Trying to decide which vehicle to buy. I can sacrifice a little trunk space but is the eCVT as reliable and smooth as the 8 speed in the RX350? I would welcome hearing from anyone who has had either or both. I also worry about which is the better system to have after the warranty expires. Has the eCVT been improved for 2020?

Optionally, we are also considering the MB GLE350 but I am nervous about the maintenance so leaning towards the Lexus. Welcome all your thoughts!

Thanks!

 

I have a 2020 450h, and I really like it. I did drive both configurations, and both are fine, I just wanted another hybrid.
The h gets about 30% better mileage overall, and from a performance perspective is pretty close to the 8 speed. They each have a different feel when driving. If you want a more traditional peppy feeling, the 350 is probably your vehicle. However, if you want to just hit the road quietly with a car with a lot of torque and no drama, the H model might be for you also.

I think Lexus just raised the warranty on the batteries to 10 years, 150,000 miles so that's probably not an issue.

I drove 4 new RXs before I made up my mind.

Take a few for a spin and see what you like. Enjoy.

 

Thank you. The 450H is 2-10ths of a second slower 0-60 so it's negligible. Some have said they prefer the smoothness of the eCVT. Typically people hate CVT's but maybe this one is ok- that is what I am trying to determine. I think the design is more like a traditional transmission than that of a traditional CVT. It does have planetary gears- no bands, etc. It's just continuously variable and controlled electronically. I am open to it, if the majority of people like it. Also, a 30% bump in efficiency without needing to plug it in is amazing.

 

My wife has a 2018 Subaru Outback limited 3.6 liter engine with the CVT transmission. The one in the Lexus is smoother and I do like it better. Very happy with the car and how it drives. I know some people dislike the CVTs in general, but they work fine for my driving needs.

Youtube has a video or 2 of a guy driving a 450h from his POV. They give an accurate look at how the car drives and sounds. Just log onto youtube and type in 450h POV . You will see a day and night perspective .

 

Thanks bg.

 

Unfortunately Toyota named the hybrid eCVT and naturally many people are wary of it, because other CVTs from Honda, Subaru and whoever have bad reputations for all sorts of issues. Those manufactures use a friction belt reuniting two conic pulleys to change the gear ratios. This system is much simpler and efficient than a multi-speed gear-shifting transmission as it uses about 20 moving parts instead of 100. Also, due to the smaller number of moving parts, eCVT transmissions have less chances of breaking down. There no software updates needed as with a regular transmission and it probably will never need service or an oil change. The conventional or CVT transmissions used on non-hybrids are deviously complicated and have internal wear items which the hybrid's torque-split device simply does not need. There are no fixed gear ratios like a standard or conventional multi-ratio transmission so there are no sliding gears and cogs nor are there any hydraulically actuated clutches or friction bands. The Hybrid Synergy Drive-III as used on the Toyota products is in constant mesh all the time. Nothing slides and there are no clutches. In short, there's nothing to break or wear out under normal use. If you like details, here is link that explains the eCVT
Besides gas savings there are many other reasons for a Toyota hybrid. For example: 1. The brakes just about never wear out, because they are not needed as much since the electric motors slow the car, 2. All the accessories that usually are run off belts on the engine are run via electric motors except the water pump (No alternator to replace No power steering pump to replace No vacuum booster to replace).

 

Golfer- THANK YOU- excellent points and might push me over the edge in favor of the 450H. I've been reading it is quieter and smoother than the non hybrid version. Since the price has come down, it seems like the hybrid is an excellent option. I wish the warranty exceeded only 8 years or 100k though. 10/150,000 has a better ring to it. I'm sure those systems are not cheap to fix/replace.

 

There's zero truth to the supposed fact that the hybrid battery has a failure problem. Since the Gen II Prius came out there have been almost ZERO battery failures - as in NONE other than those caused by severe rear impact damage or other outside issues which discharged the hybrid battery below its safe threshold. Good used hybrid batteries go for between $1200 and $1500 which is a lot less than a good used transmission for a conventional non-hybrid. Toyota is now at the point that the battery is almost considered a life of the vehicle part, however as you know, even those type of parts do fail. There are plenty of articles you can research on NY city Prius taxis that are running with the original battery after 250,000 miles. Here is an article from a Rav forum on one owners experience regarding maintenance. https://www.rav4world.com/threads/20.../#post-2714597
To my limited knowledge, I have not seen a single forum at any of the Toyota sites that have had a failure with the traction battery.

 

Calling the powertrain an "eCVT" was a marketing mistake because people associated the technology with conventional cone/belt CVTs. This thing is nothing more than an ICE and a separate beefy electric motor driving the wheels through a planetary gearset, like a rear differential. The computer controls everything and even spins the electric motor in the reverse direction as needed (say, when the car is barely moving and the throttle calls for a lot of ICE rpms). All transparent to the user, and very smooth. I feel like I'm going backwards in time when I drive a car that has to shift!

 

BIG MARKETING MISTAKE. The biggest discussion on this and other sites is how people dislike CVTs and therefore with no knowledge, they dis the eCVT like they know what they are talking about.

 

Thanks to all of you, I have learned that the eCVT is the way to go!

THANK YOU!

 

I traded a 2017 RX350 for a 2018 RX450hL specifically for the transmission. The RX350 was terrible: jerky shifts, hesitation when gunning from a stop and constantly searching for the right gear. With the RX450h, it's butter smooth and a much more enjoyable ownership experience.

 

Beyond batteries and eCVTs, other maintenance things to consider, especially if your plan is to own it long term, is that the hybrid goes without several components that often fail or need maintenance over the years. You will likely never need to replace the brakes, or if you do, at a very long interval only. There is no starter, no alternator, and no serpentine belt.

I think you will find, in the long run, the hybrid version is less prone to failures and easier to maintain.

 

Three years and 3 months ago, I had the same questions as you. I like my vehicles "loaded", but a loaded RX 450h took me over the maximum amount I wanted to spend. But I REALLY wanted a hybrid! I'd promised myself for 10 years that I'd buy one "next time". So, I decided it was best to test drive a couple of each model, and then make my decision. Four test drives later, it was clear to me that the hybrid was well worth the extra money. I've never once regretted my choice. Your decision might be different, but at least you'll know it's the right decision for you.