The Lexus RX Hybrid luxury crossover was fully redesigned for 2023, and this year, Lexus ups the ante against rivals like the automaker's own NX and UX Hybrids, as well as the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and RAV4 Prime.

What’s New for the 2024 Lexus RX Hybrid

The Lexus RX lineup, including the RX Hybrid, was just fully redesigned for the 2023 model year, so it carries over mostly unchanged for 2024 except for one big update: The RX 450h+, the long-anticipated plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model, joins the RX Hybrid lineup. This model takes the RX Hybrid’s efficiency a notch further by adding all-electric range to the mix, but that efficiency comes at a cost.

Design

The Lexus RX Hybrid and RX PHEV look similar to the gas-only RX, with the big Lexus spindle grille announcing their arrival. Aggressive creases up front flow into sculpted sides, and a blacked-out rear pillar lends the ubiquitous crossover floating roof look, flowing into a raked rear end with sharp rear lighting.

Powertrain

The all-new RX 450h+ features the same plug-in hybrid powertrain as the Lexus NX. It’s a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine paired with a high-capacity lithium-ion battery. The EPA gives an estimated electric-only range of 37 miles, and Lexus estimates fuel efficiency of 83 MPGe (miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent) combined. A full-time all-wheel-drive (AWD) system comes standard. Under ideal conditions, the RX 450h+ can charge to full in about two and a half hours. The Lexus RX Hybrid’s base trims get a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor on each axle, for standard AWD, and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This powertrain is rated for 246 horsepower and 233 pound-feet of torque, and the EPA places its fuel economy at 37 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. The 500h F Sport Performance adds a turbocharger to the mix for 366 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque.

Interior

The 2024 Lexus RX Hybrid seats five passengers in a sophisticated, minimalist cabin, with comfortable power-adjustable front seats covered in synthetic leather upholstery. Options include heated and cooled front seats and a variety of upholstery options. The RX Hybrid has 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back row, and those seats fold down to open up more space, but it’s worth noting that they cannot fold completely flat.

Technology

The 2024 RX Hybrid comes standard with a 9.8-inch touch-screen infotainment system, which can be upgraded to a 14-inch touch screen. Other standard tech features include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, voice recognition, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Lexus offers wireless smartphone charging and a Mark Levinson surround-sound audio system.

Safety

The current generation of the Lexus RX lineup hasn’t yet been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), though the 2023-model-year RX earned the coveted Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety features include a reversing camera, forward-collision warning with forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep and lane-tracing assist, traffic-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitors.

Pricing

As of this writing, Lexus lists pricing for the 2024 RX Hybrid starting at $51,800 in base 350h AWD trim. The model lineup moves through Premium AWD, Premium+ AWD, Luxury AWD, and 500h F Sport Performance AWD trims before getting to the 450h+ Luxury AWD PHEV, which starts at $70,080. The 2024 Lexus RX Hybrid and RX Hybrid PHEV are on Lexus’s website right now, with anticipated delivery by the end of 2023.