Lexus RX400h hybrid testimonials
On Lexus RX400h, my car, with 91 octane, 24.6 in city, using 87 octane 21.9 in city. Almost happy with Lexus, very pleased with Prius.W. K.
Palm Desert, CA
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I own the Lexus Hybrid & I am disappointed with the gas mileage. The EPA says 32 mpg Highway. & 28 city. I was told by the dealer that to expect about 30 highway. I average 24 MPG overall. If I just do highway I get about 21 MPG. The Boston Globe did a review on the Lexus & reached the same results. Now the dealer says that this is a vehicle for city driving. This auto is not worth the extra $10,000 over the 330. I am disappointed that Lexus still stands by the EPA estimate. Now Lexus is telling the dealers that the car will get better gas mileage after 15,000 miles. This is a rip-off to the consumers .
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2006 LEXUS RX400h-----about 25 mpg but less in the cold weather-- mostly stop and go suburban driving
RICK in ILLINOIS
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Labels: Hybrid Vehicles, Lexus hybrid, prius
posted by Dahcredyns at
2:38 PM
100 Comments:
I just bought a Lexis 400h, and I'm getting exactly what the official estimated mileage said I should get. The first day I drove to work (17 miles, including both stop and go and some highway driving), I got almost 34 mpg; now I am averaging about 31-32 for that trip. On a long (3 hour) trip -- all highway through very hilly country, we got about 27 mpg. I'm loving it.
We got our 400H in November of 05 and have just over 5000 miles... We've been averaging right around 24 city and highway. Not what we expected but better than the RX330. Was it worth 10K more? Probably not, seems like $10K in gas money would buy alot of miles. Overall, we are dissappointed with the mileage and Lexus' skirting the real truth about mileage.
We have owned the 400h for > 1 year and have been in the less than satisfied club on quoted gas mileage (~ 23MPG average). We believe that the mileage has been mis-represented by Lexus, are the emission numbers exaggerated also? We wrote a letter to their VP Bob Carter hoping for a response directly from someone in Lexus who cared about the customer experience, pawned off on someone who was quoting the "10 ways to improve mileage". All I can say is this is our last Lexus, they don't care about their customers, even those who paid a $10K premium.
mlp,
We also started out with higher mileage but it dropped quickly. Check back in at about 5K and let everyone know what your status is.
Recently bought Lexus 400h. For the first 3000 miles I got around 24 mpg combined city and highway driving. Now have 6K miles on the car and getting 20-21 mpg in town, probably due to colder weather. VERY disappointed since the gas version gets 19 mpg in town. It is advertised as a vehicle better for city driving, but when we asked the dealer about the bad gas mileage, we were told it is intended for trips at least 15-20 miles - not exactly most city driving. Previously had a Yukon XL that got exactly the mileage printed on the original sticker even after 85K miles. I would take my Yukon back tomorrow if I hadn't just wasted the extra money on this hybrid. Yes, the Lexus is comfortable, but so was my Yukon.
I have leased the 400H since April of 2005 (over two years). Whereas I am disappointed in the mileage (I get about 27 on the highway and about 24 in town, overall average 25.5) I keep hoping that Toyota will get smart and convert production of this car into a plugin hybrid! From my perspective, one of the main problems with the 400H is that Toyota gave too much consideration to power and too little to efficiency. I don't need to compete with a high performance sports car for 0-60 acceleration.
We started leasing a new 400h in February 2007. So far we've driven about 4000 miles. Oddly we are getting much much better gas milege on the highway (about 28mpg) than in the city (about 21mpg). I noticed the battery is often only about 1/2 charged and sometimes dips below to 2 or 3 bars. Could this be the reason for the counterintuitive fuel efficiency?? Anyone have any ideas? Please comment.
We purchased our cert. pre-owned 2006 400h about a month ago with over 15k miles on it. I had a gas guzzling suburban before that which was loaded and very nice. Yes, my new 400h has all the whistles and bells but I am VERY disappointed in the 23 mpg I am getting as apposed to the 30/35 I was quoted at the dealership and found when I did my research. I wish I had seen this website first. I love my new Hybrid but I would not have spent all the money if I had known. We still need a SUV's so the Hybrid Camry wasn't really an option but I'm starting to reconsider!!! Lexis should be ashamed for misleading their customers so bad on this one!!!! We are repeat customers with Lexis and are very disappointed that we were misled on this one!!!!
I am getting 16 MPG in town and 21 HWY since we bought this RX400H 2 years ago. It's supposed to do 31. We have been given the big run around; including test drive with technician gave no better result. still 16 MPG. They won't admit the cas is a lemon; I am being dismissed - untill I sue them. I started certified mail.
I have a 2006 with about 28,000 miles on it. I am also disappointed with the actual gas mileage. I average about 23-24 mpg city and suburbs, and about 25-26 mpg highway. The car is rarely operating with just the electric motors - primarily when I am at a full stop. The tires seem to make a difference. I changed from the factory Good Year tires (they wore out) at 17,000 mi to Michelin tires. The mileage was slightly better with the GY tires. Also, the mileage improves if you inflate the Michelin tires about 5 PSI higher than the rating in the door namepleate. I did this and so did the dealer at service intervals. Also, I got the virtually the sam MPGs using premium or regular gas. Does anyone else have any similar expericnces with tire brands or PSI?
I leased my 2006 400h in June 2005. Now have about 28k miles. We used premium fuel for the first 12k miles, then reluctantly decided to switch to regular gas. Saved about 20 cents per gallon. Mileage dropped by about 2 mpg. Now getting about 25-26 on highway only (speeds of 65 to 80 mph). About 21-24 in town with some freeway.
After 4 months getting 28-30 mpg in a mix of city and highway driving at altitude (6000 feet). Performance and quality are superb, mileage is consistent with dealership representation. Why not offer the driver the option of more low speed and low speed acceleration on battery and thus enhance fuel economy for those not looking for high (acceleration) performance? The driver could just flip a switch to choose or for the even more geeky luxury nuts among us go into the screen and choose a number of parameters to tune to individual preference? Switch from electric to gas at 5, 10 or 15 mph, permit cruise control to drift down 2, 5 or 10 mph on sustained uphill rather than disengaging.
