The science is quite simple if you're familiar with hybrids: the petrol engine charges the batteries which allow the car to run without producing any emissions whatsoever. Its important to remember though that it isn't totally non-fossil fuel, people seem to think it is but it isn't, you're still using petrol its just that the negative affects happen elsewhere, they are offset. When you work on the petrol side of things, you can get about 30mpg out of it. Before you ask, I don't know how good the RX 400h is off-road, I've never tried it, I'd imagine probably not great.
The ride is really great, its really comfortable inside and when you blast the accelerator when you're feeling rebellious, you seem to always get a good burst of power no matter what engine you're running on. The build quality on the inside is also very good and its very big inside the cabin, plenty of space, headroom can be a little tight in the rear if you're tall.
Provided you play nice with the batteries and remain pretty much under 30mph, they will continue for a good while and then the petrol will kick in. They all stop when the car is stationary, saving fuel and conserving energy.
I think the hybrid idea works quite well in practice, it was actually an idea of my wife's to get something which was a hybrid. As I say, it works well and the rest of the RX 400h is as you would expect. It just gets incredibly boring telling people how it works every five minutes.
First of all I must say that unlike many fellow Lexus enthusiasts I am not impressed by how the RX looks. To me it looks a bit odd and I am reminded of a turtle or somesuch - not a good animal to associate with a car really. So I was hesitant to purchase a Lexus RX but after the test drive I knew I had to have it.
The RS 400h is swift and smooth and feels like something akin to a BMW in terms of driving experience. It is also very spacious and comfortable and like all modern Lexus models is packed with the most impressive and comprehensive range of equipment.
However, one major quibble is the inefficiency of the engine. It really struggles to get a decent mpg, which is a big deal for me. Also, the handling is really not as good as it should be. For city driving you might struggle to get round some of the tighter corners. Overall though, a great car.
It really is worth spending a few more pounds to get the quality, safety and comfort of this big luxury car, second hand prices can be lower than you think but best to buy from a main dealer to get all the Lexus cover.
Only one down fall of the RX 350 is the fuel consumption, the onboard computer reads 25mph on a good run but if you can live with that the never ending luxuries makes this a motor to die for