Lexus RX 450h

Toyota and Lexus are pioneers when it comes to the early adoption of hybrid technology. Back for the 2006 model year, Lexus debuted the first luxury hybrid, the RX 400h. Today, that lineage continues with the 2021 Lexus RX 450h. In those intervening years, the RX hybrid has steadily improved and proved itself both powerful and dependable. The competition has also caught on and developed their own fuel-sipping alternatives.

This year, the Lexus RX 450h receives just a few updates and remains an excellent choice among hybrid SUVs, but it's not the best. It's outshone by the larger Acura MDX Sport Hybrid as well as plug-in hybrids that include the BMW X3 xDrive30e and the Audi Q5. It's still a close battle among all of these hybrid SUVs, however, and we recommend checking all of them out to see which best suits your needs. And check out our Expert Rating below to get our in-depth evaluation on this year's RX 450h.

Which RX 450h does MatoCar recommend?

The base RX 450h gets our recommendation since the F Sport's performance gains are minimal and many of the interior features are available in other packages or as stand-alone options. Of those options, the navigation system with its larger screen and apps is a worthy add-on.

The 2021 Lexus RX 450h is available in base and F Sport trims (technically, the F Sport is an option package). Both are powered by a 308-horsepower hybrid powertrain that uses a 3.5-liter V6 engine. All-wheel drive is standard. Feature highlights include:

Base RX 450h Comes standard with the typical features expected from a luxury SUV, such as:

Keyless entry and ignition
Power liftgate
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Simulated leather upholstery
8-inch touchscreen
Nine-speaker audio system
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Amazon Alexa integration
Six USB ports
Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 suite of advanced safety features:

Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the RX 450h and the car in front)
Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
Lane keeping assist (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
Automatic high beams

F Sport Sharpens handling and adds sporty-looking touches that include:

Larger wheels
Sport-tuned suspension dampers
Unique exterior and interior trim elements

The F Sport Handling package further improves handling and comfort with:

Adaptive suspension
Heated and ventilated front sport seats
Heated steering wheel

Other bundled options include: Premium package

Driver-seat memory functions
Wood interior trim

Luxury package

Larger wheels
Leather upholstery
Wood and aluminum interior trim
Wood-trimmed heated steering wheel
Rear window sunshades
Interior ambient lighting

Several stand-alone options are also available:

Navigation system with:

12.3-inch touchscreen
12 speakers
Streaming internet radio and convenience apps
Touchpad controller
Satellite radio

Auto-leveling headlights
Panoramic sunroof
Hands-free liftgate
Heated and ventilated front seats
Heated rear seats
Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)
Wireless charging pad
15-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio
Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the vehicle and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
Front and rear parking sensors with rear automatic braking