When you want luxury and you want an eco-friendly SUV, you’re most likely to end up with a Lexus RX hybrid. Lexus’ only hybrid SUV did not see too many changes for the 2011 model year but that’s because it is a high performance vehicle with green technology under the hood and excellent fuel economy. The only question on green driver’s minds; is it worth the large price tag?
Lexus RX 450H
The RX hybrid has a 3.5-liter, V6 engine combined with two additional electric motors. A third electric motor was added to help power the all-wheel drive model. This combined power produced around 295 horsepower. This SUV can drive short distances on the electric power alone at low speeds. After speeding up, the power shifts to the gasoline engine in a smooth transition that most drivers hardly notice.
The biggest reason to buy the hybrid RX versus its non-hybrid brother is the stats for fuel economy. The RX 450h gets 32 mpg city and 28 mpg highway for the front-wheel drive and 30 mpg city and still 28 mpg highway for the all-wheel drive. With such little difference, it may be worth it to go ahead and get the AWD model. The non-hybrid RX 350 gets a low 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.
The 2011 Lexus RX 450h also includes optional packages called the premium, comfort, or luxury package. With all the luxury Lexus provides, including standard 18-inch wheels, dimming mirrors, and keyless ignition it seems like a no brainer to purchase this hybrid SUV. Some critics still believe that the cost is not worth the extra mileage. The hybrid starts at $43,935 while the non-hybrid 350 starts at $38,375. Is the extra $5,000 worth it? Of course, this depends on how much you drive and the price of a tank of gas. Environmentally speaking, we say yes!
SUV LUV - Sport Utility Vehicles 