I'm thinking about buying one and haven't decided on what I want. I thought I read somewhere that the hybrid AWD is faster, but I can't find that website anymore. Why would they make a hybrid faster than their sport version?

Also, the F sport only has one interior option, correct? I would like to get some 0-60 times too.

thanks

brandon

 

Welcome to Club Lexus!


Remember those times are at sea level, so it will likely be faster where you are.

 

2013 RX450h AWD is 7.4 sec 0-60mph; FWD is 7.8 sec
2013 RX350 AWD is 7.8 sec 0-60mph; FWD is 7.7 sec
RX F Sport is 7.7 sec 0-60mph

2013 RX450h AWD is 15.7 sec 1/4-mile acceleration; FWD is 16.1 sec
2013 RX350 AWD is 16.2 sec 1/4-mile acceleration; FWD is 16.1 sec
RX F Sport is 15.8 sec 1/4-mile acceleration

All according to the 2013 RX brochure ...this page on Lexus.com may provide more spec info you may be after.

RXh AWD is faster because it can kick in it's gas engine at the same time as the front and rear electrics.

 

Has anyone noticed that the jokers above ran the 0-60 test in the ECO mode?

 

That's funny. Wonder if it makes any difference when you floor it?

 

You really are asking this question about a Lexus SUV/Hybrid? Seriously? LOL!
This is NOT a "fast" vehicle (though perfectly capable and well engineered).

Wife's car and I'm a car nut, but I enjoy driving the RX for what it is. Will take my 680HP gas guzzling beast when I want a different kind of enjoyment (and it still seats 5 and hauls stuff) ...

 

RX450h is faster. Especially when going above 100mph. The electric motor really does help significantly over 100mph.

RX450h also feels more responsive, basically because the torque is pretty much instant due to the electric motor.

However, with the RX450h, due to the CVT gearbox, you lose all sense of what speed youre travelling at when approaching a corner, its really really smooth. I went into a corner at 60mph without noticing, had to slam the brakes. F sport gives more confidence when braking, doesnt dive as much.

Handling wise, F Sport is the best, feels much tighter than the other models. Feels faster mainly because of the sportier ride and more aggressive turn in.

Its unlucky that you dont get the RX450h F Sport over there because thats the only RX i would choose. I love the technology behind the 450h and the smoothness, as well as the power when needed, especially in Sport Mode.

As for the other poster saying if it makes a difference when run in ECO mode, the simple answer is yes. I collected my car from the dealer and it was in normal, he said ECO would be plenty enough. I hated it, the thing just doesnt go, even when stabbing the throttle. Normal is good and Sport just makes everything so much more fun!

 

Why in the heck would anyone drive an RX over 100 mph? I've done 90 before and even in very slight turns, the thing feels like it wants to roll.

 

Ive been at 150mph before with it. I had the limiter taken off. Still pull like a train at that speed so dont know why the top speed is 124mph to be honest.

Oh and you dont have the F Sport, so your comment is irrelevant. It doesnt feel like its going to roll at all, in fact feels more stable at higher speed.

 

Top speed likely limited because of the tires on it. Even a Bugati Veyron with 5K tires (each) and over 1,000HP has speed limitations because of tires (as astronomical as they may be)

150mph on less than 300hp in an SUV with a high Cda? Sure ...

 

Agreed - I'm skeptical of that too. I'd like to see a video of an RX doing 150 on a flat surface. Just a quick back of the envelope calculation yields 102 hp to overcome just the profile drag at 120 mph. (standard air density of 1.2 kg/cubic meter, 2.5 square meter profile area, 0.33 Cd).

 

I am constantly confused by some of the car testers that post videos on YouTube. As was stated earlier, the last f sport test I saw didn't use the manual shift mode because it was "slower" than simply flooring the gas pedal. I have seen three different 0-60 times for the f sport of 6.8, 6.8, and 6.55 by places like motor trend. I am assuming they are using the manual shift which feels significantly faster than the base model rx and at least as fast as the hybrid. The handling of the f sport Is by far better as well. I drove both the base rx and the hybrid and felt unsafe coming out of turns. There is always a trade off between a softer ride and good handing, but I thought the base rx and hybrids suspension were way too soft. I drove a hybrid with my wife and after taking a turn at a normal speed, even she felt uneasy about how much the car rocked back and forth when i righted it on straightaway. The f sport turns great with virtually no body lean. I will say the ride in the f sport is firmer than what I thought it was going to be, but after a few weeks of driving it I am confident it is mostly due to the completely unnecessary 19 inch wheels. That, and the fact that the morons at the dealership had the tires pumped to over 40 psi. lowering it to the recommended 32, made a big difference. i now ride them at just under 31 and it feels great.

 

High cda? What an earth are you on about? 0.32 drag coefficient is low. Audi Q7, Mercedes ML, all have a higher drag coefficient and have less combined power than the RX450h. They are all limited to 155mph but can be pushed further if limiter is taken off.

Our car is ELECTRONICALLY limited to 124 mph, but can easily top out 160mph. Maybe you guys should try it? Youll be surprised.

What about cars like BMW M5, electronically limited to 155mph. Take the limiter off, theyll go to 200mph.

 

LOL!

OK, enough of this. There is a reason (read govt) that the German cars are limited to 155. And an M5 will NOT reach 200mph either any more than your RX can go 160mph. I've had a few M cars, 1 AMG and current modified CTS-V wagon (that did over 165 in the flying mile).

The Rx has a "low" drag coefficient for an SUV ... not for a car in general though.

Math must not be your strong suit?

 

I just want the fastest possible option. I have a corvette also, which fulfills my fast needs. But I'm selling my acura tl type S (which is pretty fast) and my daily driver. Sucks, that I will have to get an automatic after driving a stick for 16 years.