Lexus RX400h - The Lexus RX has long been one of the least lauded luxury 4x4s and when fitted with a hybrid engine, it’s a Chelsea Tractor that can boast green credentials.
The RX starts at £35,800 while the more celubrious SR,SE and SE-L variants respectively come in at £37,510 £39,640 and £44,320. That’s a premium of just under £4,500 over a standard petrol powered RX350
The fuel economy and range of the RX400h means that you will average around 450 miles on a single tank, so if you end up lost in freezing weather you will consider it a real bonus.
but Lexus has also engineered a pair of high-torque electronic motors positioned front and rear that can either assist the petrol engine during acceleration or replace it altogether
Official figures from Lexus give a combined fuel economy figure of 34.9mpg by far the lowest of any petrol powered luxury 4x4.
Generating a healthy 272bhp, the RX400h has jet heels, getting to 60mph in 7.4 seconds.
The 3.3 litre V6 petrol engine under the bonnet isn’t anything ground breaking, but Lexus has also engineered a pair of high-torque electronic motors positioned front and rear that can either assist the petrol engine during acceleration or replace it altogether at start up or low to mid-range speeds.
The same clever techie's have added the feature that during deceleration and under braking, the engine switches off and the electronic motors act as high output generators, driven by all four wheels.
Quicker, more economical, cleaner and more convenient than the RX350, the RX400h looks like a winner
With pricing that’s competitive it’s almost a no-brainer and the lack of a diesel engine in the RX line up may no longer be an issue.
This technology is maturing fast and will be in mainstream cars, we could yet have a rosy future for our beloved cars..