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Who in the middle class is buying a 60k car and can't afford to fuel it? If you can't afford the fuel you would not be looking at any new car anyway.
A significant number of middle class Americas will factor in the fuel economy. What people have not noticed is that operating cost of the new I4 turbo is higher than the outgoing model as premium fuel is required. Jump to a new V6 with a turbo and you are looking at more cost to purchase, high purchase price and premium fuel and less MPG. Toyota refuses to do mild hybrid which just adds to the cost of purchase To hit CAFE and all the emissions, there simply is no choice but to go with a 4 cylinder or the cost will be far too high. Outside of the United States, practically every country has far higher gas prices as well. Fuel prices are artificially higher because of green policies and come December gas prices in the United States will definitely increase....$5 for regular fuel will be the norm across the US.. Wanna avoid high gas prices? there are 3 different hybrids in the RX....but the cost is more to buy.
Well then the Audi/MB/BMW offering in this segment should be getting almost all the sales - but they aren't, not even close. The cost to insure and repair those German offerings is insane - $200 an hour labor at the dealers, the costs for fluid and parts is off the charts. The thing that concerns me the most about the 350h is that essentially its an I4 front wheel drive car with a CVT, with electric assist at the rear. I'd have to drive one to see how that combination feels, I generally don't like CVTs.
2023 RX 350 FWD starts at $48,550, including destination fees. AWD adds an extra $1600.
2023 RX 350h starts at $50,150
2023 RX 500h starts at $62,750
RX 450h+ pricing TBD
No other info on trim/option pricing.
I'm trying to find another source for this, no luck yet in a short search. But it's Edmunds so should be accurate.
Interesting that the price for the 350h is the exact same as the 350 AWD.
Toyota calls it an eCVT but it's not a traditional CVT at all. There are no cone pulleys and no steel belt connecting them. Toyota hybrids use twin computer controlled motor/generators connected to a planetary gear set.
Here's the best explanation I've seen, by Professor John D. Kelly of Weber State U.
Impressive video on the CVT, makes me a little more comfortable about the hybrid knowing its not one of those rubber band CVTs. Have to test drive them both.
I can't comment on drivetrain and engine yet but I would say it looks too much like Venza , NX from back and inside.
I'm paying RX money, why can't I have distinguished rear and screen setup?
Yes, the I4 turbo requires premium. Between that and the identical price (AWD) to the hybrid, they seem to be driving customers away from the gas only car. You would think the ICE car has a higher profit margin for them, so I am not sure what their strategy is here.
From that, it looks like they will send alot of the early cars to the sunbelt and California/Southwest (all FWD markets). Here in the northeast, the top sellers will be the 350 AWD Lux and 350h Lux - which are going to be 12% of the cars produced, 15% if you count the premium+. I don't think I will get a car until the spring, which isn't so bad because the roads get so bad here in the winter, it's probably not worth it to beat up a brand new car.
Prices don't seem correct there - the 350h Luxury was supposed to be 58150, but maybe these are showing the actual price of the cars with added options in the builds - they are probably loading them all up with the pano roofs and Mark Levinson and every other option, to get it to 64750.
I'm in Texas. It was mentioned to me that plug in hybrids are almost forgotten here. From October of last year to now, this dealer was only allotted 5 plug in NX units.
10-14-22, 11:06 AM
