For the first time, premium crossovers Japanese brand Lexus RX 450h was shown to the general public about 10 years ago, in November 2007. A few months later, the model went on sale on the world market. At the same time, it gained popularity among domestic buyers - several thousand copies of this model were sold in the country every year. Over the entire production period, the crossover has experienced one restyling in 2012 and a generation change in 2015.

The first generation of hybrid crossover

One of the reasons why the 2009 RX 450h Hybrid model year The crossover's original design immediately attracted the attention of car enthusiasts. The car combined the parameters of stylish sports sedans, spacious salon And good maneuverability. At the same time, the car moved very quietly and consumed a minimum of fuel - especially compared to crossovers of the same class.

Even the first generation RX 450h (which is classified as the third generation of the entire series) received a good set of options:

• 8-inch diagonal multimedia system display;
• multifunctional steering wheel with switches;
• remote control of audio, navigator, climate control and other systems.

The model is equipped with a projector for displaying information on Windshield. The vehicle's instrument readings are displayed in white. Information from the navigator and audio system also comes here, which allows the driver not to be distracted from the road.

Characteristics and modifications

The RX 450h's powertrain combines the series-standard 3.5-liter gasoline engine and two electric motors for fast acceleration and fuel economy. The total performance of electric motors is 235 hp. s., conventional power unit – 249 Horse power. Other features of the model include the presence of a special EV Mode, which allows you to move only with the help of electric motors. Because of this, the car's performance is comparable to the RX 350 model, and the consumption figures are much lower.

Table 1. Crossover parameters.

Characteristic	Meaning
Model years	2009–2012	2012–2015
Power unit parameters
Engine capacity	3456 cc cm
Power	249 l. With.
Transmission	CVT
Crossover drive	Full (4WD)
Speed	200 km/h
Acceleration to 100 km/h	7.9 sec	7.8 sec
Gasoline consumption (combined mode)	6.3 l
dimensions
Length x Width x Height	4.77x1.885x1.725 m
Vehicle base	2.74 m
Ground clearance	17.0 cm	17.5 cm
Track (front/rear)	1.63/1.635 m
Trunk	446/1570 l

The premium hybrid has a fairly rigid body, providing a high degree of safety, and high functionality even basic configuration. The most affordable car option is equipped with cruise control, anti-lock brakes, auxiliary system for braking and road stability control. This same basic version received two parking sensors and is equipped with adaptive headlights.

Table 2. Modifications on the Russian market.

New generation RX 450h

Following Lexus generation The RX looks even sportier in appearance, primarily due to the sharp edges of the body. Secondly, due to the spindle-shaped radiator grille with chrome trim. The vehicle's energy efficiency has been increased compared to previous versions due to an improved engine and economical LED headlights.

Interior features

The interior of the updated Lexus is practically no different from other models of the RX series. Inside the crossover you can see a 3-spoke multifunction steering wheel, a 12.3-inch multimedia screen and expensive trim. The difference lies in the different arrangement of instruments on the panel - including the presence of a hybrid indicator power plant.

Driver and passengers new hybrid offers large space inside the cabin. The crossover can easily accommodate 5 adults of normal and even tall height and mid-spec. Passengers in the second row also feel comfortable, with enough space left for their knees. A battery pack takes up minimal space in the trunk, allowing you to store an additional 539 liters of cargo in this compartment - only 14 liters less compared to the RX 350 model.

Crossover technical parameters

As in previous generation, the car is equipped with one gasoline and two electric motors. However, the performance of the power unit increased by 14 hp. s., which allows it to accelerate to 100 km/h 0.1 s faster. Moreover, about 1 liter less gasoline is consumed.

In the new generation, the hybrid has become a little longer and has increased ground clearance, which increases its cross-country ability. Most other parameters have not changed. Although there are more driving modes. Now the driver can choose options such as “Eco”, “Sport” or “Normal”. And for top-end configuration such modes as “Individual”, “Sport C” and “Sport C+” are also offered. The latter option makes the car's suspension more rigid, improving cornering.

Table 3. New generation features.

