This Was The First Mass-Produced Lexus Hybrid Vehicle

Lexus has been a big name in the hybrid industry, offering modern-day hybrids with a unique look and captivating performance. While Lexus currently designs and engineers some innovative hybrids that offer impressive fuel economies, sleek designs, and thrilling performance, the real question to ask is how an older Lexus hybrid looks in today’s age. If you’re new to Lexus, the hybrid industry, or even just the hybrid world, some heavy hitters keep this industry rolling. Like any product, keeping a used item like a car relevant isn’t an easy task. Lexus seems to have found a way around this because there are plenty of used Lexus hybrids that are still worth buying in 2025.

Sure, some models from the early 2010s or 2020s pull in great selling points, but what about one from 2006? That’s nearly 20 years old, and surely it’s been left to collect dust and brings nothing to the table. You would think that in most cases, but after all, it’s a Lexus, and their first mass-produced hybrid looks to still have some fight in it. Here’s the first mass-produced hybrid from Lexus and all it has to offer.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including KellyBlueBook and EPA.

The RX 400h Was Lexus’ First Mass-Produced Hybrid

Lexus introduced their first mass-produced hybrid, the RX 400h, in 2006. At the time, the RX platform was in its second generation, which started in 2004. At the time, there wasn’t much competition regarding hybrids; they were out there, but not like it is today. The first mass-produced hybrid in the States was the Honda Insight in 2000, and then the

Toyota Prius came shortly after
, entering America the same year. Toyota had already got a head start in the hybrid industry, and it didn’t take too long for their sister company, Lexus, to join the game with one of the earliest hybrid SUVs.

A Look At Lexus’s First Hybrid Powertrain

The automotive world has come a long way with hybrid engineering and technology, so you would think that a 19-year-old hybrid powertrain would be outdated. That’s not necessarily true for the 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid. This hybrid SUV is powered by a 3.3-liter V-6 hybrid engine, producing 268 horsepower and 212 pound-feet of torque. It came standard with an automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system. So, what determines if a hybrid powertrain is outdated or insufficient? The only honest answer would be its fuel economy. After all, hybrids were designed to offer better fuel economy than their non-electric counterparts. So, if it’s bad for its time and, more importantly, not efficient in 2025, then it’s safe to say that the 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid isn’t optimal anymore.

2006 Lexus RX Hybrid Performance Specifications

Can A 20-Year-Old Fuel Economy Compete In Today’s World?

Diving into the fuel economy of the 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid, the 2WD variant offers 28 MPG in the city, 25 MPG on the highway, and a combined fuel economy of 27 MPG. Okay, this isn’t the best fuel economy in the world, especially for a hybrid, but you can better understand it when comparing it to some of the newer gens.

For the up-to-date RX Hybrid, it offers a combined fuel economy of 36 MPG. Even models like the 2025 Kia Niro, a hybrid SUV, provide a combined fuel economy of 49 MPG. But it’s not as bad as you might think. The 2025 Hyundai Tucson FWD offers 28 MPG, which is just a hair more than a 2006 hybrid SUV. It’s worth noting that the Tucson Hybrid isn’t some SUV that no one wants or has no success with because Hyundai is another big name in the hybrid industry, and this SUV is quite popular. It’s up for debate, but the 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid doesn’t offer the best fuel economy, especially when you look at current models, but it doesn’t offer the worst either.

2006 Lexus RX Hybrid Fuel Economy

The First-Generation RX Hybrid Only Lasted Four Years

As stated earlier, the first Lexus hybrid entered an ongoing generation, meaning it wasn’t there initially. This is important because the first variation of the RX Hybrid only lasted four years until the third generation was available. Typically, car brands will debut significant changes to a new generation, unlike Lexus, which threw together a hybrid powertrain three years after its debut. While it looks like Lexus didn’t have a plan for their hybrid program, this wasn’t the case, with the LS Hybrid making its debut a year later in 2007. While this hybrid sedan may be more entertaining to explore, with it being the first car to house a full hybrid V8 powertrain, the 2006 RX Hybrid still has plenty to explore.

Outdated But Modest Standard Features

Some surprising features were available on the 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid, like Bluetooth wireless technology. While that may seem like a no-brainer today, there weren’t too many people or phones that were using this technology. A hands-free phone system was another option, which is another particular technology feature seen on a model from the early 2000s. The non-electric 2006 RX offered two or three rows, whereas the hybrid version only offered two rows. The last feature worth mentioning, which isn’t even on some of the newer hybrids today, was an energy monitor. This system tracked the level of power generated by the hybrid powertrain. Brands like BMW have added this same feature, but a smaller version located on the tachometer, but it is still a system that is sometimes used on modern hybrids.

The 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid Only Costs $5,000 Today

Lexus originally listed the 2006 RX Hybrid at around $50,000, and you probably could have guessed that it dropped significantly in price. Today, the 19-year-old hybrid SUV can be picked up for $5,039. In the last three years, its depreciated by $1,432 and has a current resale value of $4,187 and trade-in value of $2,418. There are better-used hybrids on the market, even some newer RX Hybrids, but this isn’t to get you to run out the door and find the closest 2006 RX Hybrid to buy. Of course, any car from 2006, minus those special sports cars, will lose more than 80 percent of its value.

How The 2006 Lexus RX 400h Helped Pave Lexus’s Path Into The Hybrid Industry

The 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid was a massive milestone for the Japanese manufacturer, paving a path for future hybrids to come. By 2025, Lexus sold more than one million hybrid vehicles worldwide, which can be partially credited to the RX Hybrid. While Lexus is known for many traits, such as luxury, convenience, and comfort, the 2006 RX Hybrid allowed Lexus to find another niche: designing and engineering hybrids.

Lexus Offers Seven Hybrid Models In Its Current Lineup

Like its sister brand, Toyota, Lexus offers a wide variety of hybrids. Currently, Lexus has seven hybrids in their lineup, with models like the LC Hybrid being on “sabbatical.” While there are various characteristics surrounding these hybrids, some of the more iconic ones are reliability, luxury, and diversity. Reliability and Lexus need no explanation, with this manufacturer sitting in the top two for car brands that offer the most reliable new and used cars for used and new cars. The other two areas are what make Lexus stand out within the hybrid industry. This field is as competitive as it can get, but Lexus is really the only car brand that’s producing luxury hybrids, and this doesn’t include plug-in hybrids, just HEVs. The second area is diversity, which branches off of luxury. Every car brand in the hybrid industry gives its own outlook on its vehicles with design and performance, but Lexus arguably brings in the most because no other brand can relate to or resemble them.

The RX Platform Is Still Running Strong

In the end, it comes down to opinions as to whether the 2006 Lexus RX Hybrid is still relevant or not. Either way, the main takeaway is that even if it’s not, it is still a huge success 19 years later, thanks to jump-starting the hybrid division in Lexus’s company. In 2025, not only are several hybrid platforms on Lexus’s lineup thriving, but the RX Hybrid still makes the headlines on a monthly basis. Whether the fuel economy or the bullet-proof reliability, the RX Hybrid is still shaping the hybrid world one step at a time.