Porsche 911 vs Lexus Rx450H+

What's the difference?

The more things change, the more they stay the same. The t-hybrid might be an entirely new propulsion system for the 911, but the net result is unchanged – power, poise and performance on tap.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.

The new Lexus RX450h+ Sports Luxury is packed with a wealth of premium features and strikes a solid balance between refinement and practicality. There are enough thoughtful touches that make everyday driving a little easier.

You’ll get the most out of the plug-in hybrid powertrain if you’re able to charge it regularly; ideally every day. That might not always be practical for busy people on the go, but overall, the RX450h+ manages to blend efficiency with Lexus’ signature comfort and quality.

This facelift debuts a revolutionary exterior design that has completely reshaped the 911.

Just kidding. If it ain’t broke and all that. The front air vents and exhaust have changed, the former now an active intake system that deploys via vertical flaps, but elsewhere it’s largely evolution over revolution.

Instead, Porsche has focused most of the updates in then cabin. In here, you’ll find a new digital instrument panel, they’ve changed some of the levers and the steering wheel.

In true Porsche fashion, though, this new 911 mimics the older versions in that it's one of the more intuitive cabins you’ll ever sit in. Everything feels as though it’s exactly where it should be, and all feels entirely centred on the driver.

The RX isn’t breaking new ground with its plug-in hybrid design, but it still delivers that signature Lexus understated refinement.

The strong, flowing body lines, 21-inch alloy wheels and updated 'spindle grille' all give it presence without screaming for attention.

And in a segment where boxy and bulky designs tend to dominate, the RX’s swoopy silhouette helps it stand apart in all the right ways.

Inside, the cabin feels considered and luxurious. There's a heavy use of premium materials, including the leather and suede upholstery, plush soft-touch surfaces and the big, crisp displays that make the space feel modern and high-end.

The panoramic sunroof brings in loads of natural light, too, which is especially welcome given the dark headliner that might otherwise feel a little heavy.

If I have one gripe, it’s the thin steering wheel, which doesn’t quite match the otherwise solid, tactile feel of the rest of the interior. But overall, the cabin is a space that feels luxurious and well-executed. It's quietly confident, just like the RX.

This probably falls under the ‘next question, please’ umbrella, given that, while the Porsche 911 is known for a lot of things, vast acres of space with loads of practicality perks just ain’t a part of its portfolio.

The new 911 measures a not-insubstantial 4533mm in length, 1852mm width and around 1294mm in height, and it rides on a 2450mm wheelbase. Luggage space is a paltry 135 litres under the bonnet, plus whatever else you can fit in your pockets.

There’s seating for four, should you not like the people you’re squeezing back there very much, but really the 911 is best enjoyed as a two-seat proposition – which is why you can also delete the backseat, should you wish.

It also weighs a minimum 1595kg, or up to 1745kg, but Porsche says the hybrid tech only adds about 50kg to the total kerb weight.

The RX cabin is thoughtfully laid out and impressively practical, with a premium feel that doesn’t come at the cost of everyday usability.

Up front, there’s plenty of space for driver and passenger, yet the stepped dash design brings a sense of intimacy. The electric front seats are seriously comfortable, with four-way lumbar support and extra adjustment functions that make this an easy choice for long drives.

Storage options are generous, too. There’s a clever dual-opening centre console, large glove box, multiple phone-sized shelves, map pockets and a couple of cup- and drink holders in each row.

Charging is taken care of by four USB-C ports, one USB-A port and a wireless charging pad.

Tech is up-to-date and well-integrated. The upgraded 14-inch media display looks crisp, supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and is paired with a revamped 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a colour head-up display.

The cluster’s new layout is modern and much easier to read than the previous offering. The digital rear view mirror also earns its keep when the cabin’s packed with passengers or gear.

One of my favourite touches? The seat controls on the side of the front passenger seat. It makes quick work of moving the seat forward, especially helpful when you’ve got a kid clambering in with a school bag full of projects.

Access to the rear row is easy, but the stadium-style seating, where you're perched noticeably higher than those in the front, won’t be for everyone.

That said, the rear seats are plush and padded, though they lack side bolsters, which rear passengers might notice during cornering.

Legroom is generous and the hardened kickplates are a dream to clean when your child’s treating the seatbacks like a climbing wall.

My eight-year old gives the back seat a glowing review, thanks to its creature comforts, including rear climate control, directional air vents, seat heating/ventilation on the outboard seats, two USB-C ports and retractable sun-blinds, which are a crowd favourite in our household.

There are three top-tether anchor points, and the bench is wide enough to fit three child seats, though bulky booster seats might be tricky due to the raised seating height.

At the back, the boot is well set up for families, offering electrically folding rear seats, a 12-volt socket, flat loading floor, and a hands-free powered tailgate.

Under the floor, there’s a small compartment for your charging cables (Lexus throws in two!) and a usable 612L of capacity when all seats are in use. One downside, though, is the lack of a spare tyre as you just get a tyre repair/inflation kit.

