Comments on: 2008 Lexus RX 400h review

By: Nat Redgrave

Nat Redgrave — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:30:30 +0000

i totally agree trudi i own a Rx350 and am currently in the point of upgrading to the 450h and lexus is the best car i have ever one with the best customer service and for the point of bmw and merc who would want one they have no customer service your just a number at lexus your a friend of the family they are just the best most luxurious cars around and i wouldnt be seen in anything else

By: Trudi Counsell

Trudi Counsell — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:21:37 +0000

I have the 400h and it’s the BEST car I have ever owned! I can’t wait to trade up in a few years to the 450H! I save Hundreds of dollars a month in fuel costs and it is fantastically appointed. I’ve previously had a Volvo XC-90 and Mercedes ML and the Lexus has it over them WELL and TRULY! Who wants and X5 anyway – ANYONE can have one of those…give me my Lexus 400h everytime!

By: Michalis

Michalis — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 06:37:43 +0000

One the greatest cars ever!!

The review is ridiculous…
and biased

By: Hans

Hans — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:52:49 +0000

I’m with you timeforchange. Of course it C02 emissions matter.

You can’t compare petrol to diesel. And since Lexus don’t do diesel there is no comparison.

As for Clarkson and his s-class v8…. this is the same guy who published his bank account and other personal details and said no-one can take money out of his account… well he was proven wrong wasn’t he? Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s great as a comedian but when it comes to making objective unbiased comments…. I don’t think so.

By: andre

andre — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:02:24 +0000

Just don’t get it…. drove it – couldn’t get used to the unpredictable throttle response… seems variable power available….. great enviro marketing plot from the company that brings you the Landcruiser…..

Check out youtube – Top Gear – S-Class – Clarkson and you’ll find the S-Class V8 is more enviro friendly than the Prius! –

Oh and no Cargo barrier available…. ridiculous…

By: timeforchange

timeforchange — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:20:25 +0000

what a weird review.
To talk about the CO2 emissions and then ask ‘Does it really matter’ is ridiculous.
Yes it does matter if then next geration or the one after them has a habitable planet left to them.
I am a fan of the RX350, but have found that my friends that have them are scared of the real world city fuel comsumption often averaging 16-18l/100km around town.
It is exactly these city conditions where the hybid will shine with its electric motors taking over from the petrol engine. As most of these luxury SUVs are only city runabouts the real world fuel saving will probably recoup the $10 000 premium in more like 4 years than the 8 years suggested, the addition resale (and they will be worth more despite the dodgy suggestion of the reviewer)would then be yours to pocket.
Personally I am not yet convinced that petrol hybrids are the long term solution to our planets woes, but they are here and NOW and are a damn good start.
If every SUV could halve its polution around the city we would all have cleaner air to breath.

YES IT DOES MATTER!

By: Kris

Kris — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:11:38 +0000

I have not been able to find info on how effective the hybrid system is out of town.. Most testers say they are best in town – but if you do country trips in a 440h, how would it go on consumption compared to 330.. Anyone know??

By: icejagans

icejagans — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:06:51 +0000

rx350 is good enough.

the hybrid would only be useful in the cbd.

I mean if you do highway driving the 3 electric motors are useless so there would be no gain. Better yet get a diesel

By: Neil

Neil — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:51:57 +0000

Hybrid’s are more than likely (whether we want them to be or not) the way car’s are headed for the future…but what’s the real enviromental benefit?

What about the extra pollution created in the production of the battery as well as all the additional parts, or the toxic waste left over after the car comes to the end of its life?
Hybrid’s are a great idea (as are GM’s new E-Flex car’s), but lets not get too carried away

PS: lets hope the next RX is every bit as good as this one – X5 is a bit too big really

By: Realcars

Realcars — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:45:31 +0000

100k for a car and u talk resale?WTF.

Agree next generation Hybrid is going to make this look a bit sad given that the current tech is 10 years old.

If image is more important than substance buy the Hybrid.

By: Mat

Mat — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:52:11 +0000

I would add that the less CO2 emissions is a mighty good thing… to say it is not is flagrant disregard for environmental benefits. If you can have same performance, cheaper long term running costs and produce less emissions to boot then why not? Better for now and the future.

Oh and steve… that is why it has a reversing camera and sensors…. standard.

By: Fenno

Fenno — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:51:42 +0000

I agree with Alborz. The 400h is a nice car but 10k is still a lot of money (regardless of the socio-economics).
And Riceboy’s logic (of buying the petrol over the diesel) backs the math that Alborz presented; the intial cost for most will outweigh any benefits of alternate motive power.

In most cases readers out there should do any comparison themselves using Alborz’ formula. Resale isnt a factor if you keep the car longer than 4 years anyway. Servicing a more expensive hybrid/diesel category is something people tend to forget.

By: alborz

alborz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:24:01 +0000

1st point. – That’s definitely a bad assumption. But I do agree with your point that many feel its their due to the environment

2nd Point. I don’t have a bias against hybrid or electric vehicles, but I do have a bias against vehicles that are riding on the green wave with little validity

3rd Point. RX buyers are not in the same market as Prius buyers.

As i said, I would have no hesitation recommending the RX350 – it’s a great car.

By: riceboy

riceboy — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:45:48 +0000

I don’t think RX buyers would necessarily not care about petrol cost savings… as a lot of luxury SUV buyers pick diesel for the same reason… I for one chose petrol over diesel for my 45K hatch because of performance and it still uses only 10L/100km (rated 8L/100km)…

By: Stevo the Devo

Stevo the Devo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:12:27 +0000

Now the toddlers won’t even hear it coming as mum backs out the driveway.

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:51:55 +0000

I think Alborz Fallah misses the point.

1st point. It is a Lexus.. so 10k to people who buy a Lexus does not matter. People who buy a Lexus hybrid are making a statement that they are using there money to look after the enviornemt.
2nd Point. If you have a bias against Hybrid vehicles you should try to standardise your ratings.
3rd Point. You go into the maths of petrol savings..Why? If the buyer wanted to save money they would buy a Prius?

By: alborz

alborz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:10:55 +0000

Yes the cost of ownership may be lower. The point I was trying to make here was the RX series is a great car, however, go for the RX350 as it presents better value for money.

As for resale value due to its green credentials, that is highly debatable given the next generation hybrid cars are only around the corner, and may put the RX400h to shame very soon. Making the current technology seem someone obsolete

And the hybrid system is both a plus and minus. Plus – because of its ability to power the car at slow speeds and fuel economy in general, and a minus due to its 10g additional cost.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:56:04 +0000

How can hybrid system be both a positive and a negative? Without explanation. If the hybrid is only 10 grand more, it seems worth it too me, particularly in europe were they get benefits for driving hybrid vehicles.

By: Revhed

Revhed — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:55:27 +0000

I totally agree with Sco here – you need to take into consideration the resale value and not just the initial differences in retail price when discussing costs.

By: Camski

Camski — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:03:34 +0000

Milobob you have no idea how good their after sales services are. Free courtesy car, car wash, delivery and pickup of your car WITH a free courtesy car etc etc. And might i add, you can talk your dealer into giving you a car you’d like to take as your courtesy car (IS-F anyone? lol)

Might I add that the RX400h is faster than the RX330.

This is coming from an IS250 and RX330 owner =)