We bought a 2006 Lexis 400h last month that had 12,000 miles on it. During a 7 hour trip on the interstate in Ga. and Fla.(no hills)we got 24-26 mpg. Around town we've been getting 25-27. Only premium fuel has been used. We had hoped for mileage promised by the dealership: 30-31 mpg city.
We started leasing our 2007 RX400H in August. We were getting about 28 mpg on the highway and I hit 33 mgp one one tank of gas in town. Then we took it to the mountains for a drive. On the way back down the mountain the battery reach 100% and I have never been able to get greater that 21 MPG since. I think something happened when the system sensed 100% since the engine seems to now run most of the time. The dealer gave me 10 tips for getting better mileage but one tip says to press lightly on the gas and you should be able to get to about 20 mph before the engine will start. I can't go past 5 mph before the engine will engage. I am extremely disappointed in the fuel efficiency.
We started leasing our 2007 RX400H in August. We were getting about 28 mpg on the highway and I hit 33 mgp one one tank of gas in town. Then we took it to the mountains for a drive. On the way back down the mountain the battery reach 100% and I have never been able to get greater that 21 MPG since. I think something happened when the system sensed 100% since the engine seems to now run most of the time. The dealer gave me 10 tips for getting better mileage but one tip says to press lightly on the gas and you should be able to get to about 20 mph before the engine will start. I can't go past 5 mph before the engine will engage. I am extremely disappointed in the fuel efficiency.
Live in Michigan. Took delivery of a 2008 400h last October from dealer in Mishawaka, IN. Excellent machine -- except for bouncy ride and cold draft in right side passenger seat. Mileage a long way from what was claimed in 2007 literature -- but just about exactly what 2008 literature and sticker claimed. Agree with others who say dealer attempted to hide lower mileage expectations during sale. Is it worth 10K$ more than gas-only model? Probably not -- but -- it is much cleaner -- and that counts for something.
I bought a used 2007 400h a little over a month ago. I replaced a 2001 RX300 which got 20-21mpg on the highway, 17-18 city. My first tank was regular gas and I got a little over 22mpg combined city/highway. The next 2 fill ups were with high test and the average mpg was 24.6. The last few fill ups I used Chevron high test and averaged 26.3mpg. The mpg is my own calculations using # of miles divided by # of gallons. I have found that the computer mpg is well over 1 mpg more, misleading as far as I am concerned. The mpg's may not be as advertised but are better than most cars in its class. Was the car worth the higher price? For me helping the environment is a price that has to be paid.
More people should learn about electric vehicles as a solution. "Zero emissions" is something that's going to be required by law one day (you know it will). Making the decision to go electric is far cheaper anyway, like 10 cents on the dollar vs. gas. (source: zapworld.com)
My Lexus Rx 400h is a disappointment in several areas which I will list and then discuss. Anyone with questions is welcome to contact me including. Lexus does not show the same interest in their customer (feedback) as the did in the early or even late 90's. In fact they have never contacted me when asked to do so in the customer survey they sent to us after purchase. 1. mileage 2. bluetooth 3. interior.
• Interior color is (supossed to be) Black, however some panels are dark blue, others, brown/black. They do not match. The dash (passenger side) shows the X where the front airbag is hidden. This is not acceptable in a car that Lexus call a "Luxury" auto.
• Bluetooth is a world of headaches. Some of the many issues: Does not pair up seamlessly with phones Lexus recommended. When I am on the phone (bluetooth) and a call comes in I loose the first call and the second call. This does not happen with the phone itself-only when in the car using the bluetooth. The microphone is placed in a poor spot. The air conditioning (or heater) creates noises across the mic creating problems with voice quality (background noise). This placement also makes it difficult to use the voice recognition system to control the radio, heat, air, or phone handsfree. I can go on but what is the point. Lexus saved money (very little actually) at the cost of customer satisfaction and utility. By the way the dealers says "we didn't design the car we just sell them" . Is that what a customer wants to hear? I think not. We got talked into the technology which the dealer said was superior to anything the Germans or Americans have in their cars - NOT SO, my friends. A third party system is far superior however Lexus hasn't offered to pay the cost and designed their system so a third party system can not be integrated.
* Similar complaints on the Navigation. Third party units are far superior. Save your money and aggravation-have Nav and Bluetooth installed aftermarket- less expensive and better quality.
• gas mileage represented by dealer is a farce. The purpose of electric is and was to provide power around town, save gas, less noise, and less emissions (a selling point). Lexus designed the computer to switch from electric to gas at a very low speed. Again to save the battery which cost more for them to replace under warranty. Essentially, you cannot use electric around town unless you want to piss off every other driver on the road behind you. The electric motor gives way to the gas engine between 12 to 15 mph. then you are taxing parts which are inexpensive to warranty (gas engine parts are relatively inexpensive for the manufacturer). Frankly I see this as a bridge gap not a solution to dependency on mid eastern oil which will continue to increase in price and create pollution all over the world.
Overall the RX 400h is too expensive, doesn't live up to the promise of the manufacture or the dealer, and is not as luxurious as other models in the Lexus lineup. Stick with the Prius for gas savings. As for an SUV the Lexus Rx is not ready for prime time.
hrvster@gmail.com
My Lexus Rx 400h is a disappointment in several areas which I will list and then discuss. Anyone with questions is welcome to contact me including. Lexus does not show the same interest in their customer (feedback) as the did in the early or even late 90's. In fact they have never contacted me when asked to do so in the customer survey they sent to us after purchase. 1. mileage 2. bluetooth 3. interior.
• Interior color is (supossed to be) Black, however some panels are dark blue, others, brown/black. They do not match. The dash (passenger side) shows the X where the front airbag is hidden. This is not acceptable in a car that Lexus call a "Luxury" auto.
• Bluetooth is a world of headaches. Some of the many issues: Does not pair up seamlessly with phones Lexus recommended. When I am on the phone (bluetooth) and a call comes in I loose the first call and the second call. This does not happen with the phone itself-only when in the car using the bluetooth. The microphone is placed in a poor spot. The air conditioning (or heater) creates noises across the mic creating problems with voice quality (background noise). This placement also makes it difficult to use the voice recognition system to control the radio, heat, air, or phone handsfree. I can go on but what is the point. Lexus saved money (very little actually) at the cost of customer satisfaction and utility. By the way the dealers says "we didn't design the car we just sell them" . Is that what a customer wants to hear? I think not. We got talked into the technology which the dealer said was superior to anything the Germans or Americans have in their cars - NOT SO, my friends. A third party system is far superior however Lexus hasn't offered to pay the cost and designed their system so a third party system can not be integrated.