Feature name	Meaning
Motor Features
Power unit volume	3456 cc cm
Performance	263 l. With.
checkpoint	Stepless variator
Transmission	All-wheel drive
Max. speed	200 km/h
Acceleration to hundreds	7.7 sec
Fuel consumption (mixed mode)	5.3 l
Crossover dimensions
LxWxH	4.89x1.895x1.705 m
Base dimensions	2.79 m
Clearance	19.5 cm
Tracks (front/rear)	1.64/1.63 m
Luggage compartment	539/1612 l

Auto safety

To increase the level of protection for passengers and the driver, the Lexus RX450h is equipped with an impressive set of systems:

• a full set of airbags (from front and side to curtain and knee);
• traction control system;
• emergency braking and blind spot monitoring;
• front and rear parking sensors.

Testing of the crossover according to all standards, from NCAP to IIHS, has proven its safety for both passengers and the driver, as well as pedestrians. The car received almost the highest scores in all categories. Although its safety systems best protect people in the cabin from side collisions.

Offers for the Russian market

On Russian market new model The RX comes in three trim levels:

• Standard, which received 19-inch wheel disks, mirrors with turn signals, leather steering wheel, heated windshield, multimedia system with 8-inch screen, cruise control and climate control;
• Premium, with 20-inch wheels, 12.3-inch display, heated second row of seats and Remote Touch joystick;
• Exclusive, with panoramic roof, LED backlight thresholds and an audio system with 15 speakers.

The cost of the minimum configuration in 2015 was about 3.165 million rubles. Currently, you can purchase one of the 2017 models in Russia for 4.5 million. And the top modification will cost another half a million rubles more.

Table 4. Options and prices in the Russian Federation.

After traveling for several months hybrid car, I finally got used to the fact that when you start a car, the interior is not filled with the roar of the engine, that on the road only cars are second to you, and passers-by, on the contrary, do not notice the car sneaking around the yard, only slightly rustling its tires.

Element: asphalt

The RX 450h is primarily a city dweller. It is comfortable to stand in a traffic jam, convenient to maneuver in traffic. Thanks to the rear view camera and parking sensors in front bumper Parking a five-meter crossover is not difficult, especially in dry weather. But the location of the camera itself is unfortunate - in case of bad weather, the “all-seeing eye” instantly gets dirty and before parking, you either have to get out of the car to wipe it, or you need to park with the help of parking sensors and mirrors. But without the help of a camera and parking sensors, parking would be problematic; rearward visibility of the RX is very poor

IN long trips V dark time The hardest thing for a day is not to fall asleep while driving.

Lexus sways lullingly on bumps and unevenness, and the speed is not felt at all. All this has a soporific effect on the driver.

Lexus

It’s good that manufacturers have provided a projection of speed onto the windshield. In Moscow - the kingdom traffic cameras, aimed at motorists at every corner like pistols - this greatly helps to keep the speed under control and allows you not to be distracted from the road by the instruments once again.

The optics do an excellent job and confidently cut through the darkness of a country road with beams of light - the main thing is not to forget to turn off the high beam when an oncoming car appears on the horizon. Otherwise, you risk blinding everyone sitting inside for a few seconds. Features such as automatic on/off high beam, not provided in RX.

Let's get comfortable

The RX 450h's interior is definitely its strong point, and it’s hard to find fault with anything here. Lots of settings for the driver and passenger seats, adjustable steering wheel height and reach, convenient location of climate control and music system controls.

When the ignition is turned on, the seat moves towards the steering wheel, which at the same time moves towards the driver. This makes getting out of the car and getting behind the wheel much more convenient.

The interior trim materials are made to the highest standards high level: expensive leather, high-quality and soft plastic, wooden and aluminum inserts - all this is harmoniously combined in the cabin. And city traffic jams are just the perfect time to enjoy the interior to the fullest.

Lexus

A car was provided for a test drive in F-Sport versions, the main differences from the usual one except for the F-Sport nameplate on the body: silver inserts, leather decorative elements, a black ceiling and darkened 19-inch alloy wheels.

The only thing you need to get used to is the Remote Touch control joystick. Getting to the right “icon” the first time is not easy.

Even despite the experience of communicating with others Lexus models equipped with Remote Touch, learning how to use it is not easy.

But music lovers will be delighted with the Mark Levinson audio system with support for CD, MP3, WMA and DVD with 15 speakers scattered throughout the cabin. The sound quality is at a very high level, and the volume limit even allows you to organize small “open airs” when going outdoors.

