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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  Consider RX 350 before purchase - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Mark Stern - September 30 - 3:23 am

  I got a RX 400h for the performance - at the time the 330 had 45 less HP, now with the 350 it has 2 Hp more. Dont think youre saving the planet with this car, it gets slightly better gas milage. BUT there are trade offs. For one the engine noise is so un-Lexus like, two, the transmission and brakes are different from normal cars. I WOULD HIGHLY SUGGEST- drive both 400h and 350 back to back, then if youre not convinced the 400 is still 5 Grand more. For 2007 350 has new NAV system and XM radio, bluetooth phone also avlb with out nav. I made a mistake and am thinking of trading in.

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  Poor Gas Mileage - 2008 Lexus RX 400H
  By Luke - August 26 - 5:33 am

  We like the SV, but we expected more MPG than 22. The car drives nice and handles nice and of course Toyota quality is everywhere. Just hate the gas mileage for the price we paid.

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  Not the mileage that was promised - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Lee Jennings - August 21 - 1:20 pm

  Although the 400h is very comfortable and fun to drive it, is not as promised as far as the mileage is concerned. Im getting 21 miles a gallon and I do mostly city driving. I use my car for work thats why I got a hybrid to save money. Unless they correct this I would not recommend if your goal is to save on gas.

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  Poor gas mileage - 2008 Lexus RX 400H
  By jfinley - July 2 - 5:00 pm

  This is a very nice car, but I challenge anyone out there to prove they are getting better than 22-24 mpg. Better, I challenge Lexus to prove it. My fiend with a V8 truck gets better mpg. Shame on you Lexus, shame on me for buying.

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  Lexus quality, not so great gas mileage - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By r1509 - June 27 - 6:13 pm

  I have had this vehicle for about 4 weeks. I have put about 4200 miles, mostly highway, on the 400h and this is my experience: The 400h is a pleasure to drive. Lots of power when you need it, and rock stable on the road at speeds (by me) up to 105 mph. All systems (air, power, etc.) are flawless. Now the not so good news. The highway mileage is about 26 mpg, excellent for an suv of this weight. In town, where I expected it to shine, Ive been getting 22-24 mpg, and that is with careful monitoring of the fuel consumption, and attention to light acceleration. I have talked to other drivers who have the same 400h experience. I have to admit that I am disappointed. Perhaps it will improve.

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  Get Real-Greatest Hype Ever - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Steve - June 25 - 8:36 pm

  DO NOT PURCHASE THIS HYPE Vehicle! Seats are hard, rear end cramps on longer trips, Blind spot looking back over left shoulder. No coin slots, no place to house phone, bluetooth uses speakers which sound like a tin can, no access to radio control to improve sound. 20MPG, Factory rep and dealer said OK and meets factory specs?? You cant see a child in front of this vehicle or anything else lower than the hood, no sensor system in front. The LS 430 is a luxury vehicle, this is not. The Toyota Sienna has electric fold down rear seats this one does not. Space in rear way too small.Instrumentation is very poorly designed. Over priced 4 what you get. Gets stench from Air Conditioner.

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  Gas Mileage a Fraud - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Kelly Turton - May 13 - 11:03 pm

  Touted as 31MPG City, 28MPG Hwy. We have around 1800 miles on ours and the very best it gets is 21MPG overall. Dealer said that it did not need a break in period. Now they say it could take 6000 miles to break in. Both dealer and factory said the RX400h is more about performance and less about MPG. Baloney! There are a lot of cars out there that get 21 MPG. The only reason we paid the $10,000 higher sticker price over the regular RX model was for the better mileage. Both dealer and factory have tried to blame our driving habits. We live in So. Cal. where the weather is good and the roads are level.

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  Does it worth $10K over the RX 330? - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Les - April 10 - 4:36 am

  Disappointed with the interior of the dashboard and steering wheel--the RX 300 looks more impressive. The Navigation screen is hard to see during sunny days due to glare (at nights it is wonderful). Overall gas mileage for the first 1,000 miles is about 26mpg, even though we drove more in city thn on the highway. This figure is about 35% better than the RX 300, but not what Lexus claims.

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  RX 400h - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By xdentx - March 14 - 10:16 am

  Mileage after 6000 miles is about 24.5 overall. Less than I would have liked. Fab sound system and GPS. Handles much quicker and rides better than my old RX 300. Transmission a little too noisy upon hard acceleration. Would like more soundproofing overall. Still an excellent car.

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  RX 400h - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Kevin Scherer - February 18 - 2:40 pm

  The vehicle performs well is comfortable but the mileage is not near the numbers that Lexus indicates. We get about 22 miles per gallon overall (we have not checked highway verses city but drive city about 60% of the time). Also, they should provide the wood interior as an option as only the silver was available so we had to pay for wood trim to be added (Lexus installed an aftermarket wood kit).