The Lexus RX has always tried to be the proverbial jack of all trades in the luxury CUV market for the past 25 years. While some of its past attempts at this haven’t gone as well (the ill-fated three-row RX was a classic example), Lexus is hoping that the all-new 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ will help successfully bring the RX into the world of plug-in hybrids for the first time ever.
450h+ Plugs In For Better Efficiency
The exterior styling of the 450h+ is carried over from the rest of the RX family, and as a result, There’s not much to talk about in terms of exterior changes. The interior also follows the same script, but 450h+ buyers can only get this model in Luxury trim, which means that they get equipment such as heated and cooled seats, 21-inch wheels, semi-aniline leather, as well as a panoramic sunroof.
The bulk of the changes are found under the hood, with the RX 450h+ getting the same powertrain as the smaller NX version, with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder being paired with two electric motors to produce a combined system output of 300 horsepower. This setup also provides standard all-wheel drive, but Lexus stopped short of providing a formal kilowatt figure for the battery. Lexus claims that the model can make the sprint to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds and can go 35 miles on pure electric charge before the gas engine takes over. Lexus claims that the battery can be recharged in “approximately two and a half hours” when the CUV is hooked up to a 240V outlet but will sell the 450h+ with a 120V cord from the factory.
When Can I Buy One?
The 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ will go on sale by the end of the year. Buyers will have a choice of eight different exterior colors: Caviar, Cloudburst Gray, Copper Crest, Eminent White Pearl, Iridium, Matador Red Mica, Nightfall Mica, and Nori Green Pearl. The interior gets the bulk of its color inspiration from food, with Macademia and Peppercorn hues joining the default black interior color scheme. Pricing will begin at $70,080.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.