FastFord

I got it January 2016. I think we pay the same sales tax...13% Dealer sells me a lot of cars, maybe that's why. Hind sight, should have gotten the 450H....

ericsan13

I had the same question and compiled a comprehensive list of reasons in the hybrid forum:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/hyb...ml#post9049237

Overall you will likely break even in terms of gas savings after 92k miles:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/hyb...rt-2-cost.html

PeeVee

Then again... many factors to take into account:
- Leased? No gain
- Financed? With interests, it may break even higher milage than that.

But then again... resale price might be higher also. So there is gain there.

Each to everyone to make their calculation... But then again if we use the gas milage numbers from lexus sheets VS the ones I really get from my 350 in my driving area, if I had known the real numbers, I would have chosen the hybrid...

kitlz

Don't forget there's a few standard features on the 450h that you'd pay for on the 350. Plus the the RXh has VDIM. Only the 350 F-Sport gets that.

I've had 4 RXs in nearly 19 years. The price difference between my '10 450h and '16 450h F-Sport was the least of all.

lesz

A factor that should be taken into consideration is that the RX350 uses regular (87 octane) fuel, and the RX450h calls for premium (91 octane) fuel. The price differences between regular and premium fuel have increased significantly in the last couple of years, and, in most parts of the country, the prices for premium fuel are now $.45-$.50 or more per gallon higher than the prices for regular fuel.

Depending on the kind of driving that one does, the better fuel economy of the hybrid may or may not, from an economic point of view, overcome the 20-25% higher cost per gallon of the premium fuel. If someone is doing most driving in urban stop-and-go situations, the higher cost per gallon of the premium fuel with the RX450h may be more than offset by the better mpg. On the other hand, for those whose driving is primarily not in stop-and-go conditions, the lower cost of 87 octane fuel for the RX350 is likely to more than offset the better mpg of the RX450h using premium fuel.

It should also be noted that, with gas prices holding at relatively low levels for several years, demand for used hybrid vehicles has dropped, and the trade-in value differences between hybrid vehicles and their non-hybrid siblings have, in general, gotten significantly smaller than they were a few years ago.

For me, if I was making the choice between an RX350 and an RX450h, the choice would be make based on performance differences and how much better I might feel by going more "green". The wisdom of making the choice based on economics is more questionable and more variable from one person to another.

cell03

I guess it will depend on your driving. If mostly city with stop and go traffic then hybrid would be best. I should've got the hybrid since I drive mostly city with a lot of stop and go but it's too late now. If my driving is still mostly city, then on the next purchase I will take the hybrid instead. Overall I am still happy with the RX350.

ggebhardt

I also agree that the AC in the 450h is awesome. Even on the hottest days the thermostat stays at 73 degrees or it get too cold in the vehicle.

ggebhardt

They might call for premium fuel but it is not required. Been using regular for years in my LX and 450h and they run just fine. The Premium fuel was used for EPA purposes and not as an engine requirement. They got the same engine as the RX.

And before you you people jump on this and say that you must use Premium or it will damage the engine. Almost every 450h is delivered with a full tank of regular by the dealer for delivery.

I did not but my 450h to save that much on fuel, I bought it for the performance and smoothness of power. It is addicting.

Freds430

You are absolutely 100% correct. I run 87 octane in my vehicles that have required premium for almost a million miles in several different vehicles and have not had one problem. Also noticed no difference in gas mileage.

I always revert back to two MIT graduates that are car mechanics who had a syndicated radio show called Car Talk for 35 years.
http://www.cartalk.com/content/premi...egular-0#myth4

From the USA Today:
The only modern engines that should really need premium are those with superchargers, which force-feed fuel into the cylinders. "You're driving along and just tramp the gas and the knock sensor cannot sense the knock fast enough in some cases," because the supercharger boosts pressure so fast, says Bob Furey, chemist and fuels specialist at General Motors.

Burning regular when the owner's manual specifies premium won't void the warranty, nor damage the engine, even the most finicky automakers say. "You're giving up perhaps just a little bit of performance that a customer wouldn't really even notice, it's so slight," says Furey.

ggebhardt

Long ago the difference in price for premium vs regular was small, but not anymore. Premium is so expensive when compared to regular it makes me wonder how long it has been since they had to fill the premium underground tank at the local station. I think it has been there long enough to loose a few octane.

lesz

I actually agree with the notion that, when premium fuel is "recommended", the reason is that premium fuel was used for EPA testing for emissions, fuel economy, and horsepower and that manufacturers are required to recommend use of the same fuel that was used for that EPA testing.

Further, I've had at least 2 Lexus vehicles for which the recommendation was to use premium fuel, and I used only 87 octane regular fuel in them with no problems at all.

What has made me more skeptical about using 87 octane in the RX450h, however, is that the RX hybrid engine has a compression ratio of 13 to 1. The other Lexus vehicles for which I've used regular fuel even though premium was "recommended" have had compression ratios closer to 10 to 1. So, I'm actually glad to hear that people are using 87 octane in the RX450h without any issues.

shric

I got the 450h since I have owned Priuses since 2000 so it was compelling. The only negative on the 450h is the requirement of premium fuel- in PA the difference is 50-60 cents per gallon or about 20% more. agree about the smooth and quiet drive. You will not save money with the 450h but it is a better driving experience and you will save on emissions of pollutants as compared to 350

ggebhardt

Just use regular and you will not regret it.

jay90011

iTrader: (23)

I am in the same situation about not getting the 450h. i drive 80% city and my mpg averages about '15-16' mpg with a very light foot. When my lease is up in two years i will be looking into a hybrid for sure. On a separate note my 2014 IS350 F-sport which i drive like a race car driver 100% of the time averages out to 18-19mpg city. Lexus sure fooled me with there claim of 19mpg for the 2017 Rx350 Awd.

lexnewbi

I have about 15 mile drive in highway with 2 miles to get to highway and 2 miles after highway driving. This is about 80% highway driving. This seems to work as the best combination. I mostly run on batteries to get to highway, then if good traffic flow drive at 60MPH recharging batteries, then drive again under battery power. This usually gives me about 30-32MPG with 87 gas. The highway driving is about 26-28MPG, but the few mikes of battery driving greatly improves the MPG.

If if there is traffic, mileage further improves. I have gotten up to 40 MPG. But if traffic is too heavy, the nthe batteries run down and the car idles too much lowering the mileage.