JimH2

Your "butt-dyno" may be off by 0.6 seconds for the 0-60 time comparisons.

http://www.zeroto60times.com/Lexus-0-60-mph-Times.html

TripleL

LOL well I've been meaning to get it calibrated

Cool site, especially for comparisons!! I see the 1/4 mile time is missing for the RX as I bet they are about equal or within a tick by the time they get to that point. Need to validate this before I get my butt-dyno unnecessarily calibrated

BTW I drive an IS250 so I do like some get up and go but clearly its not a huge priority to me.

Edit: wow I saw the GX time, pretty impressive

RXSF

if you keep the foot on the brake and step on the gas pedal at the same time, it will get the engine to wake up for faster starts off the line

TripleL

Very Interesting I wouldn't make a habit of it but nice.

I have to say though that I'm pleasantly surprised by this since with all the issues from 2010 I would have figured with your foot on the brake that if you stepped on the gas in a hybrid nothing would happen at all.

RXSF

yeah, well the technology isnt new and german cars have had this feature all along, and it only works if you are at speed and then both pedals are depressed. When you are stopped, you can still get the engine going with the foot on the brake...in case you wanted to do a burnout in the RX

TripleL

Thanks!! So it's safe to assume you are very happy with your choice of the RX?

RXSF

I knew I wanted my next vehicle to be a hybrid. Im not going to try to sell you on the gas mileage, and lower CO2 emissions (those are merely side saddle pluses when we are talking about a car in this price range and size). Merely the RX is the perfect size in the perfect package with tons of features for a car in this price range. As a tech geek, I was wooed by the hybrid powertrain, HUD, LED headlights, and remote touch. Couldnt be any happier with my choice. And I think every family now a days needs something other than a sedan for those road trips and even everyday grocery getting errands.

kitlz

When Lexus had their preview of the 3rd gen RX back in February 2009, they only had the hybrid versions available. Coincidentally I was seeing lots of 400h on the road by me. When it came time to test drive the 3rd gen , I tried the 350 first and the 450h a month later. One thing I won't forget is when my sales guy drove the 450h away after the test drive. All I could hear were the tires going over the rocks. It was wild. That and the LEDs did it for me

TripleL

Really appreciate you sharing this inside look, thank you!

I'm a 'tech geek' also both for work and play so I can relate for sure.

+1 for having a SUV (or LUV ) in the house. Between household projects, our 10 year old boy with his friends and cub scout events I can't imagine not having one in the house right now either. So versatile.

TripleL

Thanks for sharing kitlz!

I have to say the 3RX section has been fantastic and open in continuing to share their thoughts, opinions and the inside scoop on the 3RX, thank you all and please continue

Silent Drive FTW High on my list for whatever I buy is a quite and smooth ride. Can't get more quiet than what you described. Oh and LEDs would nice too

TripleL

After I posted I had a chance to read more about the site and I agree they just gather the times from other sources. I didn't realize that when I posted. Its still OK I guess for a sense of times, but I'd prefer using a single source like R&T or C&D as regardless of how accurate they are, they are consistent so comparisons using their data would be a lot more accurate.

I agree 110%. I've always had my eye on the GX and I have to say driving the GX460 was superb and a delightful place to spend time on long highway rides reguardless of what's going on outside of it. Yet I'm very much drawn to the RX for so many reasons that we've discussed here. I think I need to let it marinate for a while and see where it takes me.

I feel very fortunate that I'm able to be shopping and ultimately buying a vehicle like these. All I know for sure is I'm going to get something I want and for the first time will be getting lots of options to have fun with too.

TripleL

Well put.

I really enjoy car shopping not only for myself but others too. It's fun and by the time I'm done with all my research etc and make that 'big' decision I'm as excited as I am confident in my new purchase.

I haven't sat in the Q5 yet but I will. I really liked my A4 but not sure about the Audi suv's just yet but a test drive will help that. I'll have to plead ignorance about Audi hybrids as other than the fact I know its coming I don't know much about them. Now if Audi would drop their 3.0d into the Q5 that would be very interesting. I love an engine with lots of torque!!

JimH2

Each source will have various/different times as you noted. The Car and Driver review of the 2010 RX 450h had the following times:

"A hybrid is not designed for straight-line performance, but we tested it, and darned if we would fail to report it. The 0-to-60 dash is just off the standard RX350’s mark of 6.8 seconds, standing at 7.1. The “h” trails the RX350 in the quarter-mile test, too, but by only 0.2 second at 15.5."

TripleL

Interesting read, thank you. I see Audi is keeping the 8 speed tiptronic and quattro intact in their hybrid. Smart move on paper at least in my opinion.
It would make sense for them to offer it since it's sister cars have a diesel option although I did note in the above article comments that the Q5 Hybrid eliminates the need for a diesel option Not sure about the Audi but I will give it a test drive at some point for sure.

TripleL

Excellent info I like that hybrid design on paper and now that you mention it's somewhat similar to the RX350 it is interesting. Although I can see carrying that extra weight in the RX's case, but not sure it makes a lot of sense in a hybrid although keeping Quattro is definitely a plus in my book.