2023 Lexus RX 350h SUV

　　

2023 Lexus RX 350h Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　As the most popular Lexus model in America, the previous-generation RX midsize crossover SUV apparently satisfied the luxury cravings of many people despite a handful of sometimes glaring flaws. Now, a redesigned fifth-generation 2023 Lexus RX attempts to sustain and build upon that success, so it is comfortingly similar to yet substantially different from the old RX.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Lexus RX 350h 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$133/mo  for RX 350h Base

　　RX 350h Base

　　4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $49,000 MSRPPremium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $51,000 MSRPPremium Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) (Most Popular) - $53,600 MSRPLuxury 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $57,000 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Styling is a subjective matter, so as is often the case with Lexus models, if you like the way it looks, then chances are you'll like most everything else about the new 2023 RX. That assessment extends to the RX 350h, which is one of two models to replace the previous RX 450h. (The other is the RX 450h+, a new plug-in hybrid model arriving midyear, according to Lexus.)

　　The RX 350h is a conventional — rather than a plug-in — hybrid. Unlike the V6-based RX 450h from last year, the 2023 RX 350h employs a four-cylinder engine, improving fuel economy while retaining the off-the-line responsiveness supplied by the electric assist motors. Better yet, based on the automaker's claims, acceleration remains on par with the old RX 450h.

　　As part of the redesign, the previous-generation RX 450h L with its cramped third-row seat is gone, leaving two rows of seats for up to five people in the new RX 350h. If you believe the rumor mill, a proper three-row Lexus crossover SUV is coming soon, likely based on the upcoming Toyota Grand Highlander. Hybrid power is a good bet, though the new, larger Lexus three-row crossover will probably use the more powerful drivetrain offered in the new RX 500h F Sport Performance model (reviewed separately).

　　As for the 2023 RX 350h, next-generation infotainment, convenience and driver assist technologies debut, including a cloud-based navigation and natural voice recognition system and a hands-free traffic jam assistant for when you're crawling along at low speeds in commuter traffic. With its comfortable front and roomy rear seats, and more cargo space than before, the new RX should appeal to the luxury SUV buyers that have made it successful in the past.

　　And while the new RX 350 faces several rivals, the RX 350h is in a class of one. The only hybrid-powered alternative in the luxury two-row SUV segment is the BMW X5 xDrive45e, and it's a plug-in model. You might also cross-shop the RX 350h with the smaller Audi Q5 TFSI 55 e, Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring and Volvo XC60 Recharge, three additional plug-in hybrid alternatives all in the compact luxury SUV segment.

　　

Which RX 350h does zzdcar recommend?

Our recommendation for the new 2023 Lexus RX 350h is the Premium+ AWD, which provides the best blend of luxury, efficiency, performance, technology and value. Better yet, it doesn't cost more than the standard RX 350 with all-wheel drive, so the hybrid powertrain doesn't command a price premium.

　　

Lexus RX 350h models

Every 2023 Lexus RX 350h has a hybrid powertrain based on a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (246 horsepower, 233 lb-ft torque). It uses a continuously variable automatic transmission and employs a small electric motor at the rear wheels to create an electronic all-wheel-drive system.

　　Four trim levels are available: Base, Premium, Premium+ and Luxury. Below, you'll find the highlights of each one:

　　Base

　　The 2023 RX 350h has the following standard equipment:

　　19-inch alloy wheels LED headlights, foglights and taillights Rain-sensing windshield wipers Heated exterior mirrors with auto-dimming glass on the driver's side Power liftgate Proximity-sensing keyless entry Digital Latch electronic door latches Ambient interior lighting Triple-zone automatic climate control Power-adjustable steering wheel Artificial leather upholstery Eight-way power-adjustable, heated front seats Folding and reclining 40/20/40-split back seatsA new Lexus Interface infotainment system is standard and includes:

　　9.8-inch touchscreen Satellite radio Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Connected service plans including: Drive Connect with cloud-based navigation and natural voice recognition systems Wi-Fi Connect with access to a Wi-Fi hotspot Remote Connect with remote engine starting Safety Connect with collision notification and assistance Service Connect with remote vehicle health checks 12-speaker sound systemLexus also equips the 2023 RX 350h with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, a collection of driver assist and collision avoidance systems. It features:

　　Automatic high-beam headlights Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front and can also reduce speed for curves in the road) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)Additional standard driver assist features include:

　　Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) Rear passenger safe-exit system (can prevent a rear passenger from opening a door into traffic approaching from behind)Premium

　　Select the Premium trim for upgrades including:

　　Roof rails Power sunroof Real wood trim Memory for the driver's settings Ventilated front seats Wireless smartphone charger Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)Premium+

　　Choose the Premium+ trim for these extras:

　　Upgraded ambient interior lighting Smog-sensing climate control system Heated wood-and-leather steering wheel Genuine perforated leather upholstery 14-inch touchscreen infotainment systemLuxury

　　With the Luxury trim, the RX 350h has:

　　21-inch alloy wheels Synthetic suede interior door trim Premium perforated leather upholstery 10-way power-adjustable front seats with four-way power lumbar 10-inch color head-up displayDepending on which version of the RX you choose, primary options include:

　　Upgraded LED headlights Hands-free liftgate Panoramic sunroof Digital key (turns your smartphone into the vehicle's key) Digital rearview mirror (allows you to see out the back even with a fully loaded cargo area) Lexus Interface with a 14-inch touchscreen display 21-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the RX and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention) Traffic Jam Assist (hands-free, semi-automated driving system for low-speed traffic situations)

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