RX400h or RX450?

[Meeja]

So - I am replacing my ageing (and expensive to maintain!) Range Rover.

Have been hanging my nose over an RX for some time.

Have driven a 400h, and recently a new 450h

The question is this... my budget will get me a late 400h with low miles (sub 70k) or an early (09/10) 450h with 100k+ miles.

Whatever I buy is most likely to be kept for 5-7 years.

 

What would be the sensible choice here?

Thanks in advance!

[rayaans]

Id be going for the 450h personally. 

The mileage difference isn't a problem but I think the 450h is better all around compared to the 400h and therefore that would be my choice.

[javadude]

I've had an RX400h for 6 years and driven an RX450h several times as a courtesy car and once as a hire car while mine was having some dents knocked out.

The RX400h is slightly faster and has a sportier exhaust note. I prefer the touch screen over the stupid control thing on the RX450h.

The RX450h is slightly bigger (which is a problem for me with a narrow drive/garage), smoother/more refined and has a less obvious transition between petrol and electric. It also gives you two or three more miles to the gallon.

I forget what else but for me personally I preferred the RX400h in some ways and the RX450h in others. The RX450h is obviously newer and one day I might upgrade if I can squeeze it in the garage but there was nothing that made me desperately want one over my RX400h.

[DanD]

I have had both and would recommend the RX450h simply on the basis that it is more up to date, quieter (double glazing / laminated side windows help!) and more refined. Don't forget that the RX400h is a design that dates back to 2003 (in RX300 guise).

If you go for a 400h, try and source the outgoing model Executive Limited Edition, which had all the toys.

If you go for a 450h, I would personally stay away from models with the air suspension. There is no noteable difference with the normally sprung car, but repairs to the suspension can be prohibitively expensise, especially considering that you will be buying a 7 year old car and keeping it for a further 7 years. I would also recommend budgeting for an extended warranty.

As per Raayan's comments, I would not worry about mileage.

[Meeja]

Thanks so far - the comments don't come as any huge surprise.

 

Reading about a bit, it seems that the 450 SE-L are all air suspension - is that correct?

 

Having owned a Range Rover, air suspension is not something I would have again by choice!

 

I had planned on a late Limited Esition final run 400... but over recent weeks have been wavering towards an early 450 - for longevity reasons as much as anything else.

 

I appreciate the feedback so far - feedback from others is welcome!

[Meeja]

Also, MPG(!)

The 400 seems to average around 30mpg, but the 450 claims to be significantly better (have read high 30s/low 40s)

 

Is this true in the real world?

 

The 2016 RX I drove managed 31/32, and that needed some effort on eco driving.

[sorcerer]

I presume you've done plenty of homework and probably already know this but, because you're coming from a Range Rover (which I presume was non-hybrid), something worth mentioning with regard to MPG is that hybrids work well around town, where 'milk float mode' does a lot of the work. However, once you get to higher speeds like 60 or 70mph, it's just a petrol-powered car that uses a bit more petrol than it otherwise would, to drag around the extra weight of a very heavy Battery.

[Meeja]

1 hour ago, sorcerer said:

I presume you've done plenty of homework and probably already know this but, because you're coming from a Range Rover (which I presume was non-hybrid), something worth mentioning with regard to MPG is that hybrids work well around town, where 'milk float mode' does a lot of the work. However, once you get to higher speeds like 60 or 70mph, it's just a petrol-powered car that uses a bit more petrol than it otherwise would, to drag around the extra weight of a very heavy battery.

Yes - absolutely.

My usual driving/commute is a mix of city/congested roads and dual carriageways.

My daily office run is 21 miles door to door - 65% stop start and sub 40mph - 35% National Speed Limit on a generally uncongested dual carriageway.

I'm after a car that rivals a Range Rover for space and comfort, without the long term finances required to keep the thing on the road as it grows old disgracefully.

My research suggests that the RX is a relatively reliable beast when older - and when compared to other £40k+ (when new) cars, relatively cost effective to maintain, as it seems they don't regularly break! 