Two hearts

The RX 450h Hybrid is powered by a 3.5-liter Atkinson V6 engine (a more fuel-efficient version of the regular four stroke engine, operating on the principle of the Otto cycle), which has 245 horsepower. In transmission front-wheel drive model A hybrid uses two motor-generators. The first, gasoline-powered generator acts as a starter and can charge the battery or other electric motors as needed. The second has 167 horsepower and works in conjunction with the gasoline engine to send power to the front wheels. The total output of both is 295 horsepower. The RX 450h's petrol and electric motors have peak power outputs in different ranges. Thus, the sum of the power outputs of these two engines represents the peak power under real-world operating conditions, but also takes into account the individual RPM for each.

If regular car, equipped with a gasoline engine, fuel consumption in traffic jams increases, while for the RX, on the contrary, it reaches a minimum level. When driving at low speed Gas engine is completely switched off, and the car moves only with the help of an electric motor, and emissions harmful substances into the atmosphere are reduced to zero.

For a few minutes, while the 288-volt nickel-metal hybrid battery is charged, the Lexus transforms into a real electric car, but in this mode the car can only travel a few kilometers.

Moreover, you also need to dose the gas supply carefully - one thing sharp pressing(or exceeding the speed limit of 50 km/h), and the power of the electric motor is no longer enough - the gasoline engine is connected.

Lexus

To force the gasoline engine to turn off and force the RX to drive only on electric power, there is an EV button next to the automatic transmission selector. True, it is not always possible to switch the car to electric mode the first time. And if sometimes this is due to the battery being discharged to “zero”, about which the corresponding inscription is displayed on the display, then from time to time you have to be content with the inscription “EV mode is not available now,” the reasons for which you can only guess at.

The last days of owning RX coincided with a sad event - the 1.5-year-old iPhone began to rapidly lose battery power and randomly reboot. At the service center, after carrying out express diagnostics, they concluded that the phone’s battery was dying. The new battery wasn't particularly expensive, plus I had to pay for the labor.

Leaving the Apple service center in a hybrid Lexus, I tried to roughly imagine the scenario of the death of the hybrid battery in this car, the price of which is equal to the cost of the average budget runabout, and how much it will cost to replace it and work when the warranty on the car expires.

Drive

If you set yourself the goal of saving fuel, you can really achieve amazing results - consumption in the city is reduced to 7.5 liters per 100 km. But to do this, you first need to switch to ECO mode and barely touch the accelerator pedal, and when starting from a traffic light, allow even budget small cars to overtake you.

Moving in this mode, you feel like a kind of two-ton turtle that has to drag your house on you. On the other hand, why crawl somewhere when you’re already comfortable in your own house?

In Normal mode, which is ideal for cruising around town comfortably, the RX wakes up immediately. Fuel consumption increases slightly, but the crossover ceases to be excessively rough and slow. Driving the car immediately becomes much more pleasant. But when cornering, the RX 450h is just as impressively thoughtful as it is measured and calm in other road situations.

The Lexus truly comes alive in Sport mode. When turned on this mode dashboard lights up with a predatory scarlet flame, and the hybrid turns into a real sports crossover. In this mode you can “light up”. When starting from a standstill, an electric motor is connected to the gasoline engine to achieve more power, thanks to which acceleration to 100 km/h occurs in 7.8 seconds. True, consumption increases to almost 14 liters, but it’s worth it. The only thing that overshadows the pleasure of a high-speed ride is the overly light steering wheel, which does not very reliably convey information about the position of the wheels, which, apparently, was done for the sake of comfort and convenience.

On an empty section of the highway near Moscow, we managed to reach a speed of 190 km/h, and the car was ready to accelerate further, unlike the RX 350, which stopped accelerating after the needle reached 180.

Last minutes together

Sitting in a car in the parking lot of the Lexus press park, waiting for company representatives to come down to pick him up, I once again remembered everything that had happened between us over these months: transporting a Christmas tree that fit into the trunk (although one seat had to be lowered), slush and snow in the Tver region, where we were stuck for several hours, minutes that seemed like an eternity when we were alone in Moscow traffic jams, and the first rays of the spring sun, which melted the ice on the roof and finally allowed us to open the hatch.

Lexus

Now cost all-wheel drive version The RX 450h in the F Sport package costs RUB 3,498,000, and the most affordable front-wheel drive petrol version of the RX in the Prestige package can be purchased for RUB 2,122,000.

