Last night I had the very good fortune to spend some time behind the wheel of our Lexus RX 400h. When I first started at Edmunds, I had a well-documented disdain for SUVs, but there have been several in the fleet that I enjoy. The Audi Q7 is super-deluxe, the RAV4 is a great little truck, the Cadillac SRX is fantastic, the FJ Cruiser could ford streams, haul tree stumps and chase down the Abominable Snowman, the Edge has... uh, .....
But the Lexus? This is the mother of SUVs. Great interior, incredibly comfortable ride, good stereo, comfy seats, nice nav, good sight lines. I could go on. But what I most like about it is its hybrid operation and the accompanying sounds (or lack thereof). I have very little experience in hybrids, so it sorta creeped me out to turn the key and hear. . . Nothing. I then had to shift it into D to hear the engine start, and even then it was incredibly quiet. LOVE those hybrids.
What you see before you is exactly why I love it. The electric power that is seamless and strong, and also incredibly quiet. I even drove around for awhile without the stereo blaring, just enjoying how quiet it is. But when you need it, nail the gas pedal and you're actually pushed back in your seats, accompanied by a nice burly engine note. Not a surprise for an SUV whose speedo goes past 140. And it feels like it could actually be just fine at 140, although I have no intention of putting that theory to the test. Seamless, smooth, great transmission. I look forward to more time in this car. (I should be so lucky.) It truly is a privilege.
Senior Copy Editor Doug Lloyd @ 25,441 miles
roomwithaview says:
12:58 PM, 06/21/07
The 140 figure may be tantalizing but I read somewhere that the car is electronically limited to 110 or so. Haven't had the opportunity to test this out on our 300-mile-old RX400h, but it sounds plausible, considering Lexus's historical penchant for electronic nannies in their vehicles.
zach101 says:
01:37 PM, 06/21/07
I've ridden in my aunt's Highlander Hybrid. When she started it I didn't think the engine turned because the lights went on and everything but there wasn't ANY noise. It was VERY nice.
billt9 says:
01:44 PM, 06/21/07
Lexus site says electronic 112 mph limit.
But it does push you back in your seat with 341 lb-ft @ 0 rpm, from its twin electric motors.
Those gauges look boring compared to the new gen L-Finesse cars.
aspade says:
05:42 PM, 06/21/07
A RAV4 isn't a truck. It's a Corolla wagon.
mrjones944 says:
07:01 AM, 06/22/07
This sounds like a case where your mother has asked "do I look fat?" and you just instinctively shake your head left to right and reply "no mother...."
cbmorton says:
07:29 AM, 06/22/07
The RAV4 may not be a "truck" by the strictest definition of the word, but it sure ain't a Corolla wagon either.
autoboy16 says:
09:36 PM, 06/22/07
mrjones944 true but you could also eat a twix....
"Do I look fat?"
[muffeled sounds and crunching]
"AWWW THANK YOU SWEETIE!! YOUR SUCH A SWEET HEART!"
lol
-Cj
mrjones944 says:
10:16 AM, 06/23/07
I am not a big Twix fan but anything is worth a shot right?