us to search certain locations in the points of interest selection. The guess was that while the vehicle is moving, it can’t be operated completely.  It is distracting, with that we agree. Standard features on the 450h include a nine-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, satellite radio, USB port, push-button start and dual-zone automatic climate control.

Other optional equipment on our 450h included rearview camera, front/rear parking sensors, HD radio and 15-speaker Mark Levinson audio system (I died and went to Heaven), pre-collision warning and pre-braking system.

The 2014 Lexus 450 Hybrid seats five and comes with front-wheel-drive, although our model came equipped with AWD.

Competition for the 450h includes the Jeep Grand Cherokee, available with a new diesel engine and the Acura MDX, while not a hybrid is in the same class. Not many changes are on the 2014 450h. Newly available though is Apple Siri Eyes Free Mode.

SPECS

MSRP: $51,750; range: $46,410-$47,810; invoice $47, 686

Engine: 3.5-liter V6 hybrid, 245 hp., 234 lb.ft. torque, 2 electric motors in RWD; 3 motors in AWD,

Classification: 4-door SUV

Transmission: 2-speed CVT with OD manual, AWD

Wheelbase: 107.9 in.

Length: 187.8 in.

Width: 74.2 in.

Height: 66.7 in.

Fuel tank capacity: 17.2 gal.

Tires: 235/55VR19 ($770 option)

Wheels: 18×7.5 in. alloy

EPA fuel economy: 30-32 mpg.city/28 hwy

Warranty: 72 mths/70,000-mile powertrain; 72 mths/unlimited corrosion perforation, 48 mths/unlimited roadside assistance, 12 mths/10,000-mile maintenance.