Used 2006 Lexus RX 400h Consumer Reviews
Most significant change auto tech 50yrs
Amazing grace! It has everything, luxury, mileage, and pick up! Every gadget and comfort. Like Bentley or RR started over and built the best SUV they could ever imagine, and outdid themselves. I am second in line (here in FL) for the new Lexus GS 430 with Hybrid technology coming out next spring. All Lexus will have Hybrid engine by end of 2007. All auto makers will have to run to catch up!
Best ride/drive
The new 440h is great. The especially quiet - and quick - ride is the best. Comfortable on long ride (450 mile trip over weekend - mostly highway - 27.0 mpg aver.). yes - expensive - bells and whistles not all that necessary - but the car is 100%.
- Base Hybrid 4dr SUVMSRP: $6,995165 mi away
- Base Hybrid 4dr SUVMSRP: $8,995185 mi away
- Base Hybrid 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,856205 mi away
Exquisite !!!
I bought this beauty for less than a month as yet, but this car rides like best luxurious sedans. The hybrid system is seamless and excitingly responsive. At a stop, you can't feel the engine. The only drawback is the fuel consumption. So far the average has been only about 24-25 mpg. and this is an average on both city and highway. Still this is unheard of in a luxury SUV. Sometimes the voice activated nav system works. Overall this car is amazing in all its features.
Exceeds Expectations
One should expect a lot from a luxury car, especially when paying full MSRP. This vehicle exceeds all expectations. I'm getting exactly the EPA mileage ratings of 31 city, 27 highway. Technical gadgetry is useful and operates flawlessly. Ride is smooth and as comfortable as my old Lincoln (this is my first SUV, so there was some trepidation). There have been many pleasant surprises and nothing unpleasant.
First Impressions
The Lexus 400h hybrid is a very luxuriously appointed SUV with peppy acceleration and a smooth comfortable ride. This is the first year of hybrid technology although it is not unproven being used in the Toyota Prisus for the past couple years and in Japan. My only disappointment is that the mileage rating is not sufficient enough to get you into the California car pool lanes.
Fuel Economy?
I really enjoy the car, the SUV and the gadgets are fun. BUT, I have never got more than 24.5 mpg.. I thought that I would average at least 27 to 29 mpg, never happened.. I put at least 18,000 miles a year on a car,, not worth it if you are thinking about saving $$$ on fuel... Also the fuel tank could be larger...But I do love being green and doing my part to help save the world from polutants.. The drive, the comfort and the sitting up higher are thing I enjoy. If there was a place for a cell phone that woulsd also be nice.
The perfect car for us.
After reading all the low MPG ratings every one was getting we were very happy to see that its all in how you drive it. We average arround 27 mpg per tank. On freeway trips of around 30 miles we can get over 34 mpg. You have to learn how to save some gas when you drive this car and it will be worth every penny. Our models here in Hawaii are a little less money because we don't have a NAV system and can't even order it. Aside from lacking the back up camera, we have had no problems with visibility as some have mentioned. The quality materials used in this SUV are amazing, we will definitely be buying another Lexus.
Great car, just beware mileage & legroom
This is a beautifully made car, well designed, & drives very smoothly due the the CVT (continuously variable transmission). The quality is excellent inside & out. Only 2 critiques: 1) Getting lower gas mileage than expected, abt 20 mpg in city driving. Our commute may be too short (10 mi 1 way) to get enough regenerative braking to fully charge the hybrid batteries, so we depend mostly on the gas engine, not the electric. In fairness, it only has 1600 miles on it, & others have said mileage improves after about 2000. 2) Rear seats need more legroom for tall folks. We are short, but if taller folks are in front seat, they will eat up rear legroom. That said, we still love this car!
Why not reward yourself?