 

Edited to add: The Rangie I have is a petrol with LPG conversion - the MPG on petrol isn't great, and on LPG is worse.... with LPG costing half the price of petrol, it does the equivalent of 30mpg at the very best. (Plus LPG requires an additional service annually on top of normal servicing)

 

[sorcerer]

Fair enough Adrian, a good choice then 

I'm coming up to one year of ownership of my RX300 and I love it. I initially thought about a hybrid but eventually decided on petrol with LPG conversion, which works well for us. According to fuelly.com it's costing me just 13.6p/mile 

[Meeja]

1 minute ago, sorcerer said:

Fair enough Adrian, a good choice then 

I'm coming up to one year of ownership of my RX300 and I love it. I initially thought about a hybrid but eventually decided on petrol with LPG conversion, which works well for us. According to fuelly.com it's costing me just 13.6p/mile 

I daren't enter the details of the Range Rover into Fuelly... I did keep a spreadsheet of the running costs (including repairs at a very good backstreet Land Rover specialist)

The results were eye watering and had they been seen by the wrong eyes could have been grounds for divorce!

[Assa1974]

If it's a direct comparison then obviously the 450H is the way to go. However if it's the choice between a high-miler 450H and a low miler 400H then there's other aspects to consider, mainly how tidy the car is. Do you want all the modern toys and don't mind the scratches/chips and/or worn interiors the 'cheapest' 450Hs are bound to come with or are you happy to put up with 15 year old tech if it means a near-perfect body & interior?

[tom123]

On 5/4/2017 at 9:45 AM, javadude said:

I've had an RX400h for 6 years and driven an RX450h several times as a courtesy car and once as a hire car while mine was having some dents knocked out.

The RX400h is slightly faster and has a sportier exhaust note. I prefer the touch screen over the stupid control thing on the RX450h.

The RX450h is slightly bigger (which is a problem for me with a narrow drive/garage), smoother/more refined and has a less obvious transition between petrol and electric. It also gives you two or three more miles to the gallon.

I forget what else but for me personally I preferred the RX400h in some ways and the RX450h in others. The RX450h is obviously newer and one day I might upgrade if I can squeeze it in the garage but there was nothing that made me desperately want one over my RX400h.

I'm wondering whether to replace my 55-plate RX400h with a pre-face lift RX450 (I much prefer the pre-face lift car's looks and also the lower cost!).

Did you notice any difference in the ride quality between your RX400h and the RX450h that you tried? I find my RX400h deals with smoother bumps very well, but sharper-edged road imperfections tend to send a shock through to the cabin. Is the RX450h any better in this regard?

[Carl911]

I dare say whether it's a 400 or 450 it might take a while to find a good one. Even when I was looking for mine I looked at some only 3 or 4 years old which were in a terrible state for the age and with low mileage . Problem is, SUV's more often or not get a lot of abuse, wear and tear often from kids, pets and trips to the tip. It's that kind of vehicle I guess. I managed to find one that had been cared for like a car so i was lucky but it took quite a few to find. I did test drive the 400 and although my test drive was short I found it less refined and as had already been mentionened, the engine to hybrid transition was noticeably improved on the 450.  People often mention the 400 being slightly quicker and on paper this is true, however it was certainly not apparent to me and in real world driving. The 450 just feels all round more refined and I don't mean that to sound like the 400 is not, it's just progression I guess and like wise the latest shape 450 has taken that refinement even further. I have driven one for 24 hours and it's most definitely the quietest RX to date.

Furl economy can vary a lot on hybrids as it is very sensitive to driving style. I drive mine without ever considering economy. If the fuel gets low I fill it back up and dont concern myself about it. I just enjoy the drive, after all if I'm that concerned about economy I'd be driving a Nissan Leaf or something much more practical.

My driving is mostly around town with odd dashes down the motorway and last time I looked it was sat around 32mpg. On the motorway traveling around 75mph that will often end up around 37mpg. 

Im sure if I could be bothered to try I'd see significant improvement but either way to get these figures from a 2 ton car with a 3.5lt V6 is nothing short of fantastic.

carl