2007 Lexus RX 400h Consumer Reviews

Reviewer Say What?

Written by: G2 on 02/19/2009

Vehicle

2007 Lexus RX 400h 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

My Lexus 400h is the best car I've ever owned, and I've own Beamers and Mercs. I get 28.5 mpg on mostly interstate driving during the summer and 25.5 mpg in the winter. Somehow my 21 year own son can get 32 mpg, swear on my mother. Believe me when I say I don't know how, because he has a lead foot. This car is smooth, and quiet. Love the CVT and I don't miss the transmission shift bump. I'm buying the 2010 RX 450h when it comes out and I'm trading my wife's 2006 IS250 for the HS250 when it comes out in the fall of 2009.

Favorite Features

The amount of power this hybrid has when you need it. All the controls and layout. The CVT. The hybrid wheels. The paint. The sound system. The easy fold down seats. The total build quality.

Suggested Improvements

The 2010 will have a push button starter so that's off my check list. So the only thing I want is to make my hybrid a plug-in and I'll be a happy camper.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Poor Gas Mileage

Written by: David on 08/08/2008

Vehicle

2007 Lexus RX 400h 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

We purchased this vehicle solely for the gas mileage that was claimed on the sticker and what the dealer said it would actually get. We were very disappointed when it got 35-40% less then what they claimed. Around the city the best we were able to achieve was 19.6 mpg when the sticker and dealer claimed it would get 31 mpg or better. We even had a factory rep from Lexus drive the car and he could not get it over 20 mpg. This car is terrible! Lexus would not stand behind it and told us that there was nothing they would do. We lost 13k selling it back to the dealer.

Favorite Features

None

Suggested Improvements

Have an automatic default shut off for the engine when the car is sitting idle for 10 minutes. My wife pulled into our garage on electric power, forgot to take out the key because the engine is not running, and almost killed us because the car kept starting up the engine all night long.

4 out 8 people found this review helpful

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Great car

Written by: Rx on 07/03/2008

Vehicle

2007 Lexus RX 400h 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

The 400h has great acceleration. It is a well built car and very comfortable. Average gas mileage is 28 MPG, therefore consistent with other reviews. The navigation system is the worst part of the package. Acura has an excellent navigation system.

Favorite Features

Acceleration/smooth ride. Great handling in bad weather, i.e. snow

Suggested Improvements

Change out the navigation system. Make it more intuitive and useful.

1 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Great car

Written by: Van Zee on 06/14/2008

Vehicle

2007 Lexus RX 400h 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

Especially for mountain driving this car is high performance. I like the low emission which helps the environment and increases the pleasure of driving this car.

Favorite Features

Low emission, great performance.

Suggested Improvements

I would like to have electric plug in abilities for this car.

3 out 4 people found this review helpful

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RX400h a mixed bag

Written by: Robert on 03/14/2008

Vehicle

2007 Lexus RX 400h 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

The navigation system is impossibly complicated - and I'm a PhD Professional Engineer! It is simply illogical. The cargo space is disappointingly shallow. The screen is unreadable in bright daylight. But the performance is good and very reliable. However, as a Mercedes S-Class person, Lexus is outclassed!

Favorite Features

Construction

Suggested Improvements

Navigation - please, do it logically!

4 out 9 people found this review helpful

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Vehicle has shortcomings

Written by: Redhead on 01/19/2008

Vehicle

2007 Lexus RX 400h 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

I am a Lexus person and have an LS 430 which I think is the best vehicle I have ever owned. I have been disappointed with the RX400h. The fuel economy is below expectations at 19-20 in normal driving which is mostly in town and 22-23 on a trip. I have asked the dealership about this and they mostly just shrug their shoulders. It seems to me the gas engine cuts in at too low a speed. The front seat is too small for me at 6'2" both in seat size and headroom. Have had battery problems. Battery is too small. Also, it seems that the dealership is still not up to speed on the hybrid model. They keep telling me to call Lexus directly. Disappointing.