* Similar complaints on the Navigation. Third party units are far superior. Save your money and aggravation-have Nav and Bluetooth installed aftermarket- less expensive and better quality.
• gas mileage represented by dealer is a farce. The purpose of electric is and was to provide power around town, save gas, less noise, and less emissions (a selling point). Lexus designed the computer to switch from electric to gas at a very low speed. Again to save the battery which cost more for them to replace under warranty. Essentially, you cannot use electric around town unless you want to piss off every other driver on the road behind you. The electric motor gives way to the gas engine between 12 to 15 mph. then you are taxing parts which are inexpensive to warranty (gas engine parts are relatively inexpensive for the manufacturer). Frankly I see this as a bridge gap not a solution to dependency on mid eastern oil which will continue to increase in price and create pollution all over the world.
Overall the RX 400h is too expensive, doesn't live up to the promise of the manufacture or the dealer, and is not as luxurious as other models in the Lexus lineup. Stick with the Prius for gas savings. As for an SUV the Lexus Rx is not ready for prime time.
I'm not sure what to believe anymore. I purchased my Rx400h and at first was extremely impressed. Once i learned how to drive my new toy like a geriatric grandma i found i would get between 26.5 - 27.5 mpg highway and roughly 29mpg in the city. I'm not one to whine about a few mpgs here or there so this seemed like a fair deal to me. However, low and behold, now i live in San Diego. Does the gas suck here or something? My alleged, efficient city driving luxury hybrid just doesn't get it done. I'm averaging 23 - 24 (25 at best)mpg per full tank. Most of that is city driving and apparently San Diego's perfect 70 degree weather falls under the optimal driving conditions category. Go figure? Here's the true hilarity, before i moved here i lived in Colorado. The aforementioned MPG reading were coming from a car brutally climbing thousands of feet-sometimes in negative temps!! I'm not sure if CA's gas sucks because of some effort to decrease emissions, or that they love pinching our pockets with their quarterly revenue margins, but i'm no longer impressed...
We have owned Lexus RX400h since 2005. Our gas mileage has been between 21-22MPG. This is using 87 Octane Gas.
We are very disappointed. We paid $5,000 extra and bought this hybrid with the expectation of around 30MPG.
I drive through the mountains as well as Highway miles every day.
I purchased my first Lexus 1 1/2 years ago. A 2007 400h fully loaded with every bell and whistle available. It's comfortable, roomy, quiet, love the Mark Levinson stereo, etc... I too was told that the mileage would be far better than it has proven to be. I have about 24,000 miles and seem to be stuck at 24.6 miles per gallon. It's far better than the Mercedes I had, but I was lead to believe I would get more like 30-32 on the highway and 35-38 in the city. I do tons of city driving so this car seemed to mqke the most sense. So, while I am loving my car, I am very disappointed with mileage. I have even spoken with non hybrid Lexus SUV owners and unless they are fibbing to me, some of them appear to be getting better mileage than I am getting. It's frustrating and embarrassing both. I feel like a dope with I tell people about my mileage. The one saving grace is that I purchased my car through a broker who was able to save me about $4000 over what the local dealership was willing to do. I gave them a chance, but they would not budge on price. So, I am thankful that I did not pay full price and was at least able to save a little. As long as I don't think too much about the mileage, I have to say I LOVE my car.
I purchased my first Lexus 1 1/2 years ago. A 2007 400h fully loaded with every bell and whistle available. It's comfortable, roomy, quiet, love the Mark Levinson stereo, etc... I too was told that the mileage would be far better than it has proven to be. I have about 24,000 miles and seem to be stuck at 24.6 miles per gallon. It's far better than the Mercedes I had, but I was lead to believe I would get more like 30-32 on the highway and 35-38 in the city. I do tons of city driving so this car seemed to mqke the most sense. So, while I am loving my car, I am very disappointed with mileage. I have even spoken with non hybrid Lexus SUV owners and unless they are fibbing to me, some of them appear to be getting better mileage than I am getting. It's frustrating and embarrassing both. I feel like a dope with I tell people about my mileage. The one saving grace is that I purchased my car through a broker who was able to save me about $4000 over what the local dealership was willing to do. I gave them a chance, but they would not budge on price. So, I am thankful that I did not pay full price and was at least able to save a little. As long as I don't think too much about the mileage, I have to say I LOVE my car.
I own a Lexus 400h with over 20,000 miles. The car registers about 25.5 mpg. It is disappointing that I have paid a premium for a hybrid and do not get better mileage. My car seems to kick on the gas engine very soon after turning it on. It would seem that there is a better way to do this. There are plug in conversions out there for the Prius but not sure about the 400h. The high end Lexus hybrid is a joke in mpg. Due to the new way ratings have to be made, it gets less mpg than the prior year model. Not worth the money (30k+)
I don't have an RX400h, but do have an RX330 (2004) and here are some numbers for comparison: suburban type driving with a little city thrown in : 17.5 mpg. Mighway with cruise tuned in at 65 mph and a small amount of true city thrown in (maybe 3-5%): 27 mpg.
That is not bad at all for such a tall lump. Sounds to me like the hybrid buys you 5-7 mpg city improvement and nothing in the way of highway improvement.
You are so right. The extra money for a hybrid 400h buys you very little in the way of gas mileage (city driving). Nothing close to the saleman's pitch. If you have the money to throw away and need badly to make a statement, the 400h is for you. Lexus quickly ran from customer complaints but stopped the dealers from even suggesting window sticker of 33 city and 28 hwy was realistic. Lexus of Cerritos said "the electric motor is designed for most city driving and thats why you will get around 30 mpg". 20 mpg is a far cry from 30mpg. The truth is Lexus designed the gas engine to kick in at a very low speed to save them from replacing batteries. You can't possibly get near the salesmans (lies) figure. Same with the "automatic parking feature on the Lexus sedan. You need more than 10 feet in front and 10 in back to use this feature. If you have that much room (40 ft.)to park (tell me what city you live in) you don't need the (optional) feature to park for you.
We bought a 2006 Lexus hybrid in December of 2005. Since then we've had to have the tires changed 4 times and now at 50,000, the tires are completely bald. The air conditioning died today for no reason (and it is 106 degrees outside) and the customer service department is useless. Mileage is horrible as well. I cannot wait to get rid of it!
