I think the only way you can eliminate the vibration on a RX4 is to buy the hybrid.

 

No vibration, I was referring to that slight hesitation in throttle. I had a hybrid loaner as well once - not for me - no thx.

 

Yes from what I've read.

It's purely a design issue where the software is written for fuel economy rather than performance. Put it in Sports Mode and it's much better, use a premium tier fuel and it's better (doesn't help as much as Sports Mode).

I assume the dealer can do the software update on 2020's.

 

Right. The ECU reprogramming (TSB) helps. Premium (89-91 octane) helps. Getting used to it helps.

 

How much does Sport Mode affect MPG? Is there a TSB on 2020's for hesitation?

 

Zero, as far as I can tell.

 

Only minor if at all. What happens is you tend to feather the throttle more in Sports mode whereas you give it more throttle to get it moving in Normal so the end result is very similar. Of course if you put it in Sports and thrash the gets out of it the consumption will increase.

 

I'm in Australia, Lexus recommends our mid level fuel here (your 89-91) already and we don't have the TSB at all. I'm more like you with your last idea, I'm use to it, especially around my home town - quiet traffic, flat, no rush and I can drive it smoothly but in Sydney for example I usually need Sports to give it more pep to keep up with the traffic/hills without it felling too jerky.

 

I bought a 2019 hybrid originally and experienced severe hesitation. This prompted me to trade for the RX350 after only 600 miles and lost a lot of money. I test drove the 350 extensively. The hesitation, drone, vibration started to show after 200 miles. All the loaners I drove, 5 of them ranging from 2018 to 2020 have these problems. Some are more severe and some less. New buyers beware.

 

Did you try the premium fuel to see if it made a difference?

We are looking at the RX also.

 

I've tried everything that's been suggested in this thread and the other thread (drone&vibration). I've had the dealer applied all the TSBs, but the issues are still there, as other members have experienced the same.

 

100% agree with the above statement. We have had our 2016 for almost 5 years now and it’s been one of our most hated cars for a number of reasons which I have outlined in other posts, but the transmission hesitation is by far the worst “features”. Even after TSBs, changing fuel, nothing helps. It is just Lexus design of the mapping that is just awful. Hate hate hate this car. We will never buy another Lexus/Toyota product.

 

So, are you going to sell or trade this car pretty soon? And buy a different brand?

 

Let us know what you hate about the next brand you purchase. Guaranteed there will be something. Just read all the forums. According to everything out there, nobody will be buying any brand🤔 With Lexus, you at least get top notch reliability, lowest depreciation of any brand, low cost of maintenance and at the end of the day, the cars are pretty nice.

 

If it is just the mapping the TSB would have fixed that. It changes the mapping to be more like Sport Mode in Normal Mode.

Maybe the dealer, as others have said, didn't complete the installation correctly, IE: cut power to the system to reboot it.