450h AWD Test
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 215
From: Texas
450h AWD Test
It doesn’t snow much where I live, so I have never driven my 450h in the snow, to know how well it will do. The folks at TFL did the test for us & it looks like the system performs just as it was designed! Check it out:
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 527
Likes: 56
From: MA
I want to see it do all the tests they did on the subaru including the 3 tires spinning tests. I dont know if a single rear wheel would have enough oomph to get this thing moving if it came down to that, especially on an incline.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 215
From: Texas
I think it did as well as could be expected for a luxury SUV. I don’t want or need it to go off road. The electric motors on the 450h have more torque than you might think. You won’t move up or out at a blistering pace, but it will move the vehicle as long as that tire has traction.
Pit Crew
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 210
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From: ME
I think it did as well as could be expected for a luxury SUV. I don’t want or need it to go off road. The electric motors on the 450h have more torque than you might think. You won’t move up or out at a blistering pace, but it will move the vehicle as long as that tire has traction.
I expect the rear drive to kick in within one revolution of the front tire spinning. Isn't that the point of AWD? In the first demo on the rollers it's ridiculously slow to react.
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 215
From: Texas
Yes, that I agree with. Without watching it all over again, didn’t he have to step on the gas to activate the rear drive motor? Otherwise, at idle, nothing was happening. This is the big downfall of a computer driven & controlled AWD system vs. having a transfer case & drive shafts that usually kill your fuel mileage.
Pit Crew
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 173
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From: PA
I love my 2017 RX-450H! The AWD drive system however is not that stellar. My Chevy avalanche's front wheels engage with less than one revolution slip of either rear wheel. The Rx's computer control could be programmed to be just as responsive if so desired by Lexus. There's also limited torque available with the Lexus hybrid when towing which also exists with the Highlander hybrid. On ice or snow you really don't want to have to give the car a lot of throttle to get the 4 AWD to activate.
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Pit Crew
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 210
Likes: 26
From: ME
Yes, that I agree with. Without watching it all over again, didn’t he have to step on the gas to activate the rear drive motor? Otherwise, at idle, nothing was happening. This is the big downfall of a computer driven & controlled AWD system vs. having a transfer case & drive shafts that usually kill your fuel mileage.
I will say that I have been very satisfied with my 450hl so far. This is my 5th TMC vehicle but my first hybrid. I'm impressed with the algorithms that control the hybrid system and the seamless integration of the gas/electric system.
Pit Crew
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 210
Likes: 26
From: ME
I love my 2017 RX-450H! The AWD drive system however is not that stellar. My Chevy avalanche's front wheels engage with less than one revolution slip of either rear wheel. The Rx's computer control could be programmed to be just as responsive if so desired by Lexus. There's also limited torque available with the Lexus hybrid when towing which also exists with the Highlander hybrid. On ice or snow you really don't want to have to give the car a lot of throttle to get the 4 AWD to activate.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 857
Likes: 47
From: Oregon
Wait, what?
I've had a 2010 RX450h for two years now, and in the Oregon snows it does a great job. But NOT in "default" mode. Instead, there is a "Snow" mode you need to select, and then the computer is much more aggressive at using the rear motor.
I've only seen the video once so I may have missed it, but did these guys ever mention switching to Snow Mode? Or does Snow Mode not exist on this model year? It did in 2010.
Based on my analysis my car is a front-wheel drive machine unless I mash down the accelerator, which will then bring in the rear electric motor for about 300HP total. So the point is lots of power for passing. I don't know if the computer is smart enough to sense front slippage and bring in the rear drive under such circumstances. BUT in Snow Mode my car is very much all-wheel drive; the rear wheels are brought in immediately and aggressively when accelerating. I can feel it easily on a slippery hill near my home when there's snow and ice.
I've had a 2010 RX450h for two years now, and in the Oregon snows it does a great job. But NOT in "default" mode. Instead, there is a "Snow" mode you need to select, and then the computer is much more aggressive at using the rear motor.
