Brian06

I'm looking to buy in the next month. I do not need awd. All the 450h that I have scene are 5-8k more than a comprable 350. I have a 400h that gets 26mpg, just looking to upgrade to the third gen. My question is, is it worth paying the extra money for the hybrid? I keep my cars 3-5 years.
Looking at for 2010-2012
Thanks

kitlz

Brian06, it's difficult to tell you whether to go with the 450h or not. I'd suggest you take a look at this thread from fellow member, BertL. He went from an '06 400h to the '13 450h last year and made some very astute observations between the two. There are also a few comments about the 350 in there as well. Now I know you're looking at '10-'12 and the '13 is a refresh with changes, but his thread should hopefully give you enough thoughts to ponder.

seanlin

If mostly freeways, non hybrid.
If traffic is bad where you live, should go with hybrid.

BertL

OP, good luck with your decision. My detailed post from last year that Anita references will likely provide most of the "differences" you're interested in since I owned and loved my 400h for over 7 years before replacing it with my 450h. My 450h has proven to be an elegant set of refinements over what I knew with my 2nd Gen 400h.

You've owned a hybrid before, so as Seanlin suggests, you likely realize how pushing the pedal beyond the 60-65 MPH mark or having a heavy foot at green lights clobbers hybrid MPG, and where the hybrid will do it's best MPG-wise compared to a 350. Nothing is really different that way from what you know with your 400h to the 450h. Performance-wise, the 450h is very similar to the 400h and IMHO not a determining factor for why to upgrade -- a little more HP in the 3rd gen hybrid over your 400h, but about the same torque, 0-60 off-the-gate, and +/- 1 MPG ratings. If I were you, your decision to upgrade to a new-to-you 3rd Gen 450h or 350, is similar to what you went through when you decided to purchase your 400h vs the non-hybrid version back in those days.

markrivers

Depends on where you drive basically, and how many miles in a year.
RX 350 2010/2011 recommends Premium fuel and 2012 is ok with regular unleaded, i suggest Go with a 2012.

now between a 350 and a 450h, and 3-5 years of ownership…i don't think you'll recover the difference by simply saving on gas alone.

vlad_a

I had a Prius before and I really like the Hybrid Synergy Drive train, especially compared to a conventional auto, so 450h was the logical choice. You get used to linear acceleration real fast.
Although 450h will have a higher initial price, it will also have a higher trade-in value when you're done, so you will be able to recover a part of the premium paid over the 350.

sears1234

RX450H has longer seat, it will be much more confort than RX350.

Brian06

Thank you for the advise.
I commute 70% freeway, about 22 miles each way.
What did the rx change in 2013. Is it worth paying the extra 10k for a used 2013?

Kyrra

BertL did a long write-up on that here:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...l-listing.html

Kyrra

As for fuel economy, the EPA numbers are (city/highway)
350: 18 / 24
450: 30 / 28

Consumer Reports rated them as (city / highway / combined):
350: 15 / 27 / 21
450: 22 / 31/ 26

So depending on your driving you could see anywhere from 4 to 7 MPG better. But at the same time, the 450 requires premium fuel while the 350 can take regular.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

I wouldn't even think twice, RX350 in your case, all the way.

Brian06

Thank you.
Looks like the 350 is the way to go.
I'd figure one extra tank at $50 fill up per month is an extra $600 a year and over the 4 years it would be more efficient than buying the 450h at 6k more

markrivers

Go with a 350.
Extra $10,000 for a 2013 is not worth it vs a similarly equipped 2012.
Most people can't tell the difference. And by most people i mean non lexus, non RX owners... The general public.

kitlz

The '13 is the first year of the refresh with the spindle grill and a few extra features like standard folding side mirrors and LED DRLs, and available blind spot monitor. But there were also a few taken away such as AFS and the 6 CD changer. Lexus should be announcing their December to Remember event soon so you might find a good deal on a leftover '13 if you wait a few weeks, probably better than the prices mentioned in this thread. But before you make your decision, please drive both the 350 and 450h. There are enough differences between the two that could possibly sway you. I don't want you to have buyer's remorse.

BertL

OP, I agree with Anita. You should drive both. Comments and suggestions here are just that. If you're so inclined to do some searches to find other threads we've discussed here over time, there are also more subjective reasons some of us give the nod to the hybrid, even though it can be difficult to build the cost/benefit analysis for owning it over the non-hybrid version. Many of those things are simply items that create banter in threads like this, with lots of opinions, but not a single concrete or definitive answer... a couple of those have been mentioned in this thread already, e.g. CVT and likely increased value of the hybrid when it comes time to sell it, but there are many others you can find here.

In the end, only you can decide what really fits your needs, especially now that you have many years having owned and driven a Lexus RX Hybrid that is the basis for the 3rd Gen. For me, once I owned my 2006 RX400h and what was my first hybrid, I was hooked. Only another RX hybrid was in my game plan when it came time for a 3rd gen replacement.

Good luck with your decision. I think it will be interesting to know what you finally end up purchasing, especially if you elect to go from a hybrid to a non-hybrid as your next ride. Hopefully you'll follow up with us after the deal is made and you have a few miles on your new-to-you ride.