Hybrids have made their way into all categories of automobile, and one area where car buyers are starting to get some choice is in the luxury crossover segment. One player in the market who has been in this category for a while, though, is Lexus, with its RX 450h hybrid offering, and they are still going strong -- for good reason.

I recently spent some time in the 2015 version of this vehicle and I”m back with a full report.

LOOKS
When you open your door, you’ll see that the RX comes decked out in style, especially if you choose the luxury package. Bamboo accents highlight an interior that is among the best I’ve seen in a vehicle. You feel an air of luxury from the moment you step inside -- with quality materials throughout. Outside it’s not a groundbreaking design, but is still very attractive.

You get two rows (seating for five) and a roomy back row with plenty of leg room. No three row option is offered, but I’ve always found those to be tight squeezes anyway. No big loss.

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER
The big worry whenever you get into a hybrid vehicle is whether it will come off as underpowered. That definitely wasn’t the case in the RX 450h.

The power comes via a 3.5-liter, V6 engine. The engine works in cooperation with electric motors and a battery pack, providing an overall ride quality that is adequately powerful and very pleasing.You’re not saying to yourself, “Why is it taking so long to get moving?”; which is the case with some hybrids I have tested.
Total combined horsepower offered on the vehicle is 295, which is impressive in this segment.

Sound containment was stellar, as road noise was kept to a minimum inside the vehicle; and the ride is not bumpy at all.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY
The tech user interface in the Lexus lineup is one I kind of love or hate depending on the day. Sometimes it’s great, sometimes it’s finicky. Voice commands work well, for the most part, but maneuvering through the screens via the Lexus Remote Touch (a mouselike device) can be a bit of a bother and I’m not a fan of this setup in general.

Beginning with the 2015 model year, all RX 450h vehicles get a standard 7-inch screen and rearview camera, a welcome addition since a rear view camera can be quite helpful in the safety department.

You also get the Safety Connect system, which provides automatic Collision Notification, and Stolen Vehicle Location, an Emergency Assist Button and Emergency Roadside Assistance

You do have to pay extra for Navigation system as an option; as it is not standard.

Among optional safety features are:
-- Parking sensors
-- Adaptive cruise control system (with pre-collision warning and brake-priming) -- One of my favorite features on the safety side, slowing down your vehicle if cars swerve into your lane while you are cruising
-- Blind-spot monitoring system (another of my favorites; one of most helpful safety features you’ll find on modern vehicles)

MPG
This is a hybrid, and the numbers reflect that. On the all-wheel drive version, you’ll get 30 mpg city, 28 on the highway and 29 combined.
If you go for the front-wheel drive version, you get 32 city, 28 highway and 30 combined.
Not exactly Prius numbers, but this is a different kind of vehicle completely and the numbers stack up well against the competition.

PRICE
The base price on the RX450h I tested was just under $49,000, but by the time all the packages were added (including the Navigation System and the Luxury Package that includes the bamboo accents and moonroof), it ended up at $60,689 -- no small chunk of change, but comparable to or even less than what you’d pay for similar luxury crossovers from rivals around the globe.

BOTTOM LINE
The idea that a hybrid vehicle can be all of the things you get in the 2015 Lexus RX 450h is quite impressive, even years after it was initially introduced.
In addition to hybrid gas mileage, you get luxury design, respectable power and a strong overall package that is miles away from what most people thing of when they think of hybrids. Few others in the segment are comparable (though the Infiniti QX60 is among alternatives worth checking out).
Its price is the biggest factor that will limit its audience, but those who can afford it there is much to like here and it stacks up well against its luxury competition in the category.

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