Hello, I'm new to this forum and considering the purchase of a RX-450h+. I've owned several Toyota's; this would be my first Lexus. I'm curious what pro's and con's RX-450h+ owners have experienced? I'm also curious what actual EV range you are getting.

 

Wonderful car. I got my 450h+ in March of this year. No problems now at 10K. Well, other than profiles not "sticking," and the car sometimes getting confused between my wife's and my profile. I think it might have something to do with how quickly the car links our phones to Bluetooth when the engine starts. Love the quality of the audio system. Beyond that, great mileage. I have about 40 miles of battery, and then seamless switch to the hybrid engine. I run on battery unless on the Interstate (i.e. driving over 55) when I switch to hybrid mode. I love getting the emails through my Exxon and Shell apps that start with "we've missed you...." When I had the car in for the 10K service, I had them (Lexus of New Orleans) put on the door moldings. Like them. They gave me a 350 overnight as the loaner car. Absolutely no comparison. The 350, with less than 5K, was far noisier than the 450, both in engine noise (the 350 wasn't the hybrid) as well as wind noise. Yes, the 450 is about 20K more than the basic 350, but there's a massive difference in quality, quietness, and fuel efficiency.

 

jkiefer - Thanks for the reply. It was very helpful. Were you able to find your RX on the lot, or was your dealer able to order it for you, and if so how long did it take to arrive?
I've found here in the SE US that certain models are difficult to find and I sometimes have had to go to other states to find the model I'm looking for.

 

I ordered it in December and it arrived in March. So about three months. The dealer was able to track the shipment's progress from Japan.

 

I purchased my RX450h+ just over a year ago.. It was bought at a Lexus dealer approximately 50 miles away, as none of the 4 local dealers in the San Diego area had one in inventory. I like the car very much and as a result I purchased an NX450h+ two months later for my wife. The RX is a bit more cushy and far quieter to drive but, the NX feels a bit more nimble on the road, although it is noisier (less insulation and run-flat tires) Since both cars are primarily driven around town only on battery, they each only see a gas station every three months or so. Both are charged in the garage on a 240v charger in roughly 2.5 hours. The only issue with these cars is the 12v battery under the cargo area in the back. I have installed a voltage gauge in the center console area. I have also installed a battery monitor in both vehicles in order to monitor the 12v battery's state of charge on my iPhone. There is an ongoing issue with the Lexus charging algorithm, which Lexus needs to address and therefore monitoring the SOC on the battery is really necessary, especially for those who do not drive their cars much. I am in that category, as I am retired. In spite of this work around, I still like the car and believe that Lexus will eventually solve this issue, despite it being a minor PITA for the user. It basically means either putting a charger on the 12v periodically or simply letting the vehicle sit in READY mode, while in Park for 45 minutes to an hour every three or four days or so. If you want any further info or have any questions, you can PM me. Regarding range.......The RX is 40 to 42 miles in EV mode and the NX is 45-46 miles. This range has crept up since the purchase date, when they were 35 and 37 miles.

Links to both of these products:

 

Stefanos - One of our vehicles is a Prius Prime (plug-in hybrid). From what I can tell, just plugging in its EV charging cable does not keep its 12v starter battery charged. I suspect the 12v battery only charges when the ICE engine operates, which in our case is rarely. After a few years its 12v battery went dead so it needed replacing. Since then I began using a small trickle charger on its 12v battery and haven't had any problems since.

 

You are partially correct. Charging the vehicle's lithium ion battery pack does not charge the 12v auxiliary battery during that period. The 12v battery will be charged when the READY light is on, regardless if the ICE is running or you are in EV mode. When the vehicle is in PARK, the 12v will charge at approximately 13.8 to 14.2 volts. As soon as you put the vehicle in Drive, the charging voltage will start dropping to right around 12.6 volts. I also use a trickle or float charger periodically on both of my PHEV's to maintain the SOC of the 12v batteries. Having the battery monitor, which is a breeze to install, is helpful, as I can check the SOC on a daily basis, using my cell phone. Sometimes I will use the trickle charger and other times I simply start the car(s) and let them sit for an hour in ready mode (with the ICE off) and the resting voltage goes from 12.4 up to right around 12.8 volts. I normally do this every 3 to 4 days, as I don't like to allow the SOC to drop much below 12.4v, since that is where battery sulfation begins. Hopefully, this will extend the life of the auxiliary batteries. So far, it appears to be working. My 12v in the RX croaked after about 6 months and I had to open the driver's door with the mechanical key and jump start it. After this occurence, I began to be more conscientious about the batteries. Your Prius Prime operates in the same manor. The smaller displacement ICE and smaller CVT are the only real differences.

 

I have a 2015 RX450H and replaced the 12 battery after 9 years.
With a 2025 RX450H+ on order, this is concerning.
Power-power everywhere but not enough to charge?

Isn't this something that is under software control?

- Rich

 

Over 17,000 miles on our RX450h+ and we still love it. It's as quick and handles as well as the RX500h while averaging 35 mpg in HV mode. It's the quietest vehicle we've ever driven and the best road-trip vehicle we've driven.

The only issues I have with it are the 12v charging system and the OEM tire size not being available in Michelin CrossClimate 2. We'd still have bought it though, knowing what we know now.

 

I didn't think the RX450h+ had 4 wheel steering?

 

It doesn't. It still handles as well though,.

 

Is there a F-Sport option for the RX-450h+? And if so, I'm curious if anyone has compared it to the standard Luxury 450h+?

 

There is no F-Sport RX450h+.

The Luxury aquits itself well though.

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2...t-test-review/

 

Interesting article, thank you. I was surprised to see Motortrend reported the RX-450h+ was able to carry more speed through their test course compared to the 500h (as they mentioned, due to the 450h+'s more powerful front electric motor). I was also surprised MT praised the 450h+ for its precise quick steering. From what I've seen on some Youtube video's the 450h+ looked like it had somewhat excessive body roll in corners. But according to this MT article it sounds like the 450h+ strikes a nice comfortable compromise.

 

There's no way. The turning circles will be different.