The first luxury hybrid car available, the Lexus RX 400h shows its age with subpar cabin tech. But that hybrid drivetrain still delivers excellent fuel economy and low emissions.
The best part of the RX 400h is its hybrid power train. In this all-wheel-drive model, the 3.3-liter V-6 engine works with electric motors powering the front and rear wheels.
The cabin design of the RX 400h is a little space-age and a little traditional. Soft plastics and brushed metal cover some surfaces, while optional leather and wood cover others.
As this is a hybrid, the tachometer gets replaced by a charge gauge, showing when electricity is being drawn from the battery and when it is being recharged.
As with all Toyota and Lexus hybrids, the RX 400h uses a continuously variable transmission. It gives less driving excitement, but much more smoothness to the experience.
There is a radio display on the center stack, below the LCD. Most of its information is duplicated on the LCD--it is only present as a legacy for vehicles without the navigation option.