I've only seen the video once so I may have missed it, but did these guys ever mention switching to Snow Mode? Or does Snow Mode not exist on this model year? It did in 2010.
Based on my analysis my car is a front-wheel drive machine unless I mash down the accelerator, which will then bring in the rear electric motor for about 300HP total. So the point is lots of power for passing. I don't know if the computer is smart enough to sense front slippage and bring in the rear drive under such circumstances. BUT in Snow Mode my car is very much all-wheel drive; the rear wheels are brought in immediately and aggressively when accelerating. I can feel it easily on a slippery hill near my home when there's snow and ice.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 215
From: Texas
Wait, what?
I've had a 2010 RX450h for two years now, and in the Oregon snows it does a great job. But NOT in "default" mode. Instead, there is a "Snow" mode you need to select, and then the computer is much more aggressive at using the rear motor.
I've only seen the video once so I may have missed it, but did these guys ever mention switching to Snow Mode? Or does Snow Mode not exist on this model year? It did in 2010.
Based on my analysis my car is a front-wheel drive machine unless I mash down the accelerator, which will then bring in the rear electric motor for about 300HP total. So the point is lots of power for passing. I don't know if the computer is smart enough to sense front slippage and bring in the rear drive under such circumstances. BUT in Snow Mode my car is very much all-wheel drive; the rear wheels are brought in immediately and aggressively when accelerating. I can feel it easily on a slippery hill near my home when there's snow and ice.
I've had a 2010 RX450h for two years now, and in the Oregon snows it does a great job. But NOT in "default" mode. Instead, there is a "Snow" mode you need to select, and then the computer is much more aggressive at using the rear motor.
I've only seen the video once so I may have missed it, but did these guys ever mention switching to Snow Mode? Or does Snow Mode not exist on this model year? It did in 2010.
Based on my analysis my car is a front-wheel drive machine unless I mash down the accelerator, which will then bring in the rear electric motor for about 300HP total. So the point is lots of power for passing. I don't know if the computer is smart enough to sense front slippage and bring in the rear drive under such circumstances. BUT in Snow Mode my car is very much all-wheel drive; the rear wheels are brought in immediately and aggressively when accelerating. I can feel it easily on a slippery hill near my home when there's snow and ice.
Pit Crew
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 210
Likes: 26
From: ME
Wait, what?
I've had a 2010 RX450h for two years now, and in the Oregon snows it does a great job. But NOT in "default" mode. Instead, there is a "Snow" mode you need to select, and then the computer is much more aggressive at using the rear motor.
I've only seen the video once so I may have missed it, but did these guys ever mention switching to Snow Mode? Or does Snow Mode not exist on this model year? It did in 2010.
Based on my analysis my car is a front-wheel drive machine unless I mash down the accelerator, which will then bring in the rear electric motor for about 300HP total. So the point is lots of power for passing. I don't know if the computer is smart enough to sense front slippage and bring in the rear drive under such circumstances. BUT in Snow Mode my car is very much all-wheel drive; the rear wheels are brought in immediately and aggressively when accelerating. I can feel it easily on a slippery hill near my home when there's snow and ice.
I've had a 2010 RX450h for two years now, and in the Oregon snows it does a great job. But NOT in "default" mode. Instead, there is a "Snow" mode you need to select, and then the computer is much more aggressive at using the rear motor.
I've only seen the video once so I may have missed it, but did these guys ever mention switching to Snow Mode? Or does Snow Mode not exist on this model year? It did in 2010.
Based on my analysis my car is a front-wheel drive machine unless I mash down the accelerator, which will then bring in the rear electric motor for about 300HP total. So the point is lots of power for passing. I don't know if the computer is smart enough to sense front slippage and bring in the rear drive under such circumstances. BUT in Snow Mode my car is very much all-wheel drive; the rear wheels are brought in immediately and aggressively when accelerating. I can feel it easily on a slippery hill near my home when there's snow and ice.