RX 450h is good, comfortable and quality car, but it is not without flaws, and there are points in it that could be improved. Perhaps the new RX, which was presented at the New York Auto Show just as this material was being prepared, will become exactly the ideal that other premium-segment manufacturers will strive for.

Few people know that the world's first serial hybrid SUV This was done not by the advanced Japanese, but by conservative Americans. It was Ford Escape Hybrid. Yes, there was little off-road in it, yes, in the land of rising land, by that time hybrids had been riveted for several years... But this very fact greatly irritated the descendants of the samurai.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

What's the point anyway? hybrid car? Is there anything to it other than the marketing whims of automakers and the pressure of the “green”? Are there any advantages over, say, small-capacity and economical engine internal combustion with advanced cleaning system exhaust gases? Based on the questions themselves, it is clear that the main bonus should be sought in the economic and environmental fields. As an example, let's take our hero - the Lexus RX450h, the power plant of which operates according to a parallel hybrid scheme. Internal combustion engine operating on the Atkinson–Miller cycle with a long opening intake valves and a high compression ratio, it engages at medium speeds and above, almost never idling and avoiding the most harmful loads, where it is assisted by an electric motor. Acceleration from a standstill, sudden acceleration, driving in a traffic jam — all this significantly increases fuel consumption and the level of harmful emissions. Moreover, this happens in places of maximum concentration of people. And it turns out that the engine is, in principle, small in volume and economical, dynamics are not lost because the electric motor helps, emissions are noticeably lower and fuel consumption is lower. These are the obvious advantages of hybrids. Less obvious, but extremely important for us, can be discovered by examining the state of affairs on secondary market. Not long ago I had the opportunity to talk with the owner of an eleven-year-old Toyota Prius. This is interesting because the principle of operation is the same power unit used in Lexus RX450h. So, the most important thing that I heard from the “price driver” is that it never breaks. That is, in general! Well, the gradual wear and tear of the chassis, light bulbs, consumables, chips on the body - this is understandable. But as for the engine, transmission and electrical systems, everything is incredibly reliable, requires almost no maintenance and does not lose its consumer properties even after 300 thousand mileage. To find out how much the battery life had dropped during operation, we tried to drive in “Electric” mode for as long as possible. It turned out to be almost two and a half kilometers of ordinary country roads. The eight-year-old Lexus RX400h, according to its owners, has been running for almost four years. It turns out that after our winters, maintenance and the ragged rhythm of the city, the battery is more alive than all living things. Actually, this is everything that potential owners of hybrid cars are afraid of, but not everything that they may encounter while operating the third generation Lexus RX450h.

The battery is protected by an eight-year warranty

JUST LIKE OTHERS

In addition to the unique “hybrid” problems, the Lexus RX450h also has ordinary ones, so to speak, typical for each car. Only related to the specifics of the brand and model. By running by owners hybrid Japanese crossovers most often complain about knocking rear suspension. Most likely, these are stabilizer struts. In general, cheap parts (as well as their replacement), if it were not a Lexus. The original costs about 2 thousand rubles, but you can find reliable supplier and for 800 rubles. Unlike purely petrol versions The hybrid was not equipped with air suspension, which slightly reduces the cost of maintenance. Springs will cost 28 thousand rubles per pair, shock absorbers - 10. More often than others, the upper wishbone of the rear suspension also requires replacement - the silent block wears out. They say it can be repaired in a workshop, but more often they replace the entire lever, which is relatively inexpensive: about 6 thousand for the lever and 4.5 thousand for a replacement. Tapping can also come from a short support rod

hub, which costs from 5 thousand for the original. Otherwise, with the exception of the stabilizer struts, the suspension does not require intervention up to 150 thousand kilometers, despite the fact that it is loaded more than usual, since the battery is placed above the rear axle.

The minimum ground clearance in the gas tank area is 180 mm

The front suspension did not show any characteristic problems, although those who like hard driving are more likely to complain about wear than others. wheel bearings. Well, stabilizers, where would we be without them? Both can be replaced at a mileage of just 50 thousand. The bearing will cost 3 thousand for the original, and half of this amount, for example, for Koyo. Stabilizer struts will cost 700–800 rubles per part. The knocking of the steering rack usually ends with the replacement of the tips. It's not as expensive as it might seem - about 5 thousand per pair. The rail itself is quite reliable, but if you don’t take care of the safety of the covers, you can end up with a replacement, and that’s almost 40 thousand rubles without work!

