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Lexus RX 400h Hybrid Features

With all the high gas prices out there, hybrid vehicles are continuing to become more popular among drivers. There are a few luxury hybrid choices out there, and the Lexus Hybrid 400h Hybrid seems to be the most popular of those choices. Check out some of the features of the Lexus Hybrid 400h Hybrid and what sets itself apart from the other hybrids.
The Lexus Hybrid 400h hybrid looks nice on the outside and cushy on the inside, but how does this SUV handle? According to Toyota, superbly. As with every other hybrid, the Lexus RX 400h Hybrid has two engines – gasoline and electric – that function together or separately. This is where the fuel-efficiency comes in. The way the motors work in tandem makes some people think that all vehicles should be hybrid. They could be right.
The gas engine is a 3.3 liter V6 like the one found in the RX 350. With a combined 268 horsepower output when used in conjunction with the electric motor, this SUV kicks butt with gasoline conservation. This is a definite plus with gas prices being so high. The electric motor in the front operate optimally under regular driving conditions, and the electric motor in the rear kicks in when the pedal is to the metal in full-throttle acceleration.
The gasoline engine switches off whenever you slow down, is traveling at a low speed or is idling. This is when the electric motor takes over. With a built in Ni-MH battery, there is plenty of energy to run the SUV as well as store electricity that is produced when the vehicle brakes. It’s also very helpful when the vehicle speeds up. The Lexus RX 400h Hybrid can reach 60 miles per hour in 8 seconds. Most other SUVs cannot do that and the Lexus is doing it with an electric motor. It is also consuming the same amount of gasoline as a compact four cylinder car. Hence the ability to get a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle designation in the United States.
The low emissions are what qualified the vehicle to receive a 4 star rating. It produces 75% less emissions than most of the standard comparable crossovers. It is also certified to get 26 miles per gallon in the city and 24 miles per gallon on the highway. Why? The electric motor kicks in during city driving and the breaking and decelerating produces energy that is stored in the batteries.
Zero to sixty-two miles per hour can be reached in 7.6 seconds and the top speed the Lexus RX 400h Hybrid can reach is 124 miles per hour. The engines are quiet and consumers may wonder if their vehicle is even running. Ride and handling is fine on the blacktop and it lives up to the reputation the standard version has earned. This SUV is luxury defined and a comfortable ride for all. Yes, the handling could be better, but then most SUVs do not handle very well anyway. Overall the vehicle is an excellent choice with an off-road 4×4 system.
Lexus’ are highly reliable vehicles and they have managed to live up to their high-quality and luxury name. Even though the hybrid has been around since 2005, there have been no production setbacks or problems related to the vehicle. The way it’s designed lends credence to the fact that there may never be any manufacturing setbacks.
Safety features are included with the standard dual front airbags, side bags, head curtain side bags and driver knee airbags. In crash tests, the Lexus RX 400h Hybrid received 5 stars, the highest rating a vehicle can get, in side impact and head on collisions. The Four-Wheel drive suspension the controls the vehicles height varies with the driving conditions, a nice and unique feature. At 62 mph, the vehicle lowers by 0.3 inches when driving normally. In low mode it can shrink more, another 0.6 inches and 1.2 inches for easier passenger access when in access mode.
Surprisingly enough you would think that this hybrid would be sitting way up there with a big price tag. It’s a hybrid. It’s an SUV. It’s a Lexus. $50,000? No. The Lexus RX 400h Hybrid starts at $39,000 and peaks in price at $46,000. And that depends on the model year, release specifications, and other bells and whistles that may have been already added.
If you want to look into a hybrid SUV that is not going to kill you on monthly payments but ease you gasoline burden without sacrificing luxury and quality, then the Lexus RX 400h Hybrid is the one for you. There is plenty of cargo space to haul things, great interior perks, and a lot of room. For the most part, this luxury SUV crossover is worth the money.

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Lexus RX 400h Hybrid Overview

Did you know that the Lexus was mass-produced by Toyota, the Japanese Motor Company that makes Corollas and Highlanders? Well they do and they come in second only to Ford Motor Company’s Escape Hybrid vehicle. The Lexus RX 400h Hybrid is the Lexus 350 with a newly designed electric motor. It has also been labeled as the very first luxury hybrid car in the world. That’s not saying that it was the first hybrid, just the first luxury hybrid. Lexus’ have a reputation of being affordable luxury cars and their SUVs do not slack in that department either.
The Lexus RX 400h Hybrid can definitely hold its own against the competition. J.D. Power and Associates rated it among one of four SUVs for being recognized as part of the Automotive Environmental Index in 2006. This index rates the top thirty vehicles that are environmentally friendly and green. They also recognize the fuel-efficient hybrid as one of the top luxury vehicles for its Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study in 2005. With so many people being concerned about emissions, damage to the ozone layer, and global warming, the Lexus RX 400h Hybrid is a great choice for a hybrid SUV.
This hybrid was actually rolled out in January 2004 at the North American International Auto Show a few months after the Ford Escape Hybrid was introduced. The Escape was so well received that it was a no-brainer that the Lexus RX 400h Hybrid would be received just as well. It was an immediate hit and the Escape suddenly found itself a competitor. Plus, Lexus is Toyota’s high end product so fans of the vehicle expected it to be elegant and appealing.
This SUV has been described as “handsome”. It’s been geared to attract executives who are environmentally savvy. It is a middle-sized luxury SUV hybrid that is sophisticated and definitely trying to get the attention of the upper class. The 2008 model of the Lexus RX 400h Hybrid has a few updates, namely chrome door handles, a new front grill, rear spoiler, and shiny 18 inch wheels. This is the first time Toyota and Lexus ever designed and developed a vehicle that was geared for a particular financial class.
This SUV was designed and developed to go up against other SUVs such as the BMW X3, the Hummer H3, Acura RDX, Land Rover LR3, Infiniti FX35/FX45, Mercury Mariner, Volvo XC90, and the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class. Talk about your serious competition. Fuel-efficient with its own attractive features, the Lexus RX 400h Hybrid is definitely one of the best on the consumer market.

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