The complaints with premature tire wear on Lexis 400h are way too significant for the dealers to simply advise their customers that it is their fault due to the way that they drive. I have seen numerous complaints on several websites like the one from hanssie. In my case the dealer agreed to pay for two of the "required" new tires at 15,000 miles. Now the replacement Michelins are wearing quickly at 35,000 miles and all of the rotations plus optional alignments have been done as required at the proper intervals.
I am able to break 40mpg in the 400h without breaking a sweat. That is doing the speed limit (or faster) and using the highway. If you have the slightest idea of how to drive a car for fuel economy, then getting low to mid 30 figures should be no problem at all.
dear anonymous,
I would hide as well if my Lexus got 40mpg. Since it is an anomaly, Lexus may come take it away in the still of the night. As owners have said on this site and so many others, 40mpg is not available. It is the result of creative thinking or a personal interest to counter the complaints from so many owners who are disappointed in their mileage. Many of us were simply lied to by the salesman (what a surprise). Your comment that others don't know how to drive for economy is a cheap shot at other owners (if in fact you are an owner). Your post provides nothing of value to owners or potential buyers. Not even Lexus (engineers or advertising) have dared to suggest 40mpg. How about putting your money where your mouth is. I've got $1000 that says you can't average 40 mpg on one tank of gas, in city driving or combined highway and city in my 400h. Here's where the rubber meets the road. hrvster@gmail.com
and if the bet is taken, please make sure to update us on the results. in fact if you can film it, i'll publish the video.
I got my RX400H a year ago and was initially disappointed - low 20's. Then I switched to high octane gas and I began keeping my nav screen on the engine display so I always know what my realtime MPG is. On top of that, I do not use my AC, no matter how hot it is. I avg 30 mpg - 34 hgwy and 27 city. Very happy as it is double what I was getting with my BMW X5.
I have both a Lexus 400h and a Prius. I bought these for fuel efficiency and the clean air aspects. I resent Lexus' claim that their Hybrid owners just want performance. LEXUS should offer 400h owners the option of having a bit less performance and more fuel efficiency and I bet more than 80% would take the fuel efficiency. Lexus, please listen to your customers and provide a software update to allow owners the choice.
To Anonymous:
Yes, I believe you can get 40 MPG in a Lexus 400h if you are doing one or more of the following:
- Driving ONLY Downhill.
- Driving under 15 MPH so the gas engine does not start up.
- Driving with a 100 MPH Tail wind.
- Driving with your Car on the back of a Flat Bed Truck.
- Driving you Car on the Auto Train.
Enjoy your fantasy!
I have an RX 400H and have had it for 2.5 years now, the best we have ever averaged in city and highway is between 24.5 and 26. We also have had our Michelin tires worn out at 25,000 miles which I thought was disgusting, we took it somewhere other that the dealer to get replaced with Goodyears, our traction and quietness of the ride has improved with the Goodyears, the one thing that also makes me wonder is why these would wear out with all the rotations and alingments that were supposed to be done by the dealer, so far we have only had the dealer do any maintenance until the tires wore out. I just wonder whether the dealers are really doing what they say when they service these or is there a major issue with there alignmets and maybe some recalls should be in order.
Toyota has been working with tire manufacturers to develop low resistance tires for better fuel economy, unfortunately, these tires wear out rather quickly, and the extra weight of the NiMH battery seems to be the major culprit.
still, my experience indicates that some dealerships truly aren't trustworthy. considering that most private mechanics aren't hybrid certified, this is alarming. i'm hoping to start a dealer ranking feature to help consumers find trustworthy dealer servicing departments soon. stay tuned.
40mpg in Japan? I don't suspect they would bother with any big differences and with modern Japanese code they aren't beating us there. Is it simply the better fuel in Japan. Double the gas mileage is seriously worth it. However, our fools in DC seem bend on oil built corn ethanol that is corrosive. HOw about ecofarming, using grass clipping fertilizer and then cracking the ethanol back down to 100 octane instead of just mixing it so we can all use it.
I have a 2007 Lexus RX400h that we bought new. Gas milage was great (about 25 or more miles in the city). My husband had an accident in it that damaged the right front axle. After that, the mileage dropped to 22 miles. I'm getting almost 75 miles less per tank now than before the accident. We never got the 31 miles in the city that we were told, but we were close.
"Waaah, I drive like a speeding idiot and only get 23mpg". These same dopes never checked their mpg in the rx350mpg which claims 19 but only gets 15.5 when driven the way they drive. Duah. Even my lead footed spouse easily gets 26.5mpg and I get in the 30's with the AWD version. NO dummies, you can't drive like Andy Granitelli and get 31.5mpg but jack up the tire pressures into the high 40lbs range, buy an electric block heater, combine all those wastefull short trips into one trip so that the engine doesn't have to keep warming up and guess what? Viola.
I own a 2007 RX400H and at 5000 miles I take it in to be serviced at Larry H Miller, Lexus, Murray Ut,- oil change, tire rotations, alignments, etc. Today was the 25000 mile service. Received a phone call from the service department stating one of my tires was bald and they could see cables. They wanted me to replace all for tires for the tune of $1100, that included the alignment and balance. I asked why my tires would go bad at such low mileage and I was informed and I quote, that Lexus, Toyota and even Honda buy all there tires in bulk at discounted rates, so all our shiny new cars get an inferior tire.I called Michelin, they said don't allow them to change the tires and take my car to an authorized Michelin dealer. It makes no sense to me that if they've been doing what they say they've been doing at the dealership, why do I have wear on only one tire? I've had no problems, no sensor warnings, nothing. Anyone else?
I'm reading this blog and surprised at how many people believe what ANY car manufacturer posts regarding gas mileage - they ALL over estimate.
Check fueleconomy.gov for a true reading. My mileage is a bit better than what's listed but I watch how I drive.
I LOVE my Lexus 400h, it's been a great car. I'm just now looking for new tires - I have 56,000 miles on 3 out of 4 of these tires. So I have no complaints about the tires, either.
I highly recommend this car - it's just the best.
darleen-
i hear what you are saying.
part of the problem is that before hybrids, most people really had no idea of what their fuel economy was.
in the real world most people are not achieving EPA rankings.
and, because the way you drive, the conditions you regularly drive in, the type of fuel, tires, etc can so greatly affect fuel economy makes it that much more difficult.