The transmission on the Lexus RX450h was CVT E-CVT. It is powered by both a planetary clutch connecting the front electric motor and the internal combustion engine, and a starter-generator. Quite a reliable design, despite the large number of components. There were no serial failures, nor any serious recall campaigns. The CVT allows you to select virtual gears manually and allows the owner to decide which of the three possible modes drive: economical, normal or sporty. This is not counting the electric...

There is nothing special to say about the engine. Despite the index 450 in the model name, under the hood hybrid crossover a 2GR-FE - 3.5-liter V6 is installed. Essentially the same as on the RX350, except derated to 249 hp due to a special operating cycle. The timing chain is driven by a chain, which, when replaced, will cost 5 thousand rubles. The drive needs to be replaced every 150 thousand kilometers, and it is unlikely that you will have to do this more often, since the design of the hybrid car itself does not allow the engine to wear out. Questions may arise only regarding the injectors, due to Low quality fuel. This is not easy to notice, because idle move with an internal combustion engine, assume that it is not, and jerks during acceleration are compensated by electric motors. Until 2010, the oil supply system VVTi system suffered from leaks, but after replacing the composite tube with a solid one and a massive service campaign, the problem disappeared. It happens that the phase change clutch grunts. You can replace it if it irritates you, or you don’t have to change it. Sometimes they complain about pump leaks, but this problem has not become widespread. In a word, ordinary, boring Japanese motor, which cannot please even the most curious journalist with anything scary.

The hybrid is ready for fords and ruts,
but does not cope well with sand and snow.
This is understandable - only the electric motor turns the wheels

JUST LIKE OTHERS

The most serious problem hybrid Lexus The second generation RX experienced a sudden failure of the electrical part of the drive. More precisely, the burnout of the inverter of the power supply system of the electric motor-generator. And it doesn’t matter whether this happened as a result of overheating of the power transistor switches themselves or a breakdown of the inverter cooling pump. It is important that the unit was either replaced under warranty/recall campaign, or was bought for $700 on Ebay... There seem to be no such problems on the Lexus RX450h. It seems to be - because official dealers say no, but at the same time service campaign there is a way to replace inverters... The fact is that sensors were added to the cooling system of the unit that turn off the current if the load exceeds the capabilities of the pump. The owner only needs to carefully monitor the coolant supply in expansion tank, or at least pay attention to the instrument panel indicators. Long before reaching critical mode, a cooling system malfunction signal warns of danger. The inverter board itself costs a little more than 100 thousand rubles, and the entire unit costs almost half a million, so you shouldn’t ignore the signal.

There are two electric motors in the Lexus RX450h. They work independently of each other, each driving its own axis. There are extreme rare cases damage to the housing of the rear electric motor, since it hangs on the side of the differential and is not covered by anything. A contract gearbox with an electric motor can be found for 40 thousand. The original new one is three times more expensive. The front unit, new, original and ready for installation, costs approximately 220 thousand rubles. The generator, which is also a starter for the internal combustion engine, costs approximately 150 thousand. It is impossible to say that electric motors never fail, but failures are so rare that typical problems not found.

The formerly scary words “hybrid battery” no longer scare anyone. And it works at -36°C, and easily lasts ten years. I mean the main power source hidden under back row seats and in the trunk of the Lexus RX450h. By the way, you should not fill the space between the first and second rows of seats with luggage. There are air intakes for the cooling and ventilation system of the battery compartment. If they are blocked, the battery may overheat and fail. emergency mode. Guarantee period for the entire block of elements is eight years in Russia. No frequent calls regarding battery failure have been identified. However, it should be remembered that new battery will cost the cost of a new Niva - almost half a million rubles.

Hybrid Lexus at the beginning of sales were noticeably more expensive than their regular counterparts. They sold so-so, although the owners quickly realized how successful their choice was. On the secondary market there are hardly a hundred of them per country. This includes American versions, and officially sold from us. The cost starts from one and a half million. If you are not afraid of a hybrid in principle, you are not a retrograde, live close to a qualified service center and do not go off-road harder than half a wheel of snow, - hybrid Lexus

RX450h will be one of the most successful acquisitions in your life. Both because it’s a Lexus and because it’s a hybrid. Yes and transport tax It's nearly half that of the regular RX, with a claimed output of 249 hp. It is calculated by the internal combustion engine, and not by the total. In a word, not a car, but a bright future! 