Favorite Features

Acceleration is fantastic. Love the power rear door. Rears seats are easy to lower and raise.

Suggested Improvements

Improve fuel economy. Navigation system is too complicated and both touchscreen bluetooth phone and nav system are pretty much disabled when vehicle is moving although you can call from your cell phone which is still connected to the car system. Need to offer keyless entry as an option

7 out 7 people found this review helpful

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Don't buy nav system

Written by: careful on 10/18/2007

Vehicle

2007 Lexus RX 400h 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

This is a great car, but don't bother buying the nav system. The system is virtually disabled when the car is moving. You cannot input anything into the system unless you pull over and stop the vehicle. This bug makes the system almost useless. Buy a portable Garmin unit instead, it will save you money and frustration!

Favorite Features

Hybrid system is great!

Suggested Improvements

Make the nav system usable when the car is moving.

21 out 24 people found this review helpful

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Just an Awesome Vehicle

Written by: pm on 07/31/2007

Vehicle

2007 Lexus RX 400h 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

OK - I was a skeptic going into this hybrid stuff but today we turned 2,000 miles on our RX (bought the first week of June) and I'm now a convert!! We're averaging right at 28 mpg with mixed driving. One concern I had was how well the a/c would be and maybe overheating. Not to worry - car spent a week in the Indian Wells/Palm Springs area in 115 heat and it did a terrific job. The nav system is excellent but it takes a little time and patience to get the hang of it. The hands free bluetooth phone tie-in is superb. One quirky thing? I have noticed a little "surging" in freeway driving when using cruise control - not sure whether or not it's the car or the road yet

Favorite Features

Handling under all conditions is excellent.

Suggested Improvements

The backup camera needs to be supplemented with the "beep" assist process.

67 out 71 people found this review helpful

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Near Best of Both Worlds

Written by: Stan on 07/19/2007

Vehicle

2007 Lexus RX 400h 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

Best of both worlds in that my RX has the torque to move briskly as well as a return of decent fuel mileage when driven conservatively. And it's a ULEV. Navigation is cumbersome and simplistically inflexible. Nav voice command search returns nearest X and you either take it or stop to search the database thru layers of menu options, or find it on your own. Wind noise that I didn't expect in a Lexus. CVT is smooth. Interior nicely appointed, flawlessly assembled inside and out. Smooth quiet IC engine. ICE runs efficiently at highway speeds and had no problems going over mountain passes thru Idaho and Montana. Overall, a very well put together vehicle that I am glad I jumped into.

Favorite Features

Informative hybrid drive power screens assisted me to improve my high mileage driving style, powered rear gate very convenient.

Suggested Improvements

Redesign rear seats to fold flat, add mp3 jack, lose the cassette player, rewrite the nav system software, option to turn off annoying slow voice prompts every time nav voice recognition is used, make a decent front bumper license plate mount so lic plate is fastened with 4 bolts,

27 out 30 people found this review helpful

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Excellent all around vehicle

Written by: dorenescar on 06/25/2007

Vehicle

2007 Lexus RX 400h 4dr SUV AWD (3.3L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

Our 400h has truly exceeded all of our expectations. We are getting an average of 28 mpg with mixed driving on streets and freeways (mainly streets). The road feel is extraordinary. It feels like we are floating on air, the brakes and steering are tight and efficient and it's the quietest car we've ever driven. The back seat reclining is a brilliant idea for making the back feel spacious. The vehicle takes hills with ease, and seems effortless in daily driving. The only downside is the navigation system, which is cumbersome, difficult to program, and works only in an off or no movement position. Otherwise, we recommend this to anyone for an exceptional ride and drive experience.

Favorite Features

Smooth hybrid drive, visibility, exceptionally quiet drive, great brakes and steering, reclining passenger seats, automatic hatch rear door (wonderful!), audio system.

Suggested Improvements

Navigation is frustrating and difficult to use.

19 out 19 people found this review helpful

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