Darleen you are so right. Manufactures always embroider the truth. Sadley It has become an accepted manner of doing business. Most Hybrid owners have decided that this vehicle is a statement as well as an action against dependence on foreign oil.
Those making that statement do take the number seriously because it has actual bearing on the amount of GOOD selecting this vehicle can actually bring to our planet and people. So unlike other estimates for mileage which may be overstated by 10%, a small change in the Hybrid number could represent a significant percentage of failure. Hybrid numbers need to be closer to reality. A slight variance may be tolerated but the complaints cite a significant decrease as much as 45%. Thats unacceptable. Playing it that loose is akin to deliberate misrepresentation and deception.
J Harvey -
Those numbers on the sticker are developed by the EPA. So, why are you blaming manufacturers?
Why does one person achieve 43 mpg in Prius and another 60 mpg?
Different driving conditions and different driving styles. Hypermilers have proven over and over that they can easily achieve better fuel economy than most hybrid drivers.
Finally, the variance in hybrids is largely due to batteries.
The Chevy Volt, for instance, will achieve 40 miles on the EPA's city cycle. GM, just like Toyota and Lexus, use the criteria created by the government to determine fuel economy.
Yet, experts at Argonne for instance, will tell you that the Volt might achieve 40 miles of pure electricity on the city cycle, but in the real world, with heavy use AC use and aggressive driving, it might only achieve 15 miles of range. Then again, others might achieve 45 miles of range.
That's reality. And, if you're gonna blame someone. Blame the government. Regardless, fuel economy will never be a perfect science unless every body drives exactly the same in exactly the same conditions.
My 2006 Lexus hybrid gets only 21.5 in the city and 25-27 on the road, depending on terrain. I only have about 13,000+ miles on it so hope the mileage improves later as promised. But I like the van and intend to keep it until the battery fails.
All the comments on this board appear to be about gas mileage and tire wear. I have a 2006 RX400h and really don't know the mileage I get. However this week the on the freeway the gas engine failed to engage and I was left running on the electrical system which didn't last long. The master warning lite came on which says"check hrbrid system". The manual says don't run with this warning...shut it down and have it towed.
Dealer hasn't been able to diagnose the problem....has anyone else had this experience?
that sounds like the software bug that was found in a few second generation prii early on. it was fixed via a software upgrade.
i can't say that is your problem, but it sounds very similar, although i've not heard of the problem also occurring in the RX400h .
still, if your dealer doesn't have a clue, ask them if it could be related to the Prius bug.
We drove two 2006 400h SUVs today. One had 55k miles and had an extremely bad pull to the right. THe other had 28k miles and had a pull to the right also. Is this common OR were both of these vehicles in bad need of alignment????
I drive a Toyota hybrid, and I've driven many other hybrids, but I've never felt this pulling to the right. However, I have heard others complain of such a problem.
Hybrids do experience more tire wear than conventional vehicles, and I think this could be a factor.
Okay, so I live in Switzerland and bought a Lexus RX400h. True, we do have mountains and hills, but i mostly do intown driving with some highway spurts to Geneva. I am getting 18.9 mpg, which is absolutlely terrible. I feel cheated and will never go with another Lexus.
1. The original focus of Lexus marketing was that this vehicle will get better gas mileage in the city than on the highway.
(a) city driving carries the presumption of stop and go driving.
2. It is possible the particular vehicle provided by Lexus did meet the requirements (33 mpg) for gas mileage. Many of us get 17/20. This is a large variable from 33.
3. Perhaps you can tell me why the Japanese version of the same car gets better gas mileage than its counterpart here?
4. The salesperson/dealer absolutely misrepresented the 400h as an SUV that gets unbelievable (better than 30) mileage in the city.
(a) the sales team lied about a number of things to sell a 400h however the gas mileage is the most egregious.
5. I filed a complaint with Lexus about the misrepresentations and issues with the dealer. Lexus hid by saying they are independant and we have no control over what they say to a customer. That is simply not true. Lexus never followed up.
6. Lexus did not issue a disclosure making certain the buyer understood the mileage posted on the window was NOT achievable and buyers complained loudly. Instead they allowed and possibly encouraged the hype to the detriment of the buyer.
7. The largest number of complaints about the 400h is the gas mileage. People feel they were mislead all across the country. Coincidence?
Reply to Anonymous, points 1-7:
Very well stated and I agree with you. When I bought my 2006 400h, the dealer gave me a brochure showing the city/hwy MPG as follows: per Lexus and EPA: 31/27. However, Consumer Reports MPG was 16/29, a BIG difference.
I get about 25 hwy and 23-24 combined city/hwy. I have never done any pure city driving for an extended period. The car came with Goodyear Tires that wore out at 16,000 miles. The MPG was slightly better by about 2 MPG city/hwy with the Goodyears than the Michelin replacement tires. It does help your MPG to increase the tire pressure to 35 PSI, which is 5 PSI higher than recommended.
All in all, I agree that the MPG ratings used to market this car were highly exaggerated by Lexus and their dealers!
Not happy with the mileage. I coast as much as possible and my goal is to try not to use the brake, I use the transmission brake when I can. I am getting 26.5 I feel that if a modification to the computer was done to not have the gas motor come on so soon you could run on the electric motor longer thus getting way better mileage especially in traffic.
I have had my RX400h all wheel drive for two years. I live in a hilly area and get 21 mpg local driving. On the road two trips from Laguna Niguel CA to Denver Colorado and back I got about 29 MPG.
If I drive in city where it is level I get about 25MPG.
I do think the city driving at 34 MPG is doable under the ideal conditions. Right temp outside, level, no AC, etc.
Much better MPG than any other SUV of the size and power.
