Better late than never: 2025 Lexus RX450h+ plug-in hybrid SUV arrives in April to challenge BMW X5 and Volvo XC90

February 13, 2025February 13, 2025 John Mahoney 325 Views 0 Comments Lexus, PHEV

Three years after its original reveal the 2025 Lexus RX450h+ Plug-in Hybrid finally lands in Australian dealers from this April when it will be available in single Sports Luxury model grade and priced from $123,500 plus on-roads.

Priced $9900 above the existing Lexus RX350h Sports Luxury AWD hybrid ($113,600), the new plug-in variant has been positioned below the firm’s flagship RX500 F Sport Performance ($127,700) within the Lexus RX line-up.

The RX plug-in is the second recent bit of good electrified news for Lexus, which has returned the smaller and cheaper NX450h+ to showrooms in Australia after a XXX year stop-sale.

Both models are hady additons ata time when PHEV sales are on the rise.

Lexus announced the RX450h+ would come standard with $3900-worth of options. That means the pricing gap between the plug-in hybrid and the RX350h effectively shrinks to $6000.

When it lands, the RX450h+ will come with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder that is blended with front and rear e-motors, plus an 18.1kWh battery.

Combined, the Lexus makes 227kW which is enough for a 0-100km/h sprint of 6.5 seconds.

On pure-electric power alone, Lexus claims the RX450h+ can drive in its EV mode for up to 68km with combined fuel consumption claimed to be just 1.3L/100km. That’s based on the European WLTP Test cycle.

Standard equipment levels are high on the latest addition to the RX range, with the plug-in hybrid getting 21-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps, leather seats, 10-way adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, a head-up display and a 21-speaker premium sound system.

Coming equipped with the Enhancement Pack 2, the large SUV also includes a panoramic roof, digital rear-view mirror and auto park assist.

New features rolled out for the rest of the RX range include a widescreen 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have both been introduced, while a new acoustic windscreen, front and rear side windows have all been added.

Along with the arrival of the 2025 Lexus RX450h+ Sports Luxury, a small $166 price rise has been added to the MY25 RX350h Sports Luxury AWD, a $266 price bump on the RX350h Luxury AWD and the RX500 F Sport Performance and a $290 increase introduced on other models.

The RX450h+’s big delay is attributed to limited production and high demand in markets with strict emission regs, which have previously diminished any allocation set aside for Australian buyers.

Australia’s CO2 reduction scheme, the NVES, commenced its trial period in January and starts measuring brand performance from July 1.