2011 RX450h vs Highlander Hybrid
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 727
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From: ontario
2011 RX450h vs Highlander Hybrid
Has anyone done a comparison between these two? I like both but the Toyota a little more for its roominess and third row seats. On the hand, there are not much toys/gadget available for this car. Are there any major differences in the drive train/hybrid system?
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,518
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From: San Francisco, CA
The two, while share the same platform, are actually pretty different. Like you said, this new generation highlander goes the 7 passenger route, so it is clearly larger and probably has more usable space. There are the obvious differences like build materials, technology, refinement that you can probably get a good idea about with a test drive of both.
Regarding the hybrid system specifically, the highlander gets 28/28mpg while the RX gets 32/28 and the RX has more total system horsepower. Clearly this was done to give more reason to buy the premium RXh. I dont know what they have done specifically, but Id venture to say that the highlander is missing the exhaust re-circulation system and other fuel saving technologies that have made their way in the new line of toyota/lexus hybrids. Honestly, it would bother me as a highlander perspective buyer to know that toyota purposely made it worse to make the RX better (and also probably for cost reasons)
Regarding the hybrid system specifically, the highlander gets 28/28mpg while the RX gets 32/28 and the RX has more total system horsepower. Clearly this was done to give more reason to buy the premium RXh. I dont know what they have done specifically, but Id venture to say that the highlander is missing the exhaust re-circulation system and other fuel saving technologies that have made their way in the new line of toyota/lexus hybrids. Honestly, it would bother me as a highlander perspective buyer to know that toyota purposely made it worse to make the RX better (and also probably for cost reasons)
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 811
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From: CA
I drove both extensively when shopping for my car. The more I drove the Highlander the less I like it and actually started to dislike it. My advice is to carefully test drive both. The Highlander was just to big for me. I did not like it's handling. The cost vs the relatively low mileage didn't make sense. I really didn't need three rows of seating.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34
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From: PA
I was considering the Highlander Hybrid vs. the 450h. The cabin specs don't prove it, but the front seat in the 450 seems roomier. I'm tall, 6'5", and my wife"s 2010 350 is quite comfortable for me to drive. A short test drive of the Highlander felt cramped.
Also the Highlander has nowhere near the look of the Lexus.
Also the Highlander has nowhere near the look of the Lexus.
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: ny
I, too, drove both, and extensively researched each before I chose the 450h.
We didn't need another 7 passenger vehicle. I liked the somewhat sportier appearance of the RX, and felt it had a little more "driving feel" than the Highlander. After driving the RX since 4/1, I've enjoyed every aspect of it, except that the ML audio system wasn't available aside from special order. We use the RX as our traveling vehicle; it has a great ride and gets 26-27 MPG on average with mid-grade fuel.
We didn't need another 7 passenger vehicle. I liked the somewhat sportier appearance of the RX, and felt it had a little more "driving feel" than the Highlander. After driving the RX since 4/1, I've enjoyed every aspect of it, except that the ML audio system wasn't available aside from special order. We use the RX as our traveling vehicle; it has a great ride and gets 26-27 MPG on average with mid-grade fuel.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,068
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From: California
Which is more important to you, the 3rd row seats or the Luxury?
if money is an issue, just go with a regular Highlander.
the Hybrid comes with a price tag that's hard to justify.
if you really want a REAL hybrid.. get the Prius v.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 419
Likes: 55
From: PA
Someone posted a link on the RX board several weeks ago that discussed the Toyota hybrid in detail. It described why the Toyota hybrid is referred to as the a "true hybrid". It then compared it to some of the other hybrid designs out there.
If I remember correctly it has something to do with the fact that Toyota does not use what we consider a "typical" transmission and the lack of a mechanical connection between the engine and the drive wheels.
If I remember correctly it has something to do with the fact that Toyota does not use what we consider a "typical" transmission and the lack of a mechanical connection between the engine and the drive wheels.
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 727
Likes: 0
From: ontario
You actually answered your question with these statements.
Which is more important to you, the 3rd row seats or the Luxury?
if money is an issue, just go with a regular Highlander.
the Hybrid comes with a price tag that's hard to justify.
if you really want a REAL hybrid.. get the Prius v.
Which is more important to you, the 3rd row seats or the Luxury?
if money is an issue, just go with a regular Highlander.
the Hybrid comes with a price tag that's hard to justify.
if you really want a REAL hybrid.. get the Prius v.
I can't stand vehicles for DD with bad MPG. The Toyota rep was telling me to expect around 10L/100km for the Highlander Hybrid regardless of the 6.x L/100Km rating. That is still 40% better than my IS's actual milage. So any comparison between non-hybrid to hybrid is not relevant.
Any other constructive suggestions?