We haven’t had a six since our RX330 twenty years ago.
Our current 2025 RX350 hybrid is very quiet. We don’t drag race it so I’ve never noticed any real noise during acceleration. We keep it in ECO mode most of the time but I might use the steering wheel sensor to kick it into SPORT for a few seconds seconds to jump into traffic on the highway. Even then, there’s little noise. (And I have excellent hearing, thankyouverymuch! 🙂

And we sure do like that 38-42 miles per gallon.

 

I moved up from a 2020 RX and agree with this view. More power but turbo is louder. Still happy. My only real gripe on the turbo is the "requirement" for premium. I do this but Toyota/Lexus has been all over the place. The same or very similar engine has rec's from regular gas in other models. I just wish someone would give the true details on whether it is really needed

 

‘Unlike what some would like you to believe, there are numerous opinions on comparing the quietness of different years and configurations of the RX. In my case I have a 2022 RX450h and a 2025 RX350. I know that my 2022 is quieter than my 2025 so I asked AI to see what it said and this is what came back.

The 2022 RX450h hybrid is generally quieter and smoother than the 2025 RX350 due to its electric motor, especially in city driving. However, the 2025 RX350 has received updates to reduce noise, and some find its engine more refined for highway cruising than the hybrid's CVT, while others find the new engine noisy at higher speeds. For a luxurious and quiet experience, the hybrid (450h) is the better choice, but the 2025 RX350 is still a quiet vehicle that may offer a more traditional driving feel.

The 2022 RX 450h is significantly quieter than the 2025 RX 350 because its hybrid system allows it to run on electric power at low speeds, resulting in near-silent operation. The 2025 RX 350, while quiet for a gas vehicle, has a turbocharged engine that is noticeably louder than the hybrid, especially at higher speeds or during acceleration.
This is what I get when comparing the 450h against the 2025 RX350h.


The 2025 RX 350h is quieter than the 2022 RX 450h
, especially in city driving, due to the 2025 model's updated hybrid system and added sound-reducing materials. The 2022 RX 450h's gasoline engine could be more noticeable during acceleration, whereas the 2025 model has a smoother, quieter experience that is a hallmark of its newer design.

 

Oh boy, here we go again. Yet another i4 being more refined than the V6 war. To each their own, but I've driven many 4 cylinder vehicles, and none can be compared to the smoothness of a V6. 2016-2022 drone has nothing to do with smoothens. The new RX perhaps is more sound prove, hence the i4 feels smoother / quiet. For all I know, both my wife's 2020 RX350 and my Infiniti QX70 have V6 and both are very smooth and quiet.

 

Sound pressure reading doesn't necessarily means refinement.

 

you can manage i4 vs v6 nvh, but for some reason the i4s always have the rattle can noise that can never be hidden regardless of brand. If it does not bother you, great.

But test it for yourself, because no one can make that final call but you, cause its your ride and money.

 

Agreed on both points with the above post.

 

I've never claimed differently, but I never thought the V6 was all that refined either.

Compared to the 4's, sure, but I've experienced more refined V6s and much more refined V8s and then there is the ultra-smooth I6.

 

2GR is not especially refined, I agree. But it has a nicer tone than any I-4 IMO, exception maybe the best Toyota turbo 4's from the past or some of the Honda screamers. But that's a very different vibe. BTW I've driven a 2GR converted MR2 this engine sounds amazing when given the chance.
I-6 wins every time it's inherently balanced and smooth even compared to a V8.

 

Since this is my first Lexus, I cannot compare its turbo 4 banger to the previous Lexus V6's, but here are my thoughts.

First and foremost, due to ever increasing government requirements, I don't think that we can expect to see V6/I6's in vehicles of this size and weight again, at least not in the near future. Hence the proliferation of turbochargers; trying to make the most power from a small displacement engine. Therefore it is probably best to accept this for now, and if one wants to purchase a new car, look hard at the available powertrains and decide what is best for YOU. This is what I concluded prior to purchasing my 2023 Lexus; my last new car purchase was in 2011 and things had really changed.

My 2011 purchase was a Volvo XC-60 with an I6 (3.0) engine. I love its power, smoothness, responsiveness and "growl" sound when I get on it. The Lexus, by contrast, has a "buzzy" sound on hard acceleration, especially at slower speeds, as I have mentioned on this forum in previous posts. But I have grown used to the sound of this engine and after just turning 20,000 miles I still find it very adequate for this vehicle. The acceleration from slower speeds is not bad for a 4 cylinder and when at highway speeds, I don't notice the engine sound at all. The vehicle is very smooth, quiet, and I all too often find myself going well over the posted speed limit.

 

I'm also a first time Lexus owner, and I have to say this is the quietest vehicle I've ever owned. Yes, you can hear the engine when you give it the beans from a stop, but it's not bothersome to me. I traded a 2025 Cadillac XT4 for the Lexus because I was so dissatisfied with it, and one of the reasons was how noisy it was in the cabin. The Lexus has impressive torque when starting from a stop or on the highway when stepping on it to pass. I cried at the dealership when I took the hit to trade in the Cadillac, but I'm glad I did it.

 

SOME folks like the noise!

IME turning up the volume on the fake engine noise is nice! Can't really hear it normally, but put the shifter in the Manual mode and let it rev, and...WHO NEEDS A RADIO?

Cheaper than a glass-pack exhaust that drones on the highway.



OK, I'll go back to my garage now, where I work on our three sports cars.

 

Extreme sarcasm aside a banshee at 67dB versus Scarlett Johansson at the same, well you get the point.

 

The 4s are hardly banshees and the V6 is certainly not Scarlett Johansson.

 

oh yeah - want some noise? Invite my son in law for a drive down your street in his M4.