An important factor to consider is how often and how many miles you drive annually. I previously owned a Prius and an Avalon Hybrid and loved both of those cars for their smoothness and fuel economy. We drove those hybrids 15,000 to 20,000 miles per year when we were working and taking a lot of long road trips. I originally thought I wanted the RX350h based on my previous hybrid experience; however, I changed my mind and bought the RX350 turbo for the following reasons:
- My wife and I are retired now and will only drive the RX about 6,000 to 8,000 miles per year. Most of the time, the RX will sit in the garage. We have a 2023 Tesla Model S that we drive locally and on medium range trips. The RX350 is for long trips, which we take less frequently as time goes on. Hybrids need to be driven regularly to keep the traction battery charged and healthy. Our use case is better suited for a non-hybrid. The RX350 will last indefinitely with our use case; whereas, a hybrid may have traction battery issues sooner under our use case.
- The RX350 turbo seemed quicker and quieter than the RX350h when we test drove them.
- The RX350 requires premium fuel, but that only amounts to between $200 and $300 per year extra for us which is no big deal. BTW, premium fuel is recommended for the RX350h. I would have also used premium in the RX350h to protect the engine and optimize performance.
- I got a $3,500 discount on the RX350, but the RX350h was selling at or above sticker price with a lot of undesirable accessories and options that pushed the price even higher. $3,500 buys a lot of gas.
- There were only a couple RX350h in stock and neither fit the bill for me.
- There were dozens of RX350 in stock and I got the exact specification I wanted.

So, depending on use case, either the RX350h or the RX350 can be the right choice for you. Consider how you will use the car, as opposed to how others will use their car.

 

I just purchased a 2025 RX350h after months of research and can’t believe what a bad financial mistake that was. First, the vehicle cost over $2,000 more, 2nd the Lexus financing deal of 2.49% excluded all “h” RXs so that costs about $6,000 more in financing interest, and then the Rx350h thanks premium fuel at a 5-year additional cost of at least $2,500 even when calculation the better MPG. All together that’s almost $11,000!!! Bad, Bad, Bad deal.

 

Take a breath. You have the fuel thing totally reversed. The non-hybrid RX350 requires premium 91 octane gas. The hybrid that you have requires regular gas. My 2 year old RX350h, like yours, has been running great on the required 87 octane “regular” gas since I got it.

If you researched for months, why are you having buyer’s remorse after the fact, about facts that good research should have easily made clear?

The hybrid is in greater demand. It’s still a technological marvel to offer a vehicle this size that goes 37 miles per gallon of 87 octane gas. So the vehicle fetches more than the non-hybrid that only gets about half that and requires premium gas. And I guess Lexus discounts financing to basically further discount and move the lesser-demand non-hybrid. For the 2-3 year owner, the hybrid might cost more, although higher resale value should even out the total cost. Even at 5 years, the resale value of the hybrid probably will offset the higher upfront cost. And for the very long term owner, the higher price may be offset by double the MPGs and the cheaper regular gas. But Mister Market is a smart guy. The benefits of the hybrid fetches more.

Oh, one more thing: the $6000 extra financing cost is over 5 years (I think). The present value of that is probably more like $4000. So you have $2000 extra price, $4000 extra financing minus huge fuel savings and higher resale value. Probably a wash; maybe you’re even ahead.

 

Post is absolutely right on. Driving the average of 12,000 miles averaging 36 mpg combined regular gas at $3.00 annual fuel cost $999. RX 350 ICE 25 mpg at $3.50 premium annual fuel cost $$1,680. Break even point three years. Add in quieter and on my fifth Lexus Hybrid all over 100,000 miles and never done a brake job. So add in no brake job at $500 to $700 at 50,000 miles and the break-even point becomes 2 years. Driven a loaner several times a RX 350 and do not like the turbo lag fast acceleration. Would never consider a non hybrid.

 

Hey daryll40, thanks for your thoughts. But you have it wrong - from the Lexus Site: RX350h: Recommended to use premium unleaded gasoline with octane rating of 91 (Research Octane Number of 96) or higher for optimum engine performance. You may use unleaded gasoline with octane rating as low as 87 (Research Octane Number of 91). In this case, engine performance may be decreased. Use of octane rating unleaded gasoline with an octane rating lower than 87 may result in engine knocking. Persistent knocking can lead to engine damage. It's the RX350 that uses the 87 Octane. 87 in a 350h will negate the MPG performance.