Have you found your soulmate yet?You know the feeling if you did.I really got that feeling when I picked up my RX 400h just a couple days ago.The car is awesome in every way, shape or form from head to toe, side to side...it's great!! I've been in my boss' Mercedes ML350, and other luxury cars, but there really is no comparison. The leather feels great, the ride is smooth, it's got awesome power&pick up,and best of all a full tank will last you a while!! Maintenance is economical. The price is steep, no doubt about that, but I adopted a line from the Mercedes car ad: 'Love what you drive'
Love this Car
I was hesitant to buy any SUV; I typically am much more environmentally conservative. However, after years of not being able to get equipment and kids in vehicles, I relented. The Lexus Hybrid is a pleasure to drive. It takes curves well and handles well in high volume traffic. I feel secure behind the wheel. I have the back-up mirror which I love and I feel secure in it with my kids in car seats. I am also an executive though..and it doesn't feel just like a mommy car.
Great Car
Love the nav, mileage, and performance. Highly recommend
6 months on the road 400RH
I average 28 mph with about 60% highway driving compared to 17 - 18 mph with my 2001 RX 300. Moves well in highspeed traffic on the beltway and in heavy traffic.
The best SUV we have owned
We own BMW's and Mercedes and this was our first Lexus. Overall it is my wife's favorite vehicle ever. Ride is superb, build quality and design excellent and lots of interior space. It has recorded on average 25mpg and is wonderfully quiet even under hard acceleration. Fabulous pickup in the 30 to 60 range. Our favorite vehicle to use on long runs from San Francisco to Seattle
love it
I love the gas mileage, the look and the feel.If I bought it again, I wouldn't pay extra for the powerful sound system. It is not needed. The top feature is the quiet ride when it runs on electric power with the gasoline motor not running. The great fuel mileage is just a plus!!! Go Lexus! Eugene Tilley
A Lexus to Remember
The design of the RX 400h was the first thing that intrigued me about my Lexus. After the test drive I was sold. If youe'r thinking of investing in a hybrid I would strongly suggest you take the Lexus RX400h for a test drive. A hybrid costs more but I would purchase this hybrid again. I live in the rural area and my average speed is 45 mph. I am getting 25.5 mpg daily. It doesn't matter if I have to suddenly stop or increase my speed it averages the same mpg. The 6 cylinder engine has as much or more power than my former 8 cylinder engines that were in my large suvs. This car gives you all the comfort of the large suvs in a smaller and very sporty edition of an suv.
Awesome Hybrid
I just got this great SUV, and I love almost everything about it. Quiet, comfortable, has great acceleration, and almost excellent fuel economy.
Absolutely the best in it's class!
Great vehicle! Above expectations! We were concerned about purchasing the "New Technology" of the Hybrid, but, NO COMPLAINTS! Its awesome to drive! It does take a little getting use to but, in no time, youll LOVE driving it. When the engine shuts off and youre on nothing but battery, the vehicle is quiet as a mouse. My son calls this Stealth Mode. The looks you get are funny, they see you moving, but hear nothing. They cant figure it out. The vehicle runs smooth and quiet during normal operation, you dont notice the engine shutting down or reengaging, there is NO hesitation what-so-ever. The transmission is superb! One gear, smooth and fast! It just doesn't get better than this!
Amazing
Car is exceptional. It is quiet, comfortable and the mileage is great. I notice that by adjusting your driving you can improve mileage. In a recent 80 mile expressway trip I averaged 27.5 mpg going just under 70 mph. In the city, I have gotten as much as an average of 35 mpg. This is nearly double the mileage of my last car, a 2002 RX 300. With gas prices now so high, I feel like I have the best of both worlds. I can keep driving an SUV and get great gas mileage as the same time. Plus the car is a dream to drive.
Goes
THe RX400 flies like a rocket. Hard to hold down to 70. Gas mileage is excellent and navigation system is a real treat. Best car I have ever owned.
Love the Hybrid
Bought our Lexus 400h in Sep '05 and extremely happy with it. The fuel economy is not what was advertised... but that is to be expected. But overall we are pleased with the gas mileage. Getting better than advertised highway but lower than advertized city. Love the looks, comfort and quality of the RX400h.
Wonderful Vehicle
Incredible vehicle that runs extremely smooth. I have never enjoyed a car as much as this one. Gas mileage is between 25 and 27 MPG. Overall, I highly recommend this car.