I have owned a 2006 400h since Oct. 2005 and have put 90K miles on the car. The mileage (city and highway) ranges from 24-26 MPG -- and I do NOT have a lead foot. I have talked with the dealers numerous times and this is the best you are going to do. Don't believe the posts that indicate 30 or more MPG. They are bogus. The 400h is very comfortable, reliable, but you are not going to get anywhere near 30 MPG.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the owners of Lexus RX400h who have posted their complaints about the mileage. I took possession of my new 2008 hybrid on Nov. 15th. Before I bought it, the salesman told me that there had been complaints about the posted mileage estimates for the 2007 model, so Lexus had significantly LOWERED the estimates for the 2008 sticker, but that I would probably get a lot better than the 24 highway, 26 city posting. He also said that I did not need to put premium fuel in it. My husband looked at some of the ratios and said we definitely needed the premium fuel, but I am still getting only 21 miles in city driving. I took it in for the 1000 mile check up and complained about mileage; they told me the car had to "break in," to 5000 miles! When I called the executive offices (you can call the roadside assistance number and they will give you exec offices; funny how the dealerships don't know that number for their own exec offices!), they told me there was no break in period, that I should be getting the estimated mileage from the time I took possession. Now they are telling me I don't know how to drive it. I live on a street with TWO elementary schools and posted speed limit of 20 mph, yet rarely see the car in battery mode. Next I was told that to get better mileage, I should extend the time that I accelerate to 25 seconds. As far as I am concerned, this technique is unsafe. I am a retired 63 year old driver. I am not racing around anywhere, but I am unwilling to take 25 seconds to get up to speed on city streets. That is downright dangerous.
I have spent MORE for the hybrid, which means MORE in finance charges, and I spend MORE on premium fuel. And for all of that I am getting low mileage. The funny thing is, they told me I would get the best mileage on city streets, but I am actually able to get better mileage (almost 27 mpg) on the highway! Lexus has played a joke on all of us.
Ah Yes. Your post is right on point and regrettably familiar. Lexus should be ashamed of themselves but once again it is about profits not people. Yes they lied and the dealers lied. Where are the class action lawyers when you need them? Better than that suggestion would be if Lexus came out of hiding from 400h owners, expressed some concern, and offered solutions or at least options. The battery mode in Japanese version of the 400h allows longer time before switching to gas engine. Reason seems to be the 100k mile warranty on the US version. The objective is to switch to gas ASAP to avoid warranty issues with the batteries. They are more expensive than the gas engine which enjoys no such warranty for 100k. This switches the burden to the "proud owner" who relied on Lexus and the sales hype. You are right, Lexus has played a joke on all of us.
I have a 2006 RX400h and have been averaging ~27-28 MPG. I use 87 octane and usually drive 25% city, 75% highway. Overall, very pleased with its performance!
Candace, the point a lot of RXhybrid owners are trying to make is that they bought the vehicles for great mileage IN CITY DRIVING, but are not getting it. I agree with you that the mileage is great on the highway, but all the ads had touted great mileage in and around the city, and THAT is not happening. I can get close to 29mpg on the open road, but as soon as I return to local driving the mileage plummets. Its supposed to be the other way aroun.
Again, I agree with Anonymous' assessment of Candace's MPG reviews. I did get 27 MPG highway once or twice with the original Goodyear Tires, but after changing all four to Michelin's the MPG both city and highway dropped off by 2-3 MPG, even with an extra 5 PSI per tire which seemed to help. Bottom line, the city MPG is way below what Lexus advertised.
I have a 2006 400h, at 75,000 miles. I bought it more for the performance than expecting significant gas savings. I don't do anything special and average 26.2mpg (over the past 5k miles). I love the thing, especially when I'm passing on a two lane road going uphill! I'd buy the car gain in a minute.
Anonymous, Where did you here about the Japaneese version that runs in battery mode longer. Could you post your resource here?
I own a 400h. When I went to the dealer today for a routine oil change (27,000 miles), I was told that I need new tires. I could not believe it. I was told that the inside (medial as opposed to lateral), was wearing. I could not believe it. I drove Chevy Blazers for 25 years. The last two sets of tires I had got 75,000 miles. The clerk said, "oh yes, this has been happening with some of the hybrids." It looks like my next car will another GM. Need to wait for a good hybrid model. Tahoe is too big.
I bought a CPO 2006 400h (it looks brand new). The gas milage is consistently 26 + and I have a heavy foot. I'm very happy since the difference in price between the 330 and the 400h is negligable when buying used. The stero system is phenominal.
I just got a pre-owned 2 years old Rx400h. My last mileage is about 11km/l (~26mpg) and the dashboard shows 10.7km/l.
Overall i'm happy with the fuel consumption and suspect that I can prob get even better once the car adjusts to my driving style. I'm usually quite light footed and try to use battery power whenever possible. About 70% highway and 30% city.
Well, I'm not sure how much the car will adapt to your driving style, however, if you play around with your driving style you might be able to increase your fuel economy a bit.
On the tire issue: this is my third Lexus SUV and I now have had the 400h for 3 years. Same problem with all three vehicles. The tires wear out really fast, around 20-25,000 miles. I was told by an honest service guy that they put passenger vehicle tires on these and the car has a truck like body so it can not take the weight. The tires also give that "soft" ride that Lexus is famous for. If you put on truck tires, which I did, the ride is harder but it is a lot safer and the grip is better. I get 23 miles per gallon no matter how much is just non stop freeway. My commute is 100 miles and I have tested it in all kinds of traffic conditions. I think that is the more realistic millage. Last but not least, my engine totally stopped dead when I was going up a hill one day and that is a problem that the dealership had to consult Toyota on. It is very dangerous and I was lucky no one was behind me. I still love the car so this is not some hater of Lexus but hope everyone takes note of this.
First of all, the difference in price between an RX400h and an RX350 is closer to $5000 with options being equal. Secondly, the RX400h's mileage can quite easily exceed that of the 350 by 6 MPG (average). We average approx. 25 MPG with a good mixture of city and highway use with more highway than city. The more we drive in high-traffic conditions, the greater the advantage of this hybrid over the RX350. The other thing I should mention is brake pad replacement. Our RX400hs brake pads now have 43,000 miles on them and can easily last another 43,000 miles or more. Try getting an RX350's pads to last that long. Most likely, that vehicles pads and perhaps rotors will need to be replaced 3 times by the time our RX needs one replacement.
In addition, we received a $2000 tax break for buying a hybrid. After all is said and done, it doesn't take many years to recoup the extra cost of buying a hybrid. I figure that ours has already earned its keep and I cannot be happier.
I just completed the 30k service and now mpg has dropped to 21 hiway and 19 city; same driving habit but Lexus service is stumped.
we have an '08 400h and have been disappointed in the gas mileage. when we go in for service, we ask them to check it out and they tell us that everything is running fine yet we only get about 22-23 MPG in the city. We've never gotten over 27 MPG like some others have posted. I wish we hadn't bought it.
