$18K price cut for luxury hybrid SUV

Lexus has confirmed it is introducing a more affordable version of the RX plug-in hybrid (PHEV) large SUV in Australia.

The RX450h+ Luxury is based on the entry-level version of the RX but it comes with the PHEV powertrain which was previously reserved exclusively for the almost top-spec RX450h+ Sports Luxury.

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With this more affordable price point, the RX PHEV is now priced more closely to rivals like the BMW X3 30e xDrive, Mercedes-Benz GLC350e and Volvo XC60 Ultra T8 Dark. However this Lexus is larger than all of these premium mid-size SUVs.

It isn’t the first time Lexus has taken this approach with its PHEV models in Australia. Earlier this year it announced the NX450h+ Luxury which similarly is an entry-level version of this SUV but with the PHEV powertrain previously reserved for a higher F Sport trim.

Both the NX450h+ and RX450h+ share the same PHEV powertrain. It combines a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor for a total system output of 227kW.

The electric motor is fed by a 18.1kWh battery pack which in the RX450h+ allows for an electric range of around 60km, according to EPA testing from the US.

Given the new entry-level version of the RX450h+ is based on the Luxury trim, it comes with smaller 19-inch alloy wheels but still gets highlight features like a panoramic glass sunroof, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 14.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, leather-accented upholstery, as well as electrically adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats.

Compared to the RX450h+ Sports Luxury, it misses out on the larger 21-inch alloy wheels, hands-free function for the power tailgate, adaptive high-beam, adaptive dampers, semi-autonomous park assist, 21-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system, as well as a number of other premium finishes and features.

Beyond this, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has filed a number of patents in Australia which could potentially indicate further RX PHEVs are on the way in the future.

The names RX500h+ and RX550h+ have been trademarked and if models wearing these come to fruition, they could sit above the existing RX450h+ as higher-performance offerings.

The current flagship in the RX line-up is the RX500h F Sport Performance which is powered by a 2.4-litre turbocharged hybrid powertrain that produces a total system output of 273kW.

At this stage it’s unclear whether Lexus plans to give this turbo hybrid powertrain a larger battery pack and the capability of being charged by a plug.

If Lexus does come out with a high-performance RX PHEV, its closest rival will likely be the Mercedes-AMG GLC63 S E Performance which has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and an electric motor for total system outputs of 500kW and 1020Nm.