Plug-in Hybrids (PHEV) serve as the ideal stop-gap between ICE and EVs in an ideal scenario, but they are still not the most popular option. This boils down to personal preference, but one of the factors that matters could be reliability. Studies and data collection show that EVs and PHEVs are indeed less reliable than ICE-powered cars and hybrids. There is no dearth of PHEV options in the market today, but if you also seek something that’s reliable, your best bets are to look at the Japanese brands, primarily Toyota and Lexus.
- Base Trim Engine
-
2.5L I4 Hybrid
- Base Trim Transmission
-
2-speed CVT
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
183 HP @6000 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
-
233 lb.-ft. @ 4300 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
37/34/36 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
-
Nickel metal hydride (NiMH)
- Make
-
Lexus
- Model
-
RX
Lexus has a few models that can be powered by electricity as well as loaded with fossil fuel. One of them is the RX PHEV, a luxury SUV that is not as popular in this iteration as it is in pure gas and hybrid forms. As of September 2025, Lexus has moved 80,427 RXs with a pure ICE, 29,546 RXs with a hybrid setup, but only 4,733 RXs with a plug-in hybrid setup. This makes this Lexus SUV an overlooked PHEV that is a pretty good product overall, and most importantly, fairly reliable, too.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Toyota and Lexus and other authoritative sources, including J.D. Power.
The Lexus RX Plug-In Hybrid Is Surprisingly Underrated
This may come as a surprise, but the 2026 Lexus RX 450+ PHEV is quite underrated and overlooked. For starters, many people probably wouldn’t have thrown any Lexus in the mix because of how successful this Japanese car brand is. While that’s a nice thought, that isn’t always the case with practically every single big-name car brand, at least having one model that didn’t get the recognition it deserved. There are a couple of reasons why the RX Plug-In Hybrid may sit in the shadows, and one significant one is its siblings. Lexus sits at the forefront of the hybrid industry, with both HEVs and PHEVs, and Lexus’s HEVs seem to be the more desired models. Nonetheless, the Lexus RX PHEV is one of the best plug-in hybrids on the market, and it’s quite a steal after exploring some of its features.
Lexus Sold Less Than 5,000 Examples Of It In 2025 So Far
From January 2025 up to September 2025, Lexus has sold merely 4,733 RX PHEVs, which is almost six times less than the number of RX Hybrids and a whopping 200-percent less than the standard RX sold in the same period. Compared to the 2024 figures, however, this is an improvement. In the entirety of 2024, Lexus only sold 4,248 RX PHEVs.
The RX Kicked Things Off For The Japanese Brand In The Hybrid Space
The RX kick-started Lexus’ journey into the hybrid industry. Today, the Japanese automotive manufacturer is an unstoppable force in hybrid engineering and innovation. The 2006 RX 400h was the first mass-produced Lexus hybrid, and with its minor shift in focus on plug-ins, it only seems fitting to throw it onto Lexus’ most popular hybrid platform.
Lexus Is Known For Its Impressive Reliability
So, what determines if you can speculate or guess that a specific model or particular brand will offer a vehicle that will last a lifetime? That’s a tricky answer because there really isn’t a definite or clear answer. The best you can do is research the brand itself and the history of said vehicle. Starting out with Lexus, it used to be the most reliable brand, which lost its crown to Subaru earlier this year.
This doesn’t change the fact that Lexus is one of the best brands to offer endless dependability. Regarding new cars and reliability, Lexus sits in second place, but when it comes to used cars and reliability, they sits in first. So, with a long track record of producing reliable cars, it seems they’re one of the best options when searching for a car that will last a lifetime.
J.D. Power Gave The RX PHEV An 85 Out Of 100 For Reliability
Since the 2026 Lexus RX is fairly new, it hasn’t yet been tested for reliability. However, J.D. Power gave the 2025 Lexus 450h+ an 85 out of 100 for its reliability. Some of the other ratings were 84 out of 100 for its resale value and 82 out of 100 for its driving experience. With all the scores put together, the 2025 Lexus RX PHEV received an impressive overall score of 85 out of 100. It’s also worth noting that plug-ins, hybrids, and ICE can receive different ratings, and while one rates high and the other rates low, it should be noted that the Lexus RX has a long track record in rock-solid reliability.
