2006 Lexus RX 400h: What's It Like to Live With?

What do you want to know about?

• Introduction
• Lexus RX 400h is Green, But Is It a Good Buy?
• Perfect Car for a Road Trip
• I Want (and Get) My MPG
• Engine braking optional
• 25,000-mile service
• Pulls Garage Sale Duty
• How Green Is My Hybrid?
• Sexy?
• 2 years and 30,000 miles
• Keeping Nav and Audio Separate
• Highway Fuel Economy
• Fuel Economy Update
• Wrap-Up

Introduction

Dedicated followers of Edmunds' long-term tests will have noticed we have more than one hybrid vehicle in our long-term fleet. In fact, we currently have three — a Ford Escape, a Honda Accord and a Toyota Prius — plus we had a Honda Insight in our fleet back in 2000. What can we say, we like to be at the forefront of vehicular trends, and interest in hybrids is only increasing.

In fact, hybrids are so hot we've added another to our green stable. After surviving a year of eager anticipation we've taken delivery of the seventh hybrid to enter the U.S. market and the first-ever luxury hybrid, the 2006 Lexus RX 400h.

Based on the Lexus RX 330, which is the best-selling luxury SUV on the market, the all-wheel-drive Lexus RX 400h uses a new hybrid system that combines the standard 3.3-liter V6 engine with two high-torque electric motor generators and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). With benefits including the best fuel mileage in the SUV category, lower emissions and increased horsepower, the RX 400h was a vehicle we couldn't pass up.

Just after the RX 400h made its official debut at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show, we placed a call to our local Lexus dealer expressing our interest in the 400h and were put on the waiting list.

Initially, Lexus said the 400h would begin production in the fall of 2004, but that didn't hold true. It seems Lexus learned a thing or two from its parent company Toyota's problem with not having enough Toyota Prius hybrids ready to meet the huge initial demand. So instead of angering potential customers by trickling in the 400h, Lexus pushed the on-sale date back to spring of 2005 in an effort to front-load a larger quantity of vehicles to its dealers.

Our fully loaded Neptune Blue 400h arrived in early May as specified with an MSRP of $52,703. The Lexus RX 400h already picked up some of the RX 330's options as standard equipment, including high-intensity discharge headlamps and a power rear liftgate. We looked over the short optional equipment list and added every available choice which included a rear-seat entertainment system, a Mark Levinson audio system and heated front seats and headlamp washers.

After handing over the check, the dealer informed us that we had just purchased one of the first few 400hs to reach Lexus of Santa Monica. The first vehicles, it should be noted, went to Hollywood box office types including Dustin Hoffman and Holly Hunter, which put us in some high-profile eco-minded company.

Now with just over 1,700 miles on the odometer, we're satisfied with our purchase, despite the long wait. The Lexus RX 400h drives surprisingly like the RX 330, which we've always liked, and our average fuel economy is commendable thus far at 27.5 miles per gallon. Sipping fuel in that fashion will undoubtedly make the RX 400h a favorite summer vacation vehicle, so be sure to check back in a few months to see just where this luxurious green SUV has taken us.

Current Odometer: 1,750
Best Fuel Economy: 31 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 24 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 27.5 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None

Lexus RX 400h is Green, But Is It a Good Buy?

I was looking forward to driving our long-term 2006 Lexus 400h, because I own a V6 Toyota Highlander (non-hybrid), and wanted to see the differences. In addition to the expected bevvy of luxury features, the ride is so much better. Totally silient electric start leads to smooth engagement of the gas engine, enough power to play on the freeway, and a comfortable ride all the way. By comparison, my Highlander's transmission is a loser — it's jerky, something the dealer said is just endemic to the Highlander, so tough noogies. (Though that's probably not true of the Highlander Hybrid.)

There's practically nothing not to like about the 400h. The backup camera, which comes with the navigation package, was a real plus when pulling out of driveways and K-turning in parking lots, and would go a long way toward preventing the backover deaths of small children. But to get the nav option, you have to order the Premium or Premium Plus package as well, which sends the price soaring way past $40K. In fact, almost every 400h option require you to buy other options.