I am the owner of a 2006 RX400H. I seem to get better gas mileage on the road going 60+ then in town. I am averaging 25.3 right now on a 3000 mile trip. I have never seen the charge above 6 bars. The charge will go from 6 bars to two purple bars in less than 15 min with the car standing still and the ac on. I would think that the hybrid batteries would have more capacity than that? Is this true for anyone else with a hybrid?
Reply to owner of 2008 RX400h. I know Lexus dealers want you to think you'll get better mileage in the city than on the highway- it just isn't so. Your 2008 is doing much better than the earlier version (2006/2007) and frankly better than most 2008 RX400's. It is little consolation especially because you feel mislead like so many of us. Lexus has duped us on the hybrid. Wait till your (40,000 mile)tires wear out at 18/20k miles and they tell you it is normal for the hybrid because of the extra battery weight. Everything that does not meet the buyers expectation or representations made by the salesman is "normal" when you call it to the attention of Lexus. Ask them to show you the equipment they use to "test" your vehicle or the published data used to determine if it is "normal". They won't, because it doesn't exist. They simply school their techs to BS the customer. They make up the "normal" as they go along, and they have become very good at it. After all they have had to calm many thousands of unhappy customers. In short they have sold out to the devil. They are not the company we new and loved. They misrepresent as a regular matter of doing business. Very Sad, and where are the class action attorneys when consumers could use them?
I think the variations in mileage on the hybrid 400h must have quite a bit to do with the driver. I was in touch with corporate several times about the mileage when I first purchased my 2008. They kept insisting that the mileage would improve after I had 5000 miles on the car, and it did. I still get better mileage on the highway than in local traffic, though, and that is a mystery. I do put the car in cuise control as often as possible, and that has helped the mileage.
I have a 2007 RX400 and take a yearly trip from the LA area (Laguna Niguel) to La Junta and Denver Colorado area. I take US40 going and come back on US80/US15. 2601 miles total over the mountains and back.
This last trip I averaged 28.4 and the two years previous 29.5 and 29.8. This is at 70 MPG average freeway and 60 on highways and some city driving in Colorado and Las Vegas.
Have 300 lbs of people and about 150 pounds of stuff in the back.
We bought our rx 400h in 2008 and traded our paid off Yukon XL with only 55,000 miles. We wanted better MPG and we average 22 MPG in the city. We took it to the dealer and they kept it for 2 days and they said that there was no problem with the car. The sugguest they gave us was, when we are at a stop and take off that we should pretend there was an egg under the gas pedal and take off very sloooow. Well we did and all we got was the finger from the driver behind us. The 10k we paid extra for the hybrd was a mistake, we should have stuck with the regular RX. 10k pays for lots of gas.
I am sorry to hear there are so many unhappy owners.
I live in North Yorkshire in th UK
I bought my rx 400h in Oct 2006 and soon after it deveoped a VSC problem.
After 4 attempts at repair Lexus replaced the car with the newer higher spec 2007 model. I was very pleased with their service.
On both cars I could easily get over 30 mpg and between 30 and 35 in hot weather.
Living in the countryside I can cruise at around 40 mph, but on highways I travel at around 60 mph
This pulls the mpg down to 30 -31 mpg.
NOTE UK gallons are bigger than US gallons. MAYBE the Lexus figures are based on UK gallons? !!
I have just installed a Kenlowe engine block heater and that has made a good difference to the first 5 minutes of driving, which was approx 20 mpg and is now 60+ mpg!!! That is driving at approx 30 mph ona country hill road which is 70% downhill!
Coming home uphill is a killer thouh and the 5 minute mpg for that distance is 20 mpg!!!
My current MPG is 34.5 over 226 miles!
BUT if I drive it like a racing driver at over 70..ok a lot over 70!!! it will drop to 27 MPG which is the lowest it has ever bee in 3 years.
The next step is to fit a battery range exter unit if I can find a place to put it.
It is actually for a Prius but I believe will also power a Lexus.:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200344551230
The warranty is almost out now, so I am doing my own servicing using the best oil etc and still saving a fortune!
Overall I am highly delighted with my car and intend to keep it till it dies :)
In reply to Billy in th UK: You are correct, an Imperial (UK) gal is 4.4 litres and a US gal is 3.8 litres. Therefore you should be getting about 16% more MPG per Imperial gal. Also, I get 100 MPG down a steep mountain. LOL!
I find if I put premium gas I get 27 mpg on average, versus low grade gas at around 24 mpg.
The Rx400H is a superb vehicle and gets markedly better mileage than any SUV of its relative performance level.
Fast, plush, silent at speed and loaded with goodies although I like my infinity map better and I am a bit bummed that I still need a physical key.
Im averaging 23.8-24.4 MPG in combined driving over the last 1100 miles sustaining 80+ on the highway loops for hours at a time.
These posts read a little like the "my first car blogs". Since when did any car EVER get what the window sticker said? Ive bought/owned over 10 new domestic and imported vehicles in the last 20 years and none could match the window sticker, so I find it rather amusing to hear so may complaints about this and the rare almost unheard of event - "my salesman lied to me".
I have a 2006 RX400h. I get about 21.5 mpg with short city trips daily and about the same on long highway trips. I sure wish I could resolve the problem but the dealer and auto techs that have checked my vehicle say it tests fine and they see no problems.
I have a 2008 w/ 24k on it and I average 27 mpg. I drive both highway and city. I try to be conscious of my driving via the power consumption readout, but many times I am in a rush so I take full advantage of the 400h's acceleration capability. In addition, I frequently drive with the air conditioning on. From my experience, one would really have to be a lead foot to get any lower than 24 mpg (combined driving). I have used only premium unleaded.
Based on your reported experience any vehicle which doesn't measure up to 27mpg average would be defective or a "lemon". I would agree. Lexus built many such vehicles which by your description are defective/Lemons. In fact, it appears most comments on this board show their 400h does not meet the standard of 27 mpg average. Maybe your relying on the computer to give you accurate mileage (Lexus cautions against it's reliability). Are you using an IMP Gal or does your vehicle have a mis-calibrated chip? At what speed does your vehicle switch from electric mode to gas engine? Supported by real life questioning of 400h owners most drivers are not lead footing a hybrid and most do not get 27 mpg. Can we deduce that most 400h vehicles are defective/Lemons or your math is questionable? Beverly Hills California
The person that wrote the last massage "Based on your reported experience any vehicle which doesn't measure up to 27mpg average would be defective or a "lemon"." is stupid.