There are four variants in the RX range, and we’re testing the 450h+ Sports Luxury AWD, which sits just below the flagship and packs in plenty of premium kit for its $123,500, before on-road costs, price tag.

That makes it slightly more affordable than its main PHEV rivals; the BMW X5 xDrive50e (from $125,885 MSRP) and the Volvo XC90 Ultra (from $124,466 MSRP).

The Volvo does offer seven seats to the Lexus’ five, which may matter for larger families, and both rivals also outdo the RX on electric-only driving range - 65km in the RX compared with 77km in the Volvo XC90 and a generous 101km in the BMW X5.

Still, the RX fights back with a seriously stacked features list. Highlights include a panoramic sunroof, 10-way powered front seats with heating and ventilation, electrically folding rear seats (also heated and ventilated in the outboard positions), and a heated, power-adjustable steering wheel. Sound is taken care of by a premium 21-speaker Mark Levinson surround system.

Technology has had a solid upgrade with the 14-inch touchscreen multimedia display, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, digital rearview mirror, colour head-up display, live traffic navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4G connectivity, four USB-C ports, one USB-A port and a fast wireless charging pad.

There’s also access to the 'Lexus Connected Services' app, allowing you to remotely lock or unlock the vehicle, pre-set the cabin temperature via three-zone climate control, configure driver profiles and even use your phone as a digital key.

Practical features include keyless entry and start, rain-sensing wipers, dusk-sensing LED headlights, rear sun-blinds, intelligent seatbelt reminders for the first two rows, a child presence alert and a hands-free powered tailgate. However, due to the plug-in hybrid system there’s no spare tyre, just a tyre repair kit.

A new (or at least, massively altered) 3.6-litre petrol engine has been developed for this T-Hybrid, which combines with two electric motors to produce a total 398kW and 610Nm. It’s only available with Porsche’s very good eight-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) automatic, largely because the brand admits it would be… well… unpleasant to drive as a manual.

Now, there is lots of magic at work here, and I don’t want to bore you, but the Porsche setup sees a lightweight 1.9kWh battery placed basically in the middle of the front axle, and a 12-volt battery now behind the front seat. Then, a tiny e-motor lives as part of the gearbox (it’s just 55mm long) and delivers up to 150Nm at low speeds to supplement the petrol engine.

It’s joined by what Porsche calls an “electric exhaust gas turbocharger”, which essentially removes the spooling time from the turbo, delivering instant power.

The aim of the game here is excitement, not efficiency, and the launch-control-aided spring to 100km/h takes just 3.0 seconds. And it somehow feels, and sounds, faster.

The latter being important, with Porsche aware that if the new powertrain didn’t sound good, "nobody would like it”.

Under the bonnet the RX450h+ Sports Luxury runs a plug-in hybrid powertrain that pairs a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a CVT auto and dual electric motors - one on each axle. Together, they produce a total of 227kW of power, though Lexus doesn’t quote a combined torque figure.

Still, it’s quick off the mark for a large SUV, with a 0-100km/h time of 6.5 seconds. There’s more than enough grunt for daily driving and overtaking, even if it doesn’t quite match the outright power of its key PHEV rivals.

Porsche in Australia is yet to lock in local fuel use for the Carrera GTS T-Hybrid, but international testing has it at 10.5-10.7L/100km, C02 emissions of between 239-244g/km. 

Those aren’t exactly Toyota Prius numbers. But again, that was never Porsche’s intention. The electric power on offer here is intended to improve acceleration, not fuel use.

It’s fitted with a 63-litre fuel tank, which should deliver a driving range of around 600km per tank.

The plug-in hybrid system brings solid efficiency, with claimed fuel use of just 1.3L/100km. In real-world conditions (mostly urban driving with regular recharging) I managed a respectable 4.8L/100km, which makes a strong case for the hybrid set-up.

The fuel tank holds 55 litres and it's worth noting Lexus recommends using a minimum of 95 RON unleaded petrol to fill it.

Using our real-world economy figure you can expect a range in excess of 1100km between fills.

The RX450h+ is fitted with a relatively small 18.1kWh lithium-ion battery, supporting an NEDC electric-only range of up to 65km.

While that’s fine for short daily trips, it’s shorter than you'd ideally want in a family SUV of this size and it lags behind rivals like the BMW X5 and Volvo XC90 in this department.

Charging is simple enough. The RX uses a Type 2 charging port and accepts up to 7.0kW on AC power, which means a full charge takes around 7.5 hours, perfect for overnight top-ups. Lexus also includes an at-home charging cable and second adapter cable as standard, which is a thoughtful touch.

Porsche did just about the Porschiest thing to ever Porsche in launching the 911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid, in that we piled into cars in Melbourne, drove the many, many hours (well, it feels that long, at least) to the Phillip Island race circuit, beat the hell out of the cars on track and on the drag strip for several hours, then trundled back out on the road and drove them back to Melbourne.

