Luxury SUV Hybrid Needs a Makeover

2008 Lexus RX 400h

model as tested $51,272

Test Drove 9/16/08 – 9/23/08
reviewed by Lori Hindman

In my neck of the woods, Lexus cars and SUVs are everywhere, but none are quite as ubiquitous as the RX series. Seriously, there are three of them just on my block. So I was excited when I got my chance to test one out. I didn’t get just any RX; I got the RX 400h, the newest addition to the RX lineup and a notable one because it’s a hybrid.

The ’08 RX 400h is a luxury SUV that’s easy to drive and easy on the eyes. It’s comfortable, powerful and useful; I mean, what else do you want? There are lots of high-end features and a high-end price tag to go with them. Oh, you were waiting for the catch, were you? 

Sadly, this pricey little SUV seems a bit dated. It’s like the SUV that time forgot. The RX series hasn’t changed much since it was introduced for the 1999 model year. That doesn’t mean it’s no good, it’s just not exactly cutting-edge. What’s missing are some of the cool new features, like a proximity key, that can be found in other Lexus models. The big draw here is the hybrid drivetrain, but even that isn’t amazing; the RX 400h still sports a V-6 under the hood and only gets about 5 mpg (combined city/highway) more than the RX 350, the non-hybrid version (I averaged 22.4 mpg during my test week). Still, I enjoyed my time in the RX, mainly because of its exceptionally smooth ride and powerful engine, two things that can cancel out most annoyances in any car.

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT
Storage compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample
Cargo/trunk space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Galore

SENSE AND STYLE
Family friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Excellent
Fun factor (None, Some, Good times, Groove on): Good times

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