No one said that if you don't get 27 MPG average it is a Lemon. You seem to suffer from some delusion and make things up. Who long have you been off you medications that causes you to miss interrupt what someone wrote.
If you drive in the city only in hills like I do in Laguna Niguel then you will get about 20MPG. This is a lot better than most cars that have the power and weight of the RX400h.
I average about 25 MPG city (hills) and highway. On trips to Colorado and back I get 30MPG with the two electric motor model. .
Compared to my ford escape I get great gas mileage and lot more comfort. It was a six and got maybe 14MPG where I live and 22MPG on the freeways.
Lexus most do something right, I see a lot of 400h around here.
Why you tell us about all the cars you owned that got the mileage that was posted on the car. I NEVER had a car that got the MPG that was posted.
First off, the mileage is based on a hot engine, with do weight in the car and level ground. Most people are happy with the RX400H………
I believe the previous poster meant "No one said that if you don't get 27 MPG average it is a Lemon. You seem to suffer from some delusion and make things up. Who"probably meant How" long have you been off you(sure poster meant your) medications that causes you to miss interrupt (probably interpret) what someone wrote. I hope this addresses the message as it was intended. The one fact that was not mentioned is "Lexus advertised greater mileage than being experienced". I experience lower gas mileage and theorize that it is because of reduced hybrid battery capacity from bad cells.
Isn't it the government that, essentially, advertises the fuel economy of any vehicle?
There is no doubt that the EPA's methodology for determining fuel economy is flawed. It was far worse before it was 'fixed' a couple of years ago.
Still, it is the EPA's numbers that every automaker uses when they market fuel economy.
So, is Lexus to be blamed, or the EPA?
The Lexus Hybrid System (RX and GS)is a PERFORMANCE Hybrid System NOT an economy Hybrid System (Prius, Camry, HS 250h...)! You find any other AWD SUV getting 25 MPG and have the same performance ... good luck to you...
If any sales person told you 30 MPG... to bad... The question is: Is this the first time you got sold? Probably not... and maybe not the last time.
We have a Lexus400h in the UK and it is showing 33MPG - but UK has larger gallon than USA. Consumption is very dependant upon speed, our consumption drops significantly above 70MPH, plus acceleration (heavy footed).
We have a problem with the small battery when the car is left for 3 weeks. First battery replaced after 18 months, second is now showing reduced capacity after 14 months. Apparently Lexus fit lower quality small batteries since it is only used for starting and the main large battery keeps the smaller topped up (unless it is left for a few weeks).
I have had my 2008 Lexus 400H for two years. I get 27-28 miles per gallon almost all year except when it is very cold. Then the mileage drops to 23. I could not be happier with the car all around. Previously I drove a Nissan Pathfinder and only got 16 miles per gallon!
I liked the old one (not as much as more Euro inspired vehicles) BUT this having looked at a lot of photos..
I bought a 2006 Lexus 400h in 2005. Has anyone experienced lights flashing on the center dash, "Check Hybrid System" or "Check AWD"? This happened this morning while taking my young kids to school, 1 mile from home, in the middle of a harrowing rain storm. The lights flashed then the engine groaned, and I coasted to a stop. The car never turned back on. It was towed to the dealer and they have yet to get back to me. Does this sound like the past Toyota Prius episodes of cars suddenly stopping and eventually having the system reset? I have to tell you that this was upsetting. We got this car b/c we thought it was reliable and safe. Otherwise, everything has been pretty stable. All maintenance is current. I usually get 26 mpg which is better than the 12 I used to get with our Jeep. BCH
Since 2005 you've never experienced a similar event? This is the first time?
What was different? The storm?
I had what may have been a similar incident which reoccurred several times. The dealer found a dead cell in the small battery. Once replaced it never reoccurred.
Hope yours is a simple fix as well.
by "small battery" you mean the lead acid battery, correct?
the big battery is the hybrid battery.
if the small battery, then you're issue had nothing to do with any hybrid components i have to assume.
I got my 2007 400h from Albuquerque in 2007
and have found them 100% non-responsive to a long
list of problems including low mileage during the winter months. I am completely unhappy with the car and even more unhappy with the dealership.
Yes, my issue had nothing to do with the hybrid components.
We just brought our certified pre-owned 2006 RX400h home 3 days ago -our first hybrid. I'm falling in love. The mpg's are increasing (today up to 28.8) as I learn how to relax and enjoy the luxurious drive. My commute to work is about 15 miles over some small hills, some state hwy, and some traffic with lights. The way it makes me feel calm is amazing. I'm not rushing to the stop light or in a big hurry because the RX shows me a better way. The Rx really is a good prescription to help me relax and enjoy my commute. As a pediatric nurse hearing little ones scream all day, the quiet drive is wonderful. It's a great replacement for our Expedition meeting our requirements of good gas mileage with ease of entry and egress not only for us, but also for our 85 and 91 yr old parents. We're very pleased and looking forward to many years with our new ride. There will still be times when I ride the Helix with side car to work, but maybe not as often.
We live in Minnesota and own an 06 400h which we purchased new. It is parked in an unheated garage which gets as cold as 20 degrees on the coldest nights. However, our 400h frequently will not start in the cold. We have had to jump start it more than two dozen times. Our dealer has examined it three times and found no reason the battery should be draining and replaced our battery three times. We have to keep jumper cables ready at all times. This is the most unreliable vehicle I have ever owned.
interesting issue, last anon. i live in SoCal, so I don't drive in cold weather.
anyone out there live in similar types of weather with or without cold starting problems?
Have only had it a few weeks, bought it used, but have a 2008 400h and the EPA says 24/26. We drive 60+ miles per day, highway and limited city, up and down mtns and we have gotten 27-28 for the last 3 tanks. And it should be taken into account that I do not try to baby it. I usually gun it up the on ramps and mtn roads.
It has surpassed our expectations and since we bought it used (about 1.5yrs old) we saved $15000 over the new 2010 price. We did lose the better gas mileage (2010 says 28/32) but $15000 was not worth it unless gas hits $10per gallon something soon.
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