Lexus RX 450h+ Is The Luxury Hybrid For Buyers Not Ready To Go Electric
Fast And Frugal
Lexus currently offers four powertrains in its popular RX crossover: a conventional turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine (RX 350), a hybrid (RX 350h), a plug-in hybrid (RX 450h+), and a turbocharged hybrid (RX 500h F Sport Performance). Of these, there's likely an option that everyone will love, but we think the 450h+ PHEV is possible the most interesting of the bunch.
It pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and 18.1 kWh battery, combining to deliver 304 total system horsepower, the second most of any RX behind the 500h. Though it isn't particularly sporty in how it delivers power due to its eCVT, technically a planetary gearset and not a true CVT, this powertrain is remarkably smooth no matter if it's running on electricity, gasoline, or a combination of both.
Lexus says the RX 450h+ can hit 60 mph in around 6.2 seconds, but it was slightly quicker in our testing, getting to that speed in 6.12 seconds. We also recorded the same acceleration run using only the electric motor (which requires a careful foot as going past kickdown causes the engine to fire up) where the RX PHEV took a leisurely 10.51 seconds. For reference, the RX 500h with 366 hp and 406 lb-ft is quoted to hit 60 mph in 5.9 seconds.
Explaining The PHEV Modes
Unlike the RX 500h, the 450h+ has the ability to run on EV mode for an extended period courtesy of its 18.1 kWh battery. Lexus even lets drivers choose exactly how and when they'd like to deploy their stored electricity, an option not all PHEVs offer. Two buttons behind the shifter control the powertrain modes, and without consulting the owner's manual, it's not immediately apparent how each one functions or why they are divided into separate buttons.
The "AUTO EV/HV" button cycles between two modes, the full EV mode, and an auto hybrid mode that relies the battery and electric motor first before kicking on the gas engine for heavy acceleration only. In these two modes, you will deplete the car's 37-mile electric range pretty quickly. A second button, "HV EV HOLD CHG," can cycle through one of three functions. It can also turn on EV mode, but it can also active a different hybrid mode that functions more like the RX 350h, relying more on the gas engine to save the battery range for later. A light throttle can keep the car running on just the electric motor in HV mode.
Holding this button triggers a charge mode, which uses the engine to refill the battery on-the-go. This hurts fuel economy, though we noticed the effect was smaller than we expected. The RX 450h averaged 34.8 MPG during a two-hour highway drive, and when we did the same trip going in the other direction with charge mode activated, fuel economy dropped to 30 MPG. Charge mode added about seven miles range per hour of driving.
Luxury For EV Skeptics
The RX 450h+ is the ultimate luxury SUV for EV skeptics. It delivers stellar fuel economy when running on its gasoline engine with the smoothness of an EV. If your daily commute is shorter than 18 miles, or you can charge at work, the 450h+ can drastically lower your monthly fuel cost and give you the flexibility to only use the gasoline engine for longer trips on the weekend.
There are other great PHEVs on the market, but few give you the same level of control over the powertrain as the RX. We love having the ability to switch between the Auto HV and HV modes because they serve different purposes. PHEV drivers may not always want their battery range being used. If you are getting on the highway, for example, it could be smart to switch the RX into HV mode, saving the battery for lower speeds where it can be more efficient. Toyota's most recent RAV4 PHEV took away the ability to charge the battery on the go because it wasn't efficient, and Lexus will likely update its vehicles when they receive the fifth generation Toyota Hybrid system.
The RX Has Been A Hit
Not only is the Lexus PHEV powertrain a hit, but the RX is the perfect vehicle to have it in. This is perennially among the bestselling luxury vehicles in America, moving 113,256 units in 2025. Even in a down year for the RX (it sold 118,636 units in 2024), it was still the most popular premium vehicle in the country by a significant gap. The RX beat out its smaller sibling, the NX, by 36,420 units and the BMW X3 was about the same distance behind with 76,546 units sold in 2025.
Lexus created the luxury crossover segment with the RX back in 1998, and strong brand loyalty like that doesn't go away overnight. Over five generations, the formula has (mostly) stayed the same, delivering high-riding comfort in a right-sized packaged to the American audience. This current RX is the most versatile one yet, adding PHEV and F Sport Performance variants for EV and European car curious buyers who don't want to leave the Lexus brand. Lexus has already sold 29,336 RX units through one Q1 of 2026, an 18.7% increase from last year, so the brand's bestseller shows no signs of slowing down.
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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 8:30 AM.