When the question of the most reliable Japanese, or any other, car pops up, the inevitable answer will be a Toyota model. However, the most reliable Japanese hybrid crossover in 2025 is not a Toyota, although it is. Confused? That is because it’s a Lexus, the luxury brand of Toyota, joined at the hip, so to speak, using the same excellent mechanical parts as the parent company, including the industry-benchmark hybrid technology.
The Lexus RX has been around since 1998, and the first hybrid RX was launched in 2004, the same year as the Highlander hybrid. So the 2025 Lexus RX hybrid uses technology that is pretty mature, and the Lexus Toyota reliability nexus is now well established. The terms crossover and SUV are often used quite interchangeably, and most of the time, it does not really matter. But technically, the Lexus RX and Toyota Highlander are crossovers because they are built like a car, with a monocoque unibody chassis. A Toyota 4Runner, although not much bigger than the Highlander, is an SUV because it uses a ladder frame like a big truck. The crossover tends to be lighter and easier to handle, while the SUV is more sturdy, but has a harder ride.
Hybrids used to be slightly derpy cars, perceived as slow and dull-looking, like the Prius in its first couple of decades. But like the Prius in the early ’20s, hybrids are the hot versions of regular models, with prices not much more than the gas version, much better fuel efficiency, and usually more horsepower as well. And because so much of the power is generated by the hybrid system, the gas part of a hybrid does less work, and therefore tends to last longer. Plus, the hybrid components, like the battery, come with very long warranties.
To provide the most accurate and up-to-date information, this article uses data sourced from various manufacturers and authoritative sources.
The Lexus RX Hybrid Ranked Top-Dog By J.D. Power
85/100 In Reliability Is A Pretty Good Score
The Lexus RX hybrid is a luxury mid-size crossover. There are five options in the range to choose from, and although some of these offer spicier performance, the RX falls firmly in the luxury category, rather than performance. J.D. Power is a pillar of measuring motoring quality, and it rates the RX as the most reliable hybrid crossover, Japanese or otherwise, at 85/100. The next highest mid-size premium SUV is also a Lexus, the TX, at 82/100, and the Cadillac XT5, also at 82.
Lexus RX Ranking And Maintenance Forecast
J.D. Power rates vehicles out of 100, with 80 or more classed as great. The Lexus RX gets an overall consumer rating of 85, 85/100 for reliability, 82 for driving experience, 84 for resale value, and a whopping 87 for dealership experience.
The average age of a car in the US is 12 years, and with the Lexus RX hybrid expected to last for nearly 200,000 miles, it is worth considering how much the Lexus RX hybrid will cost in maintenance and repairs over time, particularly compared to similar vehicles. The Lexus RX350h will cost about $2,592 over five years, $2,941 less than the industry average for similar cars. There is a 21 percent chance it will need a major repair over that time, 18 percent lower than similar cars. Over ten years, the Lexus will cost you $7,892, $4,602 lower than the average, with a 21.14 percent chance of a major repair, 17.37 percent better than average.
The Lexus RX Hybrid Range
There are five trim levels of the Lexus RX Hybrid, as well as plug-in hybrids designated with the h+. Although both are hybrids, a plug-in hybrid is very different from a normal hybrid. We look at the normal hybrids only in this feature. Although the 500h F Performance makes significant power, the RX remains firmly in the luxury class, with a softer drive and gentler handling. All Lexus RX Hybrid trims use the AWD on-demand system, with power going to the front wheels most of the time for greater efficiency, and the rear wheels getting power when road conditions require greater grip.
No Dearth Of Creature Comforts Inside The Cabin
The RX Hybrid is a five-seater offering plenty of space and comfort, with finishes consistent with its premium status. The upper door panels feature cloth panels with a pleasant texture, open-grain wood trim, and good ambient lighting. The Sport Performance Model has chunkier front seats, black trim inside, aluminum pedals, and a paddle shifter mounted on the steering column. The back seats can fold down, giving cargo space options of up to 46.2 cubic feet.
In the middle of the dashboard, there is a 9.8-inch touchscreen angled slightly toward the driver, with a 14-inch touchscreen as an option. It has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard and uses the Lexus software interface. Optional extras are navigation, a head-up display, and a better stereo. There is also a 12.3-inch multi-information screen as the instrument cluster, and the standard sound system is the Lexus 12-speaker setup.
Safety And Warranties Provide Ample Peace Of Mind
The Lexus RX hybrid was not specifically rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but the RX as a model received the maximum of five stars. There is normally no difference in crash test results between a gas and a hybrid version of the same car. The Lexus RX Hybrid comes with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty, and eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on the hybrid components, which includes the all-important battery.
Other Contenders In The Hybrid SUV Arena
The Lexus RX is not the only Japanese crossover with superior reliability ratings. There is also the Lexus TX Hybrid that gets an 81/100 for reliability, but that is a three-row crossover and in a slightly different class to the RX. Two main Japanese hybrid crossovers draw attention, but surprisingly, the bestselling RAV4 is not one of them.
The More Affordable Honda CR-V Hybrid
Honda pioneered the hybrid at the same time, and in competition with Toyota in the late 1990s. The excellent CR-V is a five-seat compact crossover that competes directly with the Toyota RAV4 in the top ten vehicle sales category. It is slightly smaller and significantly cheaper than the Lexus RX, and the gas model gets really excellent ratings from J.D. Power, although the hybrid was not tested on its own. One can expect the hybrid to be more reliable than the gas version.
The J.D. Power ratings are 83/100 overall, 84/100 for reliability, 83 for driver experience, 85 for resale, and 81 for dealership experience. With an MSRP of $34,650, the CR-V is a compelling choice for a buyer seeking top reliability at a better price.
Toyota Highlander’s Familial Ties Bring It Closer To The RX Hybrid
The Toyota Highlander, although built on the same underpinnings as the RAV4, and also a five-seat crossover, is closer to the Lexus RX in size, price, and levels of luxury. The Highlander Hybrid has an MSRP of $47,020, which is a bit awkward because the three-row Grand Highlander Hybrid starts at $44,710. But comparing like with like, the Highlander gets good ratings as well.
The J.D. Power ratings are 82 overall, 81 for reliability, and the best resale rating of 92/100. The US car buyer is certainly spoiled for choice among Japanese hybrid crossovers, and that is not even looking at really great Korean offerings on the market now as well.
Sources: iSeeCars, J.D. Power