OWNER'S REVIEW:
ARTEM, LEXUS RX450H 2010

I really liked the car for its acceleration. Not even dynamics up to a hundred, but an instant response to the pedal. And both from a standstill and on the move. Very quiet. Comfortable salon, non-Japanese wide seats, excellent equipment. They say that after restyling in 2012 it became even more convenient. The consumption is pleasing, even in the city I can keep within 8.5 liters.

According to many representatives automotive community, the new Lexus PX 450x model is incredibly refined and innovative. Graphically clear lines of the body, a spectacular radiator grille, and an aggressive “squint” of the head optics form a luxurious image that reflects a strong and daring character.

A characteristic feature of the car was the presence of a particularly durable chassis, a modernized front suspension, and improved steering technology. The implementation of such solutions resulted in exceptional stability and refined handling of the Lexus RX 450h.

Options and prices Lexus RX 450h

Thoughtful configurations and prices for the Lexus PX 450x, which are competitive, are the professional credo of the auto holding Major Auto. At the company's sites, this car is presented in spectacular AWD Premium and AWD Exclusive versions. The difference between the older modification is the presence of additional options in the form panoramic roof with an opening section, leather multifunction steering wheel, convertible 2nd row seats, 4 video cameras, color projection monitor (10”).

Lexus RX 450h technical specifications

A key feature of the Lexus RX 450h is the revolutionary hybrid drive system, which includes 2 electric motors and a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline unit. The total output of the system is 313 hp.

Incredible technical Lexus specifications RX 450h (dynamism, environmental friendliness, fuel efficiency, ease of control) are largely due to the high quality of the hybrid drive. This vehicle capable of operating in electric vehicle mode, which can be recharged while driving.

Buy Lexus RX 450x in Moscow from an official dealer

Autoholding Major Auto provides the opportunity to buy a Lexus PX 450x in Moscow from official dealer on the most favorable terms in the region. Our specialists are ready to inform you about the competitive advantages of the car and offer effective purchase programs, including Trade-In.

Design hybrid power plants by engineers of various automobile concerns started a very long time ago. But, as practice has shown, not everyone was able to effectively implement an electric motor. Lexus has skillfully taken advantage of the hybrid setup, resulting in one of the best-selling premium crossovers with such technical stuffing. In this review, we'll look at the Lexus RX 450H, a chic crossover whose "H" in its name stands for "Hybrid." As usual, first we present the main characteristics of the Lexus RX:

• Length – 4770 millimeters;
• Width – 1885 mm;
• Height – 1725 mm;
• Ground clearance - 175 (can be increased using air suspension);
• Curb weight of RX 450 H – 2185 kg;
• Gross weight – 2700 kg;
• The crossover has 5 doors and 5 seats;
• The main engine is a V-shaped gasoline unit with a volume of 3.5 liters and a power of 249 horses;
• Volume fuel tank– 65 liters.

Design

We understand that in the case of the Lexus PX 450 H technical part is the most interesting, but you cannot ignore the interior and appearance car. They will help us with a description of the body and interior high quality photos. How has the RX 450 H changed compared to the previous version? Firstly, the crossover from Lexus has become larger in all sizes. But what is important for drivers is the fact that the Lexus 450 H is a leader in terms of coefficient aerodynamic drag– among cars of this class, only RX has 0.32.

As for the appearance of Lexus, photos will tell more about it than text. But it is worth saying that many drivers found the body design a little strange. In any case, most reviews say that the Lexus RX has received a successful update in terms of appearance. And here the main highlight is the hybrid installation, which we will get to soon. Now let's take a moment to look inside the Lexus RX interior.

Inside the crossover

As for the interior, there are no special changes planned - all the same shine, quality and luxury. But all these premium class indicators in this model are not off the charts, which is undoubtedly pleasing. As you can see in the photo, inside the driver there are pleasant contours of the body, settings for literally every element inner world. Ergonomics remain at their best - there is enough space for a driver of any size. As for the modern elements that the designers introduced into the Lexus RX 450H, what interested us most was the joystick, which controls literally all systems. Essentially, this is an analogue of a mouse for a personal computer.

