The Hybrid SUV That Balances Luxury And Practicality Perfectly

Hybrid vehicles are a great way to own an electrified vehicle that helps you reduce fuel costs without much of a price difference from its pure internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts. That is why, even in the luxury segment, automakers are offering more and more hybrids, especially as the sales growth of electric vehicles (EVs), while still growing in 2025, is much slower than anticipated.

There is one brand, however, that has gone all-in on hybrid luxury SUVs as early as the mid-2000s. As a result, they were able to take advantage of the record hybrid vehicle sales that occurred in 2024. The brand that I’m talking about is none other than Lexus, which also makes a hybrid SUV that balances both practicality and luxury perfectly.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Lexus, Toyota, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, and other authoritative sources.

The Pioneering RX Is Popular For A Reason

If you want a hybrid SUV that balances luxury and practicality perfectly, then look no further than the 2025 Lexus RX. The RX was the first Lexus to be given the hybrid treatment back in 2005, and at the time, it was also the world’s first luxury hybrid vehicle. In 2024, Lexus sold 118,636 examples of the entire RX range. 42,876 of those are the RX Hybrid, while 4,248 of those are the RX plug-in hybrid. This makes the RX the brand’s overall bestseller, the brand’s best-selling hybrid, and the overall best-selling midsize luxury SUV in the United States.

Practicality In Spades

The 2025 Lexus RX is a two-row midsize SUV, which means that, thanks to the lack of a third row, there’s a generous amount of space for all occupants. The front-wheel-drive (FWD) layout also helps in giving the RX better interior packaging than its two-row midsize luxury SUV rivals, as you’ll see in the numbers below. Sure, while the RX may be a midsize luxury SUV, it’s not as big as offerings with a third row, such as the Audi Q7, Acura MDX, or Volvo XC90. Instead, it mostly competes directly with vehicles like the

BMW X5
(which is the second-best-selling midsize luxury SUV) and the Mercedes-Benz GLE.

However, due to the “in-between” positioning of the RX in the size class spectrum, this vehicle also doesn’t offer the best cargo space among other two-row midsize luxury SUVs. The dramatically sloping roofline has limited the amount of cargo available, but it’s still pretty good nonetheless. If you want a three-row crossover SUV from Lexus, that’s where the TX comes in, and it’s bigger in every dimension than the Audi Q7 or Volvo XC90 despite having a lower starting price.

Well-Priced And Reliable, Too

But, perhaps the Lexus RX’s biggest ace is its price tag. That’s because, price-wise, the 2025 Lexus RX is in line with compact German luxury SUVs instead of being priced along its segment. A new Mercedes-Benz GLC starts at $49,250, while the new-generation BMW X3, which just hit the market starts at $49,950. The RX starts at $50,325, while the hybrid version begins at $52,475. This is despite the RX being in a higher size category, but there’s a reason for how Lexus achieved this.

You see, the Lexus RX doesn’t use a platform that came from a luxury car. Instead, it adopted the Toyota New Global Architecture platform, specifically TNGA-K for midsize applications, as opposed to brands like BMW or Mercedes which have the luxury of not working with a mainstream brand. That’s both a pro and a con, because, driving dynamics-wise, the Germans feel a bit more sophisticated to drive. However, by using a Toyota platform, as well as its drivetrains, the RX has unparalleled reliability, durability, and ease of maintenance, mostly thanks to the parts’ commonality with a humble Toyota.

The Luxurious Appointments That A Lexus RX Offers

Apart from its practicality and excellent pricing, the luxury factor is, of course, just as important for this vehicle. It is a Lexus, after all, so you’ll be seeking more than just efficient drivetrains and a spacious passenger area.

Distinct Styling That’s Seen Everywhere

Make no mistake, the 2025 Lexus RX in its current form looks distinct and stylish. The front end is characterized by the brand’s signature Spindle Grille, which has now evolved into the Spindle Body in order for the RX to blend well with the electrified era and their lack of grilles. The side profile maintains the RX’s signature steeply-raked look, along with its characteristic floating roofline. Towards the back, you’ll see a full-width LED taillight that also looks distinct. Basically, for this current RX, everything has been smoothened out from the previous generation’s hodgepodge of aggressive cuts and creases.

However, while we praise its cleaner and distinctly RX styling, its sheer popularity is also its downfall. No matter how stylish your car is, it’ll be difficult to stand out if they’re going to be everywhere, especially in dense business districts or high-end suburban areas. Perhaps going for an F Sport or the range-topping RX 500h F Sport Performance will help you stand out even more.

A Well-Crafted Interior With More Standard Features

Now that we’ve talked about the interior space, let’s now talk about the way the interior looks. A gentle press on the electronic door handles will reveal an interior that’s filled with plush materials coupled with impeccable build quality. The panel gaps are minimal, while the door thud and even how solid the cabin is feels distinctly Lexus. For the 2025 model year, Lexus introduced a slew of upgrades, the chief of which is a new 12.3-inch fully-digital gauge cluster (as shown from a Lexus TX interior) that’s now being offered as standard on all variants.

Depending on which variant you choose though, you’ll either get NuLuxe synthetic leather or genuine leather upholstery, a 9.8- or 14-inch Lexus Interface infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, or a standard or premium Mark Levinson surround sound system. There are also various color and material selections to choose from on higher trims, so you can make the Lexus RX truly yours and stand out from the crowd.

Three Distinct RX Hybrid Flavors

Now, there are three ways to go with the 2025 Lexus RX hybrid. This is perhaps key to its popularity, as it gives buyers a broad choice to meet various electrified vehicle needs.

Balance Or Performance

If you don’t want to think about charging and simply want to live your motoring life as normally as possible, then the RX 350h or RX 500h F Sport Performance (as shown) are your picks. Electronic AWD is standard for all RX hybrids, and in the case of the RX 350h, it uses a familiar 2.5-liter four-cylinder, along with electric motors for the front and rear wheels, which deliver a system output of 246 horsepower. This efficient hybrid drivetrain is then hooked up to a planetary gear-type e-CVT. This is the same powertrain you’ll find in the Toyota RAV4 and even the Lexus NX 350h. It’s a balanced powertrain if you prioritize efficiency and usability.

However, performance junkies will probably look towards the RX 500h F Sport Performance. Unlike the RX 350h, which is a series-parallel hybrid with an e-CVT, the RX 500h F Sport Performance (yeah, that’s a mouthful) is a performance-oriented parallel hybrid. It combines a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, along with electric motors in the same driveshaft as the engine and a separate electric motor for each rear wheel. This is why its electronic AWD is marketed as Direct4, enabling truly independent power distribution in each rear wheel. Matching those capabilities is an impressive power output of 366 horsepower, and standard Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS).

A Taste Of The EV Life

Finally, if you want to experience what owning and driving an EV is like, then look no further than the RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid. This features the same 2.5-liter series-parallel hybrid system found in the RX 350h but with more powerful electric motors and bigger batteries. As a result, its system output is now at 304 horsepower, and it has a pure electric range of 37 miles out of its 18.1 kWh lithium-ion battery. Charging the said battery takes 2.5 hours when taking advantage of the 6.6 kW in AC that the RX 450h+ can take.

2025 Lexus RX Specifications