Just ordered the new RX450+ plug in hybrid

jpjsavage · November 18, 2022

Well, we've really enjoyed driving around in our current RX450h. We've done around 21k miles having bought the car when it was a year old. But the opportunity to buy a new plug-in hybrid has proved too much, and today I paid a 'bond of interest' (fully refundable) at my Lexus dealer in Stoke and we are in the queue for a new RX450+ plug in hybrid. They are estimating the car will arrive in Apriil 2023 - we'll see! We are super excited about this. We went for the dark grey external colour with the new sepia interior. We haven't enjoyed living with the lighter interior in our current RX. It looks great but does not like family life, and definitely not the demands of twin 2 year old grand-daughters!

We do around 15,000 a year. I reckon at least 2/3 of these are local trips around our town, local countryside etc and will be entirely done on electric power. So, looking forward to saving a bit of money there. The significantly better 'benefits in kind' from a tax perspective were a major factor in our decision too.

Anyway, I'll post pictures in due course but had to share the news here. This will be our third car from Lexus Stoke (our first was the LS600 and the second our current RX). Every dealing I have had with this garage has been first class. Honestly, I think that whole customer service thing that you get from Lexus is second to none. It is a major reason for why we have been committed to the brand for such a long time.

Next April, if anyone is after a 3 year old RX450h with around 40k on the clock and a FLSH I'll be posting an ad once I've renewed by gold membership.

Spottedlaurel · November 20, 2022

It'll be very interesting to hear how you get on with it.

As a guide to how the running gear works did you try an NX450h? I liked the electric-only side of that, but it didn't have RX levels of refinement when the 4-cyl engine cut in. Maybe that's a deliberate ploy and they've worked some magic on the RX....

As you say, if much of your mileage will be electric powered then that isn't so much of an issue and you'll benefit very nicely from what seems to me like a sensible compromise. That's why I tried the NX, it was good but didn't enthuse me as an overall package.

Ken R · November 23, 2022

If the new RX is as outstanding as the NX450h+ then you will be onto a winner!

jpjsavage · November 23, 2022

Thanks for the comments so far.

Spottedlaurel - we haven't had time to try the NX450h. I have heard good things. TBH, I'm trusting Lexus on this one. If the car is a dog to drive when we test it in Feb/March then we'll just get our 'bond of interest' back again. No problem with that.

Ken R - delighted to hear that you have a good report about the NX450h. I would hope that the RX equivalent will be even more refinement that its NX relative.

I've been playing with some online calculators to see what the potential saving of doing around 15,000 miles a year on fully electric power. Does around £500 saving over a fully petrol/hybrid sound about right? We've never had a PHEV of any type so it will be interesting to see what we can manage.

Ken R · November 23, 2022

Problem is that on a standard variable tariff the KwH charge is swiftly reaching par with petrol costs.

steve2006 · November 23, 2022

17 minutes ago, Ken R said:

Problem is that on a standard variable tariff the KwH charge is swiftly reaching par with petrol costs.

Must admit I’ve never seen an energy supplier do a BOGOF offer ( Buy One (Kilowatt) Get One Free) or banks offering 2 for 1 on £20.00 notes and probably never will.

jpjsavage · November 24, 2022

Just read this, so hopefully that the RX450h will be equally good if not better:

Harrier Man · November 24, 2022

Congratulations on your decision to buy the RX. I have an NX 450h+ and love is mechanical refinement. I was surprised by Nigel's comment as the transitions between electric and petrol are imperceptible to me; I only know they have occurred if I'm looking at the graphic screen. The boot in the NX is smaller than I would have liked so your decision to go for the RX is probably the right one. Enjoy the wait, the two NX manuals total around 1,300 pages so plenty of time to get to know your car!