Would love it more if it got 30 mpg
Have had my 400h over a year now and I have found it to be truly a comfortable, fun to drive luxury vehicle! We were sorely disappointed when it only got 24.5 mpg both in town and on the highway. I didn't expect the advertized 31 mpg, but I did expect to get 28. But, even 24.5 is 50% better than the non-hybrid. It does have different engine and transmission sounds; a gear sound and the engine goes faster or slower at unexpected times. But this is my problem, not the car's, after all, it is different technology. My father tells me that he didn't like fluid transmissions when they came out either.
My Mileage has been great
I have read plenty of the consumer reviews, and seen plenty of people disappointed with the MPG. Not me. I live in Chicago and do a fair combination of highway/city driving combo to to/from work, and I have got no less than 29 mpg per tank. I can usually get 450+ miles out of every fill up. Granted I have changed my driving habits a bit so that I can utilize the electric motor more, but I get to work at the same time, so I am not going any slower. I am really pleased with the vehicle since I have a VW Passat as well and this gets about 5-6 mpg better with more room (a lot of baby stuff), the higher driving experience (see the road better), outstanding features, and more oomph (for passing).
Lexus 400h
Great vehicle. All of the comfort and performance of a gas powered SUV with better mileage and extremely low emissions. May be a bit hard to justify extra price tag but vehicle is great.
Easy, reliable and handy sport SUV
Very nice to drive and economical too. When accelerating strong the steering wheel has too much "feelings" like front wheel dive car. Very handy to fold the rear seats. In winter inside gets warm quicker thän normal engine. Fine car and not a one problem during the first year.
Awesome vehicle
Smooth, soft, powerful. You will never hear or feel the transmission change gears. We have been getting great city mileage.
More comfortable than a Mercedes
RX 400h's technology is light years ahead from other cars on the market today. The hybrid powertrain does not only save you gas and helps the environment; it makes the habitacle significantly more silent than even a high-end car such as a Mercedes sedan. Power is impressive and compares with a V8. When purchasing the car, the dealer connected my cell phone to the car's bluetooth system in 30 seconds: this feature is priceless! I pick up incoming phone by depressing a button on the steering wheel, voice comes out of the car's stereo system, and the mic is integrated in the car - I never have to pick up the phone. Despite its price, this car is worth every penny.
Drives like a sports car
I have owned this vehicle for almost a year. The best future is stability control, which helps you in the snow and on the wet roads. I feel very safe in this car. Acceleration is outstanding: driving on the highway on V6 only, when in need, electric motors kick in and give you that extra boost. It feels like a turbo, but without all the mechanics and fuel penalty of the regular car. I get 23-24 MPG driving in NJ.
Awesome
This car really is fun to drive. I had a VW Toureg before the Lexus and this car so far is more reliable.The fact that the Toureg used high test at 13mpg made me look for an alternative ride. I am happy with the choice I made.
Lexus Hybrid
Just got the car this month. The mileage is a little less than advertised, but it's a fun car to drive with pop when you need it.
Fuel Economy
Picked up my RX 400h about 3 weeks ago and I am very pleased. Overall gas mileage is 27 mpg for the first 844 miles. My usage is about 50% highway and 50% in town driving. Lowest mileage was 25.8 and highest was 29.7. The car is extremely quiet and comfortable. Build quality is excellent and the interior design very good. It has exceeded my expectations.
Lexus 400h
A pleasure to drive. A luxury SUV in every sense, but with the fuel economy of the most miserly of small cars. The interior appointments and audio system are superb.
Great SUV, lousy NAV system, bluetooth
We love our RX 400h. We have put just over 5000 miles on it in 4 months and find it to be a joy to drive - as long as you know where you are going. It accelerates strongly and returns excellent gas mileage for a car of its size (we are averaging better than 24 mpg on a mix of city/hwy driving). The CVT takes a little getting used to but functions well. The handling could be more precise but is better than our Acura MDX. Unfortunately, the NAV system is completely counter intuitive and is almost guaranteed to get you lost or direct you to the longest route. Also, the bluetooth is not compatible with many phones including our verizon RAZR (common phone - unacceptable!).