Which is all well and good if you're saving a ton of money on gas, but in the last 300 or so miles, the average fuel economy was a lousy 19.8 mpg in mixed driving.

I also found myself wishing the car's energy/gas monitor (nav screen) was in a straight line of sight in front of me, because looking at the center stack meant shifting my sight to the right. A lot. Since hybrid drivers, as a rule, are almost always looking at their energy and gas consumption, it means a lot of time with your eyes not where they should be.

I really enjoyed the Lexus 400h, don't get me wrong, and I'd dance a little jig if I came home to find one in my driveway. But the expense of the hybrid engine, plus the options costs, and the unimpressive fuel economy, means that this car is less for practical types like me, and more for those who enjoy their spending their green as much as going green. The new 2008 EPA fuel economy rules will mean that the 400h's MPG estimates will take a nosedive; perhaps then there'll be less disappointment.

Perfect Car for a Road Trip

I headed north a few days ago to interview two experts about the new plug-in hybrid developments at the Detroit Auto Show. It was appropriate that I would make this journey in a hybrid, albeit a "muscle hybrid," a 2006 RX 400h, which has recently been getting 19.9 mpg around town.

Two summers ago I took this car on a 3,000-mile trip to Whistler, Canada, and got about 26 mpg. On this shorter journey I got 24.7 mpg until I got back into Los Angeles where the reading crept up to 25.1 mpg.

It's funny how much better 25 mpg feels than 24.7 mpg.

Anyway, I have to say that I can't think of a better car to take this trip in. It is quiet, comfortable and fast. And given that it is getting pretty good fuel economy your conscience doesn't bother you much. One feature I used a lot (and that I find lacking in other cars) is the sliding sun visor that lets you extend it to block every sliver of sunlight from blindsiding you as you drive. This seems like a complete no brainer. Every car should have them — but they don't. I never became fatigued in the electric power leather seats, but I found the highly insistent seatbelt chime very annoying.

In San Mateo, Calif., I met with Felix Kramer, the founder of Calcars, who is working to convince the automakers to make and sell plug-in hybrd electric vehicles (PHEVs) capable of 100 + mpg (as the stickers on the side of his 2004 Prius PHEV advertise). He described GM's announcements about the Saturn Vue PHEV and the Chevrolet Volt as "seisemic." I'll be posting an in depth interview with Felix soon.

At UC Davis I arranged to meet with Dr. Andrew Frank, the father of the plug-in hybrid, who holds a 1999 patent on it. He was walking through campus when I crept up behind him in the 400h in all electric mode. Frank, who described himself as a hot rodder from way back (in high school he put a V-12 Cadillac engine in a '36 Ford Phaeton) admired the Lexus and pulled up the energy screen. He was pleased to see that it had two electric motors to deliver power to the wheels. He's converting a Chevy Equinox to a PHEV and using a similar two-electric motor design. I'll be posting a longer interview with Frank later. For now, here's a shot of him with his Equinox.

As I drove home, mulling hybrids, PHEVs, the 400h and the meaning of life, I pulled off Interstate 5 near Bakersfield, Calif., and took the top picture.

I Want (and Get) My MPG

My commute is ridiculous. It takes me between 45 to 50 minutes to travel eight miles. I could ride a bicycle home faster — that's if there was anything resembling a safe bike lane. But my stop-and-go drive home with speeds that top out at 30 mph perhaps once, is a great laboratory for testing our hybrid Lexus RX 400h's maximum gas mileage.

With continuous conscious effort and a keen eye on the energy monitor, I did my darndest to eliminate the gas engine from the hybrid equation. I accelerated slowly, keeping in mind when the gas engine usually started, and looked far ahead so I could coast gradually to a stop rather than staying on the accelerator and braking later. This latter step is also key for regenerating the battery.

