2023 Lexus RX350h Hybrid First Drive: More and Less of What We Want

Having less power doesn't normally excite us, but the 2023 Lexus RX350h is different. The new hybrid luxury SUV is the spiritual successor to the last-gen RX450h model, which was more powerful but also less efficient and affordable. That's why the practical compromise presented by the 2023 RX350h intrigues us. Will we miss the extra power? One thing is certain, the 2023 RX350h has more power than any direct competitors, but only because it has none. Other midsize luxury SUVs have moved to plug-in hybrids, but the new 2023 Lexus RX offers both. We set out to determine whether the new RX350h is a viable alternative to the non-hybrid RX350.

The 2022 Lexus RX450h justified its elevated nomenclature—a 4 instead of the 3 in RX350—because of its more powerful hybrid powertrain. Though there's a place for performance hybrids like the new RX500h model, the RX350h leans more toward efficiency. This is a smart move we've waited for Lexus to make ever since Toyota did the same thing on the Highlander Hybrid. Like that three-row, the two-row 2023 Lexus RX350h eschews a 3.5-liter V-6 for a 2.5-liter I-4. In the RX's case, the total hybrid system produces a peak of 246 hp (three more than the Toyota). It's not a lot, but if the RX350 or RX350h don't have the power you seek, the excellent 366-hp RX 500h might be for you.

Mated to a CVT that provides smooth responses, the RX350h doesn't have the most pleasant engine note at wide-open throttle. Again, though, the RX350h isn't the family athlete; take it easy and the more affordable hybrid makes more sense. Lexus expects EPA-rated efficiency at 37/34 mpg city/highway. Compare against the 2023 RX 350 AWD's 21/28 mpg or the last-gen 2022 RX450h's 31/28 mpg, and you begin to see why the RX350h seems like it hits the sweet spot. An impressive driving range exceeding 600 miles before you need to refuel helps, too.

Unless you constantly drive the 2023 Lexus RX350h while wearing thick-soled boots, the biggest dynamic issue with the new SUV doesn't require fast driving to notice. In two examples we drove, the accelerator and brake pedal transmitted more feedback than we'd like. While certainly not a deal-breaker, it was far more pronounced in the RX 350h hybrid than in the RX 350, RX 500h hybrid, or RX 450h plug-in hybrid we drove on the same day.

No F Sport model exists on the RX350h line, perhaps because Lexus figures if you want a sportier RX, you'll consider the RX500h. The RX350h goes for being a rolling isolation chamber, with a quiet ride and comfort-oriented suspension interrupted occasionally by engine sounds, depending on how you drive. One positive, the brakes felt almost completely natural in everyday operation all the way to the end of the pedal's travel. This can be an issue for hybrids, which sometimes feel like they provide too much braking force just before you come to a stop. But not with the RX 350h. Considering the way the RX 350h will save its owners time and money over an RX350 thanks to its powertrain, it's a tiny compromise many will likely be willing to make.

Like the RX350, the RX350h also requires a bit of patience with acceleration. Most owners won't come close to the latter SUV's Lexus-estimated 7.4-second 0-60-mph time, which is slower than the outgoing RX450h but comparable to the new RX350. From a stop, the RX350h doesn't feel too powerful, but the hybrid powertrain provides a more perceptible boost if you punch it while already at speed.

Other than its hybrid-based AWD system and the hybrid performance changes, the 2023 Lexus RX350h offers the same advantages and disadvantages of the standard RX350. We're talking about a spacious interior with a large cargo area, lots of soft-touch surfaces everywhere, and a great 14.0-inch touchscreen. However, it also means rear doors we wish opened a tad wider and a 7.0-inch instrument-cluster screen that's not as good as the class leaders.

Once the initial excitement about the RX350h's powertrain wears off, this RX variant isn't our favorite within the lineup. And that's a shame given its admirable efficiency and conveniently long range. Within the 2023 RX lineup, the standard RX350 lacks the RX350h's buzzy pedals and is slightly quieter under acceleration, and it's more fun to drive. Then there's the more expensive RX 500h, which one-ups them both by adding more power yet offering efficiency comparable to the base model. If you're a Lexus loyalist and want to make an environmentally friendly choice, we understand picking the RX350h. We just hope Lexus can add more polish in the future.