Topic: Test Drive: 2013 Lexus RX 450h

[Autos_Editor]

Despite a new driver-selectable Sport driving mode, the fuel-efficient RX 450h luxury hybrid SUV is still boring to drive.

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[whaddaiknow]

Despite a new driver-selectable Sport driving mode, the fuel-efficient RX 450h luxury hybrid SUV is still boring to drive.

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In a midsized CUV, I'll take boring (if that means quiet and cushy) over bone jarring (but fast in corners) any day.
Lexus seems to get it, some reviewers leave disappointed the car actively refuses being thrashed at every corner.

[Vanstar]

There are loads of these on the streets here in Vancouver.  A client of mine  bought one a year ago. When I asked her why she didn't buy an ML350 like 90% (or seemingly!) of Chinese moms, she said she has the MB experience before and got tired of taking the car back to the dealer for warranty work. She is a real estate agent and thus doesn't have time to run back and forth to the stealership.

She likes the car very much as it suits her needs, shuttling clients, picking up kids, grocery trips. I have sat in the car and it has a very nice interior.

[redman]

As suspenseless as the RX 450h maybe, it does make for a pleasant ride around town with few dramas. Most drivers (like my neighbors) are typically 50's + women who want nothing more than a vehicle that is easy to drive as in raised, requires less time at the pumps, dependable and has some cache to boot. This vehicle fits the bill to a "T" and the sales figures prove it.
Admittingly to anemic for me but then again I'm not the target audience for this vehicle. I doubt many on an auto blog our but would not be surprised if it was their wives dream car.

[Fobroader]

My parents realtor had one of these, nice enough car and everything, but not for me. She loved it, apparently nice place to spend a lot of hours a day.

[SMMN]

I find the dash/center stack ugly and cheesy looking, in an SUV of this caliber...

[CanuckS2K]

I find the dash/center stack ugly and cheesy looking, in an SUV of this caliber...

You're not the only one, I think that center stack looks absolutely horrible!  From the pics, it certainly doesn't look like a top quality interior that Lexus is known for......especially this being $73k. 

[ArticSteve]

Something was missing: apparently, the 2012 model just wasn’t sporty enough.
 
Huh?
 
How else to explain Lexus’ decision to add a new driver-selectable Sport mode to the 2013 RX 450h?


All Toyota Hybrids, being the same system, have traditionally 2 computer settings, Eco and Normal.  The Lexus brands are now presenting 3.  They could have called them slow, medium and high, but they went with Eco, Normal and now Sport.  It's a nice third option to have, but defeats the purpose a bit.  However, with the money that Toyota is making on this vehicle obviously they aren't that concerned.

Nice that assembly will be coming to Cambridge.

Very nice that assembly is now

[rrocket]

My parents realtor had one of these, nice enough car and everything, but not for me. She loved it, apparently nice place to spend a lot of hours a day.

Yep..and that's the point of these...or most any luxury SUV for that matter.

[Northernridge]

A friend's wife drives an older white one and loves it for the reasons stated above. They've had zero problems with it.

They live near us and I think it's them whenever I see a white RX coming down the road...it almost never is. I pass so many white RXs around here now that I just wave to them all and occasionally it's our friend.

[Fobroader]

My parents realtor had one of these, nice enough car and everything, but not for me. She loved it, apparently nice place to spend a lot of hours a day.

Yep..and that's the point of these...or most any luxury SUV for that matter.

I guess I expect more from a $70k+ SUV.....

Sent from my Galaxy S3

[Northernridge]

My parents realtor had one of these, nice enough car and everything, but not for me. She loved it, apparently nice place to spend a lot of hours a day.

Yep..and that's the point of these...or most any luxury SUV for that matter.

I guess I expect more from a $70k+ SUV.....

Sent from my Galaxy S3

You can get a nice new RX350 for under 50 and they start at 45ish which is a stones throw from a loaded Ford Edge. I actually think they are pretty good value.

[Danno001]

Building them in Cambridge means the 6.1% off shore import tax will be nulled, which means the price decrease is actually a $700 price increase when you do the math.  Just sayin'

[OliverD]

Building them in Cambridge means the 6.1% off shore import tax will be nulled, which means the price decrease is actually a $700 price increase when you do the math.  Just sayin'

That import tax wouldn't be  nulled unless all the components are now built in North America. I suspect some of them are still imported though.

[Danno001]

Building them in Cambridge means the 6.1% off shore import tax will be nulled, which means the price decrease is actually a $700 price increase when you do the math.  Just sayin'

That import tax wouldn't be  nulled unless all the components are now built in North America. I suspect some of them are still imported though.

Quoted from online importing car FAQ website.

"2. IMPORT DUTY. An Import Duty may also be payable at the same time. Duty is only applicable to non-NAFTA vehicles and is calculated at 6.1%. regardless of their country of origin. NAFTA cars are vehicles that have been manufactured or have been assembled in Canada/US/Mexico with a minimum of 55% content. A "NAFTA" vehicle is exempt of ANY tariffs, duties or taxes when sold in Canada/US/Mexico. RULE OF THUMB: If in doubt, a "NAFTA" vehicle can be easily determined by looking at the VIN number. If the first character of the VIN is a NUMBER then it is DUTY FREE. If the first character is a letter, the vehicle is subject to a 6.1% Import Duty. "

I doubt that the 450h manufacturered in Canada will have a Letter as the first digit on their VIN.

[OliverD]

Building them in Cambridge means the 6.1% off shore import tax will be nulled, which means the price decrease is actually a $700 price increase when you do the math.  Just sayin'

That import tax wouldn't be  nulled unless all the components are now built in North America. I suspect some of them are still imported though.

Quoted from online importing car FAQ website.

"2. IMPORT DUTY. An Import Duty may also be payable at the same time. Duty is only applicable to non-NAFTA vehicles and is calculated at 6.1%. regardless of their country of origin. NAFTA cars are vehicles that have been manufactured or have been assembled in Canada/US/Mexico with a minimum of 55% content. A "NAFTA" vehicle is exempt of ANY tariffs, duties or taxes when sold in Canada/US/Mexico. RULE OF THUMB: If in doubt, a "NAFTA" vehicle can be easily determined by looking at the VIN number. If the first character of the VIN is a NUMBER then it is DUTY FREE. If the first character is a letter, the vehicle is subject to a 6.1% Import Duty. "

I doubt that the 450h manufacturered in Canada will have a Letter as the first digit on their VIN.

I'm not talking about duty on the car itself, I'm talking about duty on the components, if they need to be imported from Japan.

[ArticSteve]

All Toyota Hybrid systems are manufactured in Japan and probably will remain that way regardless of the yen.

No idea how the tariffs work.