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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  Big Ticket Repairs - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By michele55 - March 12 - 10:47 am

  Last year while far from home my RX400h stopped dead on the highway. After having it towed 145 miles and losing 3 days of vacation, Lexus replaced the computer to the hybrid system. The car was under warranty so other than a LOT of hassle, it only cost me $150 not $10,000+. Two weeks ago, I was driving in town and my car died again. Luckily I was able to get the car over to the side of the road--all the systems died. After about a week of trying to figure out what was wrong, Lexus determined it was the inverter and gratefully, even though out of warranty, the dealership replaced the part ($10K+) for free (98K miles on my Rx). My gas mileage has never been much more than 24-25mpg.

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  Not Up to Lexus Standards - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By TJ - August 2 - 1:36 am

  Continued problems with intermediate braking and steering. The dealership and factory have said pulsating braking and difficult steering are acceptable due to nature of electric regenerative engine. Driving performance of car not up to Lexus standards. Would not recommend purchasing expensive hybrid that does not deliver performance or mileage as advertised.

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  Not the advertised MPG! - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By jeneaneball - February 19 - 11:40 pm

  The only reason I purchsed the 400h was because of the so called "great gas mileage." A joke at best. I live in Texas, it cant get any flatter, I am a very conservative driver and my MPG is at 21.2. I guess the only way to get the 29-33 mpg they claim is to drive under 40 mph, never run the air conditioner and live where the air temperature is always in the 70s.

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  Actual gas mileage = false advertising - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By phsandiego - February 17 - 1:32 pm

  Our gas mileage has never been as advertised. We bought our RX400h with 8000 miles on it in Sept 2006. It was 1 yr old, the prior owner traded it in fast and took a $20k loss on the trade in. We have always averaged 26.2 mpg in a mix of city/hiway driving. We had the hybid inverter module replaced in Feb 2012. $10k+ repair! Our gas mileage then plummeted from 26.2 to 23.4 mpg. We suspect that Lexus reprogrammed the engine management computer to use the gas engine more and the hybrid less so as to extend the life of the batteries and inverter. This way, they wont have to make so many expensive warranty repairs. Please let us know if you saw the same thing with your mileage.

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  50,000 and 3 sets of tires later - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By thebratz - January 22 - 12:23 pm

  My car is a service nightmare. Every time I bring it in they tell me I need new tires. Maintenance tells me this is standard on this model. It wont start some days and Lexus is not able to tell me what the problem is. I have never made it out the door without paying over $1,000 in repairs. It is a nice car and fun to drive but not worth the headaches of needing to be somewhere and not being able to get it started. Lexus does not seem to understand its own hybrid technology yet when problems occur.

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  My Lemon - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Steve - August 24 - 10:40 pm

  My RX400H only gets 20 MPG City. Going over wider speed bumps with a small amount of loft it sounds as if the engine is dropping out of the car with a loud bang. It has mild steady vibration at times that can be felt in the steering wheel & seat arm rest. Instrumentation is a joke. The cruise control is on its own lever & moves with the steering wheel making it impossible to get to it when turning the steering wheel.

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  Great Expectations - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By doc - July 15 - 6:20 am

  I waited 20 months after researching most all of the major automotive periodicals and was misled. Lexus has delivered a dud. I was told that my fuel cosumption would be in the range of 38 mpg in town and 32 mpg on the hyway. Then about 4 mo.s before delivery they changed 32 in town and 29 on the hyway with an average of 30+. When I returned the vehicle to be examined because of the mileage situation the dealership told me to wait till the vehicle has 10k miles and it should get better. Well at 5k my overall average is a disappointing 24 mpg. Plus a week after purchase the wind screen fractured with out being struck by anything and was not repaired until I threatened legal action. Bad buy!