Overview

There's no denying the charms of Lexus' redesigned RX crossover. It's extremely comfortable; it packs a sophisticated, upscale interior; and, in the hybrid version, it returns the mileage of a midsize sedan — a four-cylinder one.

With all that going for it, the RX 450h hybrid has one fatal flaw: It drives like a hybrid from five years ago before most companies had worked out the odd kinks of the fuel-efficient cars, like spotty braking and herky-jerky acceleration. Aside from that, the RX is a sublime crossover.

See also:

2011 Lexus CT 200h review By G. Chambers Williams III
Lexus will bring its first compact hybrid vehicle to market early next year, the CT 200h hatchback, Toyota's luxury brand announced this week at the New York auto show. It will be the first &quo ...

Using the steering wheel audio switches
Some audio features can be controlled using the switches on the steering wheel. 1. Turns the power on, selects an audio source. 2. Increases/decreases volume. 3. Radio mode: Selects a radio st ...

Thrust vs. Thrift
Thanks to the drivetrain's immediate thrust, the CT 200h has adequate oomph for driving solo: It scoots from a stoplight well enough and maintains highway speeds with little trouble. But it lacks ...