The subliminal messaging here is pretty clear. This new 911 might have a new powertrain, but it can still deliver the road-track-road experience without breaking a sweat — or, more importantly, without breaking any expensive bits.

So let’s do this in order, shall we? On the road, this new 911 is every bit as sweet as it has ever been. Comfortable, quiet enough when you want it to be, and — save some road noise from those big wheels – quiet enough to let you forget you're driving something with one of Peter Dutton’s nuclear reactors hidden beneath its svelte metal work.

Mind you, that T-Hybrid powertrain will happily remind you of its presence every time you press the accelerator in anger, the exhaust erupting into life and the 911 genuinely rocketing into the future, but stay gentle with your inputs and this hybrid 911 is a genuinely comfortable, genuinely liveable daily driver.

Its split personality appears when you rumble out onto a race track though, where you quickly discover the electrified, and electrifying, Porsche is properly, properly rapid, both in a straight line or around Phillip Island’s fast and flowing circuit.

It’s so rapid, in fact, that it feels most closely related to a performance EV, like the Taycan. Of course it is louder and more engaging, but that’s the best way I can think of to describe the instant power on offer here. There’s no ICE-like lags or lumps in the way that 398kW and 610Nm finds its way to the tyres and into the tarmac. Instead it’s just this constant, savage flow of power that never seems to let up.

Porsche says this new powertrain is about 50kg heavier, but you’d need to be plugged into the race track like its the Matrix to ever feel it, with the T-Hybrid feeling lithe, grippy and athletic, aided by near-perfect steering, the best automatic gearbox in existence, and exactly zero roll through the body. In fact, the only thing that really moves when cornering hard in this new 911 is the driver, and I genuinely got out after several laps with a sore neck from trying to stay vertical.

Downsides? Well, it’s faster in a straight line (it will be some 7.0m further down the road after 2.5sec when compared to the older GTS) and faster around corners (8.7sec faster around the Nurburgring than its predecessor), but there’s something delightfully analogue about the outgoing car, which also manages to feel more aggressive under heavy acceleration, too, owing to the little ebbs and flows of power, and after driving both back-to-back, I still can’t decide which one I like more.

The RX450h+ delivers power that’s pert and prompt, with genuine bursts of acceleration that make driving fun. It’s always ready to go and there's no lag in stop-start traffic - which gives it a lively, dynamic feel around town.

The transition between petrol and electric power is seamless; you hardly notice the switch, which makes for a smooth, refined driving experience. The cabin is impressively quiet, even on the highway, making long trips comfortable and peaceful.

Regenerative braking isn’t adjustable and is subtle enough that many won’t notice it which is likely a plus for fans of traditional internal combustion engines who are making the PHEV leap.

The adaptive variable suspension adds a sporty edge to handling, letting you confidently take corners at speed. There’s some body roll but the RX never feels top-heavy or unsettled.

The steering carries the weight of the SUV but remains well-balanced and responsive. Overall, it’s a well-tuned machine that’s a pleasure to drive.

Maneuverability is a strong suit, too, thanks to a tight 11.8-metre turning circle and a clear, easy-to-use 360-degree camera system. Parking is easy-as-pie, which a lot of drivers will appreciate.

The RX earned a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2022, scoring highly across all protection categories: 90 per cent for adult protection, 89 per cent for child protection, 89 per cent for vulnerable road users, and 93 per cent for safety assist systems.

Standard safety gear includes eight airbags (dual front, front side, curtains, front centre, and driver’s knee) plus a comprehensive suite of driver aids. Standout features include emergency call functionality, child detection alert, side exit assist, front and rear collision warnings, park assist and emergency steering assist.

Additional tech covers blind-spot monitoring, driver attention monitoring, tyre pressure monitoring, daytime running lights, LED cornering lights, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure alert, lane keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, and intelligent seatbelt warnings for the front two rows.

Visibility and parking are enhanced by a 360-degree camera system and front/rear parking sensors, while adaptive cruise control adds comfort on longer drives.

The rear seats have two ISOFIX mounts plus three top tether anchors, accommodating child seats safely. Autonomous emergency braking is active from 5.0 to 80km/h for pedestrians, cyclists, and backover and up to 180 km/h for cars.

The 911 Carrera GTS is covered by a pretty underwhelming three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, with servicing required every 12 months or 15,000kms. We don’t have the hybrid service pricing yet, but as guide, the last 911 split the services into minor and major, and charged either $785 or $1285 for each.

The RX comes with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which matches its key rivals but isn’t exactly class-leading by today’s standards.

Servicing is handled via a capped-price program, with each service costing $695. The intervals are well spaced at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.

This Sports Luxury grade also includes a three-year complimentary 'Lexus Encore' membership, granting access to a handy phone app and member benefits at partners like Westfield and Ampol. On top of that, you get 24/7 roadside assistance for added peace of mind.