Completely Different Than An RX 330
I purchased my 400h in June of 2006. Previously owned a 2000 RX 300 and 2004 RX 330. I've driven the car about 3000 miles and find it to be a completely different car than the previous Lexus models I've owned. So far, getting about 30 mpg with a mix of city/highway driving (my RX 330 got about 21-23 mpg). I live in the mountains and drive up steep grades and around sharp curves and love the handling and performance. Achieving peak mileage in a hybrid requires some adjustments in driving technique, but this doesn't mean slow driving! Fit/finish are better than on the RX 330. I like the navigation system, but it took a bit of time for me to figure out how to work the A/C and airflow.
Great Hybrid
This is a performance hybrid so we did not expect to get the stellar MPG people seem to expect from any hybrid (we own an 04 Prius too). Current MPG is 26 but it is still 30% better than the 2004 RX 330 we traded for it. This car is much quicker and quieter so the better MPG is a real plus. The power delivery is incredible and no more shift points!
RX 400h
I initially got 24 mpg. Now I get 26 mpg (all driving). Excellent for an SUV. Overall, excellent car... excellent power, performance, etc. Great job Lexus.
Nice hybrid SUV, not so nice GPS
Decided to trade in our 2001 RX 300 Silversport for the RX 400h when price of gasoline skyrocketed. The first 5000 miles has been a fairly pleasant and uneventful experience getting a decent 26 MPG on mixed highway and city driving (compared to 19-20 MPG on the RX 300). I find myself constantly playing the game of trying to maximize the efficiency and in the process developed a lighter right foot to allow the car to "glide" more (CVT is gearless so no downshifts like the conventional transmission when you let go of the accelerator). The car slows down mainly from the force of friction between the road and tires. Hate to admit it, but the car has trained me to become a better driver.
This is my one true love
Wow that is all I have to say about this suv. This is my second suv from Lexus. My first was a 2004 Lexus RX 330 I loved it from the minute I sat down. I just upgraded to the 400h in july and I have already noticed a change in how much I spend on gas. Also I have noticed how much more power it has. The 330 only had 229 hp but the 400h has 268 hp and wow it's not much but it seems to have more get up and go. Im only 23 but this 400h was so worth the money. I don't think I could down grade to anything else. Its a great car if you have the money to spend.
Almost 18 months old
Have had vehicle for over a year. No problems with it. Very satisfied.
Love that Lexus
Have owned just about every luxury brand there is and for my driving, Lexus is the best. Smooth, soft,and speedy is the rule. The 400h performance far exceeds the 330 RX. The gas mileage is about 1/3 better than the non hybrid.
RX 400h Pleasure to Drive
I have owned a Lexus RX 400h for only a couple of weeks, but I have become very attached to it. From the silent start to the screen display of my GPS/mileage/fuel consumption, this car is a blast to drive. It has great performance and the hybrid technology is impressive. I still have not had to fill the tank. I plan to replace our other car with one of these or its cousin, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. I am very pleased with my vehicle and I have never had a problem with anything built by Toyota/Lexus.
Loving this Car!
I've driven the RX300 for 5 years, and knew when my lease was up that I wanted to upgrade to the hybrid version. It is everything that was advertised, and more. The ride is zippy and fun, the interior luxurious, and the amenities abound.
Get Real-Greatest Hype Ever
DO NOT PURCHASE THIS HYPE Vehicle! Seats are hard, rear end cramps on longer trips, Blind spot looking back over left shoulder. No coin slots, no place to house phone, bluetooth uses speakers which sound like a tin can, no access to radio control to improve sound. 20MPG, Factory rep and dealer said OK and meets factory specs?? You can't see a child in front of this vehicle or anything else lower than the hood, no sensor system in front. The LS 430 is a luxury vehicle, this is not. The Toyota Sienna has electric fold down rear seats this one does not. Space in rear way too small.Instrumentation is very poorly designed. Over priced 4 what you get. Gets stench from Air Conditioner.
Lexus Rx400h
Love the ride!!! Getting twice the gas mileage than my old SUV - only having to fill up every other week. Easy handling, great get-up-and-go, very comfortable and extremely quiet! I'm thrilled with my new hybrid and I'm doing my part to help the environment!
Excellent car to own
Very smooth car. Powerful yet fuel efficient. Details play to all your senses. Great car to own.