Overview & Reviews

Starting in 2006, those wishing to fly their "green" flag in the lap of luxury had a willing ally in which to strut their stuff. With its advanced gasoline-electric drivetrain, the Lexus RX 400h SUV married the luxury and utility of Lexus' RX midsize crossover vehicle with the improved fuel economy and performance of a hybrid.

Available in either front- or all-wheel-drive versions, the Lexus RX 400h used a hybrid powertrain system that combined a gasoline-fueled V6 engine with a battery pack and electric motor generators. Similar to the hybrid setups on other Toyota products, the 400h could seamlessly accelerate on battery power alone during light acceleration. It also boasted a generous 286 horsepower overall, giving it impressive performance along with superior fuel economy ratings.

The Lexus RX 400h crossover was the first true luxury hybrid SUV, and it came packaged with all the normal RX traits like premium interior amenities and a smooth ride. But potential used-SUV buyers simply wishing to go green might also want to check out other, less extravagant hybrids if price is a consideration.

Most Recent Lexus RX 400h

The Lexus RX 400h midsize luxury SUV was produced from 2006-'09 essentially unchanged. It came in a single trim level with standard cloth seats, 10-way power front seats, dual-zone climate control, second-row sliding/reclining seats and a six-disc CD player. Popular options included leather trim, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a moonroof, a navigation system with a back-up camera and 18-inch wheels. An audio package with a Mark Levinson DVD audio system was also available.

Under the sheet metal, the 400h's hybrid drivetrain combined a 3.3-liter V6 engine with a 288-volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack and high-torque, electric-drive motor-generators. Driving through a continuously variable transmission, the 400h produced 268 hp and boasted a 0-60-mph time of less than 8 seconds for standard and all-wheel-drive models. Standard safety features were plentiful, and included front, side curtain and driver-knee airbags, as well as stability and traction control and a rollover sensor.

Inside there was a streamlined, modern cabin with aluminum accents, bright-ringed gauges and a touchscreen detailing the hybrid's gas-electric power generation split. A sliding and reclining split rear seat optimized passenger comfort, and a power liftgate provided access to nearly 85 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats folded down. A third-row seat was not available.

Once underway, the Lexus RX 400h drove much like its traditional gas-powered sibling, and although the electric motors didn't provide the same lusty soundtrack of a performance car, acceleration was certainly spirited. The 400h's ride was soft and compliant, yet the handling was also generally tight and precise, a surprise given the hybrid's 300 extra pounds of curb weight. But you could definitely feel that extra weight in faster corners and quick transitions. Our editors also noticed that a good deal of engine noise entered the cabin under hard acceleration, as the hybrid system forced the V6 to regularly spin right up to redline.

User Reviews:

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  MPG Not What it should be - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By crw - August 18 - 12:50 pm

  I love this car. It is a great size, comfort and fit. It drives tight and I feel safe in all driving conditions BUT the gas milage is not where it should be. On medium length drives (15-25 miles) in slowish city traffic I get the best mpg but that tops out at 28 mpg when I use a middle grade gas, its around 24 when I use a low octane gas. It has a big engine and can move quickly when it needs to but it does not get the 30-35 mpg it promised. All in all Ill keep it untill the gas mileage, comfort and quality of another car can beat it.

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  Fuel Disappointment - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By E J - August 14 - 9:03 am

  While we truly love this vehicle, we are more than upset with the mileage we get. It should be getting 31 mpg in the city; if we can get 22-23, we are doing good. Salesman said when car was broken in, we could expect even more. We now have more than 11,000 miles on it, and it has only gotten worse. It has been checked and rechecked to see if a problem exists... none does. We purchased this vehicle in good faith and feel Lexus has let us down. Calls to corporate Lexus have left us with no further satisfaction. Had we been aware of this situation, I dont believe we would have spent the extra money for it.

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  1 month ownership - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By S-TONIT - July 15 - 8:23 am

  Purchased this car late June 06 and immediately took it on a trip. We started with 43 miles on the car and drove from Florida to the N.C. mountains. We averaged 26.3 mpg on the highway with the a/c on. In the mountains we averaged 24.6. Back in Florida, we are averaging 28.8 around town with the a/c on. It has surpassed my expectations. We traded an 04 330 awd on this vehicle and we do notice quite and improvement. Nice job Lexus!

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  A Luxury SUV with Great Gas Mileage - 2008 Lexus RX 400H
  By Peter M. - June 20 - 7:16 pm

  This is an incredible car, granted it is expensive, but well worth every penny. I dont understand the complaints about gas mileage. With a little coaching from the onboard "consumption" feature in the navigation system I am routinely getting between 29 and 30 mpg. 24-26 is a high speed highway average, 28-30 around town, and 30-33 in stop and go driving.

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  Great Car, Disappointing Mileage - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Robert - June 18 - 12:40 pm

  The vehicle is a delight to drive -- great acceleration, quiet, comfortable, reliable and more. The only two negatives are mileage much lower than advertised and I wish the body style was different than the RX 330.

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  Wonderful Car - 2008 Lexus RX 400H
  By slo-jim - June 2 - 10:00 am

  My RX 400h has been the very best, most reliable vehicle I have owned; buying my first car in 1967. Gas mileage has been super, averaging 28.5 MPG since day one. it is solid, very comfortable, has lots of power and a joy to drive. I recommend this car to anyone who wants a quality, energy efficient hybrid!

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  The best - from a former German car snob - 2007 Lexus RX 400H
  By reeveswilson - May 31 - 3:46 pm

  Im writing this review after leasing this car for 3 years and 54,000 miles. Until I leased the Rx400h - I had always owned German performance cars. However - this car was a "game changer". I loved the car - the mileage was great - 28+mpg, the maintenance was almost nothing (5k oil changes, on "big" service at 30k) and my original tires lasted the entire lease term. The car taught me how to drive to get great mileage. All of the technology worked beautifully. It was great having bluetooth that actually worked with my blackberry. Service open almost 24/7. We liked the car so much we bought it off lease and gave it to our 26 year old son as we bought the new RX 450h

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  LOVE this car! - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Pat Hale MD - May 20 - 8:06 am

  I have had several Lexus RX 300s and this hybrid is an improvement in every way... better mileage, comfortable, peppy, easy to use and lots of great extras...my favorites being the auto wipers and the backup camera!!! I love how quiet it is when it goes electric!

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  Best car I ever owned - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Robert fraguela - May 12 - 12:23 am

  Its an economy car went I want it to be, and its a performance car when I want it to be. But its always a luxury SUV that is as quiet and smooth as you can get. The best vehicle I ever owned.

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  400,000 Miles and still running smooth - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By c4neo - May 7 - 4:30 am

  403,069 Miles (YES you read it right 400k+)and still feels smooth/reliable/ No major issues. This is my Second Toyota/Lexus vehicle. I bought this vehicle brand new (8 miles) five years ago and use it as my primary work vehicle (commute from Chicago to Atlanta) every week. I maintained it very good, (regular service, oil change, tries everything) but still my cost of maintenance was far less compared to any other vehicles like BMW/Mercedes (I owned both earlier and had ton of issues) I changed tires 8 times till date (every 50k miles). I am planning to trade in for 2012 RX450h (yes, I will make of my current vehicle till its hit 500,000 miles - Half million, I am very confident it will g