On the six-mile highway portion of my journey, I averaged 33.2 mpg. After the two-mile, higher speed portion through city streets, the final tally was 30.3 mpg. That's better than the revised 2008 EPA city mileage for the 4WD RX 400h. So what's the significance of all this? I would say that the hybrid RX is best suited to folks who want a high-mpg luxury car to tackle a craptacular stop-and-go commute like mine — who aren't too concerned with price. In my opinion, though, the top-of-the-line Prius is also luxurious, has basically the same lengthy features list as the RX, is vastly cheaper and gets even better fuel economy. I bet driving the same way, I could get our Prius at least into the 50 mpg range. Mind you, the Prius won't go from 0 to 60 in 7.3 seconds when you need it to.

Engine braking optional

Cars without engine braking bug me. As a result I spend much of my commute all balled up. You see, the majority of the non-shifting masses here in L.A. don't think twice about slapping down the brake pedal in 70-mph traffic. Why?

Because they often have no choice. Give the wildly erratic traffic It takes much planning ahead to keep your automatic-transmission-equipped rig in a position where you never need to touch the brake pedal. And planning ahead in fast-moving traffic is something left to those of us who think about these things.

With engine braking planning ahead is less of a challenge. Lift off the throttle and the car slows down. Manual transmissions — which lock the drive wheels to the engine do this any time the throttle is closed. It's one of the many physics-related reasons I'm convinced manual transmissions make people better drivers. This subtlety allows an attentive driver to efficiently pick a line through traffic without ever touching the brakes. Need to slow a little? Just back out of the gas. Automatics, however, slow very little when a driver lifts off the accelerator — so down goes the brake pedal and on go the brake lights. The result is usually a crescendo of brake lights and unneeded slowing in the traffic behind.

I think I'm the only one who even thinks about this, so I'm going to throw it out there just for fun. What if, and believe me, this is a hypothetical, you could navigate a rapidly moving L.A. freeway without constantly working the brakes — efficiently swapping lanes and even approaching a slower-moving car without braking? Would this not help flow? Would it not improve everyone's fuel economy? Would it not get us all home a little quicker?

I think so.

Getting to the point: I drove our RX400h home for the weekend. It has a continuously variable transmission, many of which suffer from the same off-throttle antics as automatic transmissions. Not this one. Just below Drive on the gear selector is a "B"for engine Braking. And it works. Score one for Lexus.

25,000-mile service

Our RX was due for a 25,000 mile service. Coincidentally the alignment was off, so we had that addressed as well.

We received prompt and friendly service when we called Lexus of Santa Monica. The service included typical visual inspections, fluid top-offs, an oil and filter change and tire rotation. The wheel alignment cost $99 en route to a $224.68 total invoice. Our next scheduled maintenance is at 30k miles.

Pulls Garage Sale Duty

It's not all trips to the country club for our 2006 Lexus RX 400h. This past weekend, the Lexus pulled garage sale duty instead. Our friends, the Calderons, were having a garage sale and we couldn't resist the opportunity to haul over some junk of our own.

The last run consisted of just three items, a couple of Ikea wall shelves, the longest one measuring 75 inches, and a picnic basket.

Shelves went for $3 each, and we got $2 for the basket, never-been-used plastic utensils included.

All sale proceeds were spent on Quizno sandwiches later that afternoon.

How Green Is My Hybrid?

Hey, everybody, I'm green. Or am I?

EPA estimates for our 2006 Lexus RX 400h are 31 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. That's better than the average SUV and certainly better than Lexus's non-hybrid counterpart, the 2006 RX 330, which is only rated at 19 city / 25 hwy.

For 2008 these figures go down. The new 2008 RX 400h is rated at 27 city and 24 highway.

According to the consumption meter pictured here, over the last 3,000 miles we've averaged 19.3 mpg. Woohoo.

So, while driving a hybrid may assuage feelings of guilt over driving an SUV, there are greener options available.

For example, the 2008 Toyota Prius is rated at a whopping 48 mpg city / 45 mpg highway. Even the non-hybrid Honda Fit is rated at 33 mpg city / 38 mpg highway.

Sexy?