The driver does not need to use the touch screen, because, as practice has shown, using a joystick is much easier to control the system. Although some reviews hint that it will take some motorists quite a long time to get used to such a new product. But after mastering it, comfort immediately increases, because operating the RX 450H is almost no different from operating a computer. What else can surprise modern car enthusiasts? Maybe someone will be impressed by the system that projects instrument readings and on-board computer directly onto the Lexus windshield.

In addition, there are also standard features for a premium class: cameras for comfortable parking, an audio system High Quality Marc Levinson, who comes in the form additional option, a full set of functions for the on-board computer and much more. The engineers decided not to be impudent and added a minus to the cabin - the AUX socket is located so deep in the armrest that the driver will definitely play with his “intuition” while trying to insert a flash card.

Technical specifications Lexus RX 450H

For those who don’t know, Lexus crossovers have already had hybrids up to 450 H, so the company has experience built on mistakes. IN new version RX underwent a major modification of the power plant, which even affected the algorithm of its operation. Thanks to experience, the company paid attention not only to modern electric motors, but also to their heart - the 3.5-liter gasoline unit.

The hybrid installation uses a V6 engine latest generation, the design of which includes two overhead camshafts. If you are well versed in engines, then you probably know that almost all car engines operate on the Otto cycle. But the engineers, having made all the necessary calculations, came to the conclusion that the hybrid would work better with the Atkinson cycle. And as tests have shown, the designers took the right step. Power gasoline unit is 249 horses, and the power of the entire hybrid installation– already 299 hp

Controls and additional modes

As reviews say, driving the RX 450 H is a pleasure. This crossover is not lacking in comfort, but there are some unusual aspects associated with the hybrid. Let's delve a little deeper into electrical engineering: powerful transformers transform alternating current to permanent. The kinetic energy from this process is supplied through special conductors to a three-block battery (by the way, it can be found under the rear seats).

Due to engineering solutions size battery the Lexus RX has been reduced. The company said that it should work no less than the Lexus RX itself. It's funny, but the tachometer is not included in the 450 H. Instead, it is replaced by a division into zones - power, charge and eco. As for the accelerator pedal, there is a feeling that it has no other positions besides “on/off”. But this is not particularly surprising when you find out that the Lexus RX H is equipped stepless gearbox transmission

The company advertised the most about its new modes: SNOW, ECO, EV. As for SNOW, this mode is responsible for reducing traction in severe winter conditions (ice, snowfall). By the way, the hybrid in Lexus has complete tolerance to cold, and this is great news for residents of the northern part of Russia. ECO mode is responsible for safe operation crossover - it will prevent overstraining the engine. The transmission in the Lexus RX begins to work more smoothly, and the air conditioner also does not work in vain. In general, ECO is about saving, not about ecology.

We found the EV mode the most interesting, because it demonstrates the capabilities of a hybrid. In this mode, the PX 450 H is able to move solely using electric motors. It is obvious that this is an environmental mode in the Lexus RX, because you are unlikely to travel more than 3 kilometers, and the speed will not exceed 40 km/h. If the limit is exceeded, the gasoline engine immediately starts working. But there are benefits to this EV mode - for example, you can start it when entering a city and rejoice at your contribution to clean air.

The next trend

As sad as it may sound, most people who prefer the RX 450 H don’t think about the environment at all. Then a logical question arises: “Why do they need a car with electric motors?” Fashion. Hybrids are now in trend, which is why they are gaining popularity among motorists.

Of course, there is a percentage of drivers who really think about the environment when they purchase a car with electric motors. People are no longer impressed by engines with a huge displacement and a whole herd of horses; the letter H on the bumper looks unusual and arouses interest both among pedestrians passing by and other drivers.

Let's sum it up

We haven't written anything about air suspension due to the fact that it did not reach Russia. This is disappointing, because its absence calls into question the off-road capabilities of the Lexus RX. In the end, I would like to say that the Lexus RX hybrid version is powerful, reliable and stylish crossover, which is more suitable for European roads and fuel of European quality - at a grade below 95-AI, the RX 450 H engine will not last long. As for the price, it now starts at 2,898,000 rubles.