- Quality And Reliability: 85/100
- Resale Value: 84/100
- Driving Experience: 82/100
- Overall Rating: 85/100
As for the pricing, it is not the cheapest of vehicles, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. The 2026 Lexus RX PHEV is offered in two trims, with the base 450h+ Premium AWD retailing at $66,680, and the top 450h+ Luxury AWD at $73,310 before any options.
A Look Underneath The Hood
The 2026 RX Plug-In Hybrid, is powered by a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder plug-in hybrid engine. This setup produces 304 horsepower. The 2026 model is yet out to be tested for its 0-60 mph sprint, but for perspective, the 2025 RX PHEV completes a 0-60 mile-per-hour sprint in just 6.2 seconds. This plug-in SUV comes standard with Lexus’ electronically continuously variable transmission (ECVT), which is “normal talk”, is a modern-day automatic, and also comes standard with all-wheel drive. The EPA hasn’t rated the 2026 RX 450h+ just yet, but Lexus estimates it will offer a combined fuel economy of 83 MPGe and an all-electric range of 37 miles.
Lexus RX 450+ Specifications
|
Powertrain |
2.5-Liter Inline Four-Cylinder Plug-In Hybrid Engine |
|
Horsepower |
304 HP |
|
Torque |
N/A |
|
Transmission |
ECVT |
|
Driveline |
All-Wheel Drive |
|
0-60 MPH |
6.2 Seconds |
|
Top Speed |
124 MPH |
|
Fuel Economy (Combined) |
Est. 83 MPGe |
|
Electric Range |
Est. 37 Miles |
The Plug-In Hybrid SUV That Encapsulates Luxury
Lexus keeps things simple and only offers one trim on the RX 450h+. As you could expect, this plug-in hybrid SUV is exclusively a luxury grade and comes with all the bells and whistles. For the exterior, it comes standard with 21-inch 20-spoke alloy wheels finished in dark premium metallic. The boldest design on the RX 450h+ is the large and bulged nose that hangs over the front bumper.
The standard features and technology are the real showstoppers, which makes sense since its only trim is the “Luxury” trim. The RX PHEV comes standard with a 14-inch multimedia touchscreen. This system is paired with Lexus’ Intelligent Assistant, which is designed with enhanced noise cancellation, seat detection, and various voice commands. Other standard features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a Head-Up Display that offers navigation and speed visuals. Regarding sound systems, the 21-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Sound System is an added option on the RX 450h+. Lastly, Lexus equips this plug-in SUV with its latest Safety System+ 3.0.
Lexus Safety System+ 3.0
- Pre-Collision System (PCS) w/ Pedestrian Detection
- Proactive Driving Assist (PDA)
- Road Sign Assist
- Lane Departure Alert w/ Steering Assist (LDA w/SA)
- Lane Tracing Assist (LTA)
- Intelligent High Beam
- All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control w/ Curve Speed Management (DRCC)
A Couple Of Recalls To Its Name
It wouldn’t be a complete breakdown if you didn’t touch on any of its flaws. Possibly the biggest downside to the RX Plug-In is the recall that both Toyota and Lexus covered at the start of February 2025. Mind you, these are for the 2025 RX models, not 2026. The recall was over the second-row center seatbelt, which was possibly damaged when it was manufactured. The result can be that the seatbelt does not meet the correct strength requirement issued by federal laws. The good news, though, is that with recalls, much like this one, Lexus and Toyota will inspect it and, if found faulty, will replace it free of charge.
There was another one in September 2025 for the 2025 RX and a few other Toyota and Lexus models, which is for the instrument cluster to blank out when you start the vehicle. It’s not the worst thing to happen, and if this is the biggest downside, then it fuels the reasoning even more as to why the RX 450h+ deserves some more recognition. Approximately 41,000 vehicles were involved in the former recall, and nearly 600,000 models in the second voluntary recall.