I won't pretend I didn't groan a bit when handed the keys to our Long-Term RX400h for the weekend. It's not that I don't like the car, but I had a dinner party to attend Sunday night. I wanted to show up in something fun, something cool. At least the Lexus would make a fine chauffeur vehicle for my Designated Driver duties.

I was having a fine time when a young woman I'm friends with, who knows the perks of the job, asked me what I was driving tonight. "A Lexus RX400h", I said. Her eyes glazed over. Clearly she was lost in the alphanumeric nomenclature. Trying to move on, I filled in, "Some hybrid crossover thing. It's nice enough."

"Ohhh, that one!" she exclaimed, "It's sexy."

"Sexy?"

"Yeah, the hybrid one is."

"Just the hybrid one? What's sexy about adding 300lbs of batteries and electric motors?"

"It just is!"

The conversation moved to things that made more sense, but I was rocked and couldn't find my footing after that. The RX is quiet, very smooth, reasonably good on gas, and well styled, but it's not sexy.

Am I wrong here?

2 years and 30,000 miles

This month signifies two full years of Lexus RX 400h ownership. Our reasons for keeping it in service this long are primarily to test the durability of its hybrid system. This is also why it doesn't receive too many blog posts.

Now that we recently eclipsed the 30,000-mile mark, its about time for a fuel economy update. The numbers are unimpressive and well below 31 city and 27 hwy EPA estimations.

And most of our driving takes place in the city.

Best: 28 mpg

Worst: 16 mpg

Average: 20 mpg

Just because it's a 'hybrid' doesn't make a car fuel efficient. It still takes a conscious effort to be light on the throttle to truly appreciate the efficiency this Lexus has to offer.

Keeping Nav and Audio Separate

I had our 2006 Lexus RX 400h this weekend and it's no Mini . I kid, heh. Anyway, the one thing I liked about it, apart from how aah-somely silent it is idling at a stoplight, was how the radio interface is separate from the navigation one. So I could change radio stations without having to cycle through the screens.

Huzzah! Same sorta goes for climate controls. I liked being able to increase/decrease temperature and fan speed just by pressing buttons. A little window pops up on the nav screen, not interfering at all with the map on display. I could spend more time watching the road than staring at a touchscreen, trying to find the right function and making sure to press the correct button.

Highway Fuel Economy

Although our Lexus RX 400h long-termer has mostly been retired from the fleet and is now driven by non-editorial Edmunds folks, it occasionally falls back into our hands to make sure everything's running smoothly with the goal to test the long-long-term reliability of hybrids. After driving the RX to and from Willow Springs International Raceway, I'm happy to report everything is A-OK.

I can't really say the same about highway fuel economy, however. With cruise control set at 75 mpg there and back, I only managed 25.4 mpg (according to the trip computer).

That's actually 0.4 mpg better than the EPA's 2008-standard highway estimate, but somehow I think it should be better even if the electric motor never kicks in at highway speeds. Certainly, the 27 mpg city is very impressive given most V6-powered crossovers get between 16 and 18 mpg in the city, however, I'm pretty sure we've never come remotely close to that. In fact, when I got into the car, it reported to me that it was averaging 18.3 mpg over its last 550 miles — and that's not with the editor's lead feet on its accelerator.

Fuel Economy Update

It's been a long time since we've tallied up our fuel economy numbers for this car. So here's the scoop:

Mileage: 33,944

Best tank: 28.45

Worst tank: 15.55

Average MPG to date: 20.40

That's pretty mediocre considering the EPA estimate for this model is 26 mpg combined.

Wrap-Up

The best way to get to know any car is to take a long road trip in it. Every little problem sticks out like a sore thumb. And every nice feature brings repeated sighs of satisfaction.

After 10 days in our 2006 Lexus RX 400h we were breathing more satisfied sighs than cursing sore thumbs. On a 3,200-mile trip up the West Coast to British Columbia we bonded with what we decided was an amazingly advanced automobile.