As for my Math, got it pretty right. Figuring 10k miles a year the 350h will use 138 gallons @36MPG less than an RX350. That's $345 (In Dallas - $2.50 a gallon) annual savings, minus the extra cost for the 350h premium fuel @ 50 cents more a gallon (@277 gallons annually) is $139, so the difference is only a saving on gas of $208 annually with the RX350 using 416 gallons @$2.50 a gallon. NO HUGE SAVINGS!

At that rate it will take you almost 10 years to recoup the MPG savings due to the MSRP being $2,200 more than a RX350.

You're right, the financing calculation was off a little, but not what you think. $65k at 2.49% for 60 months will incur $4,200 in interest over the life of the loan. That same loan at 6.5% will incur $11,300, a difference of $7,100. Even a loan at 5% would have a difference of $4,000.

So over 5 years, the RX350h costs an extra $5,160 to $8,260 based on today's incentives and Lexus's MPG calculations. Is it worth more of a buyer in 5 years? Probably, but will never make up the deficit. Without any financing calculations, it's still not a value until year 10.

 

You are not right about the fuel. In fact you are definitely just wrong.

Looking at the online owner's manual for the 2025 RX350 (non-hybrid), it clearly states, on page 541: "You must only use unleaded gasoline. Select premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 (Research Octane Number 96) or higher required for optimum engine performance and fuel economy. If the octane rating is less than 91, damage to the engine may occur and may void the vehicle warranty. At minimum, the gasoline you use should meet the specifications of ASTM D4814 in the U.S.A."

Here is the page that you can click to see that: https://assets.sia.toyota.com/public...f/OM0E114U.pdf
Don't be confused by the "research octane number 96". The first number shown, 91, is the required PREMIUM unleaded gasoline for the RX350 (non-hybrid).

Looking at the online owners manual for the 2025 RX350h (hybrid), it clearly states, on page 566 it clearly states: "87AKI (Research Octane Number 91) or higher [minimum]". I agree there's another line where it says that 91 octane gas is "recommended", but I don't use that and it seems that none of the posters here use that.
Here is the page that you can click to see that: https://assets.sia.toyota.com/public...f/OM0E252U.pdf
Don't be confused by the "research octane number 91". The first number shown, 87AKI, is the required 87 octane "regular" unleaded gasoline for the RX350h (hybrid).

Again I ask: If you spent months researching, why didn't you figure out the higher financing costs (or, perhaps, lower, discounted financing costs of the non-hybrid)? And for a lot of us driving a Lexus, we can self finance at lower rates (which means if we pay cash, we lose 4.5% certificate of deposit rates, effectively having a 4.5% loan).

I'm sorry if it seems like I'm picking on you. But some of your "beef" is wrong (the fuel thing) and some of it is that you didn't really do the research you claimed. If you can afford the deal you already made, then enjoy your new ride and don't fret over spilled milk. In the end, the gasoline savings and higher resale value will still make you "about a break even", give or take, versus if you had purchased the non-hybrid.

 

Consider the other factor of the hybrid - less trips to the gas station. The 350 doesn't have a very big gas tank, I find I am always getting gas for it.

 

And someone further up on this thread said that brake jobs will be less frequent. Here in the steep up and down hills of Pittsburgh, I was doing both brakes and tires every 20,000 miles or so with my old non-hybrid RX. I don't yet know if I'll actually save on brake jobs now with the hybrid, but that seems to be what people are reporting.

 

I have an easy 500 mile range.

 

The word on the street is that a hybrid's brakes will last twice as long.

I've had one other hybrid, a 2014 Infiniti Q50S AWD (360 HP), sold it with about 90K miles. It had the original brakes. MPG was in low 30s, on premium.

 

Without getting into the middle of this, we routinely get 900 km per tank, mostly highway. I would expect that it would over 1000 km with more city driving (3l/100)

 

I find our 350h achieves lower mpg in city type driving. What you would expect from an ICE engine but didn't know the hybrid behaves the same way.

 

I guess your driving habits/settings/environment are different. My city driving is always higher than open road. But I could seee it being the opposite if you don't drive in ECO mode, your city is really hilly like San Francisco, you are in a cold climate, or a warm climate with A/C running. Many factors to consider I guess.

 

If you do a lot of jack rabbit starts, then of course the city driving will be less. I get 35 to 40 mph combined. It goes down a little in cold weather. If I drive mostly city its closer to 40 and if mostly highway, closer to 35.

 

My experience is the same as ^^^ Most trips seem to be 3-6l/100 in the city. The electric motor gets used a lot in stop-and-go.