First things first: We got 26.5 miles per gallon cruising at about 70 mph much of the time. At first, we were a little disappointed in the gas mileage since, after all, this is a hybrid. When the "H" word is invoked we tend to think of 40-plus mpg ratings. But then we reminded ourselves that this is a midsize luxury SUV with all-wheel drive, and part of a new breed of hybrids known for performance and reasonably good fuel-efficiency. Considering the EPA highway estimate is 27 mpg, it did fine on our trip.

Another way of looking at it is this: The non-hybrid Lexus RX 330 would have probably gotten about 18 mpg. Over the entire trip it would have consumed 178 gallons of gas costing about $534 at $3 per gallon. The 400h consumed 121 gallons costing about $363 and delivering a savings of $171.

While the numbers aren't all that impressive, we can report that carrying four people this distance, in great comfort, on this amount of gas seemed impressive. And there were other benefits. The route took us through Crater Lake National Park in Oregon where we found ourselves in a long line of SUVs waiting to enter the park. Naturally, the other SUVs were idling during the 15-minute wait. The 400h was in stealth mode, creeping forward under electric power. In fact, when it was our turn, the park ranger stuck her head out the booth window because she couldn't hear us coming.

So, yes, we wish the 400h was designed with more attention to economy than performance. But still, it is a cut above its counterpart and many other SUVs in its class. It's too bad this vehicle stickers for $52,703, which puts it near the top of the class in expense.

Given the hefty price tag, does the 400h deliver in other categories? The answer is a solid yes. At the top of our list of favorite features is the incredibly quiet powertrain. Sure, it starts in electric mode, but even with all six cylinders turning it's very quiet at highway speeds. This means a family of four can enjoy front-to-backseat conversation without raising their voices. Under hard acceleration, with the electric motors turning and the CVT transmission leveling off the rpm curve, the powertrain provides more of a groan than a roar. This isn't as viscerally pleasing as a throaty all-gas engine. Still, this was a minor concession given that the power is nothing short of astonishing.

One of our few complaints involved the brakes, which seemed to grab unexpectedly at times probably because of the regenerative system that converts normally wasted power to stored electricity. The brakes also seemed a bit noisy, but it didn't bother us since we knew we were getting the benefit of increased fuel mileage.

The ride was very comfortable and the suspension provided excellent handling. With four people and four suitcases, the RX 400h felt heavily loaded but still responded well and held its composure in tight corners. After returning from this long trip, we drove the car alone on the freeways in light Sunday afternoon traffic. It was easy to drive somewhat spiritedly since the Lexus made you feel like you could do anything — accelerate into any opening, brake for any situation, handle any corner. It was amazing.

The interior of this luxury SUV is indeed a work of art. The seats are the most comfortable this editor has driven in. The backseats are also very comfortable and the recline feature is great for napping. The rear legroom is quite generous. However, the vents that cool the hybrid system's batteries are located below the rear seats and the owner's manual warns not to block them. So the area usually littered with backpacks, books and other family-vacation paraphernalia needs to remain clutter-free. With a little planning, we easily relocated our stuff to other areas.

And there's plenty of tech beyond the 400h drivetrain: Its DVD player is easier to use than in other cars we've tested. It is also useful because you can program destinations on the navigation system by using the remote control unit and inputting the information on the drop-down screen. Additionally, destinations can also be set while moving by putting in a place marker and navigating toward it. The Lexus also has a rear backup camera. Unfortunately, the camera isn't as useful as you would think. It is difficult to gauge the distance you are looking at. But still, if there was a child there, you could clearly see the danger.

The rear cargo area is a little bigger than it appears. We were able to get four suitcases and four backpacks in along with a cooler and food bag. And there is a little additional space in a closed compartment under the back floor. Throughout the vehicle there is a generous amount of trays, cubbies and storage areas.

This is a remarkably versatile SUV with refinement, brawn and commendable fuel economy. Now if it was also affordable, it would be our first choice for any long road trip.

Current Odometer: 8,975
Best Fuel Economy: 27.9 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 22.6 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 25.4 mpg
Body Repair Costs: none
Maintenance Costs: none
Problems: none