2025 Lexus RX 500h Review

Toyota created the first mass-market hybrid for its fuel efficiency, but an electric boost also can be used for performance, and the 2025 Lexus RX 500h is a fine example.

It’s one of four available versions of this midsize crossover available along with the gas-only RX 350, a lesser-powered hybrid dubbed the RX 350h, and the RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid (PHEV). All but the PHEV are built at Toyota’s plant in Cambridge, Ont., about 100 km west of Toronto.

The 2025 RX 500h starts at $84,444 including a non-negotiable delivery fee of $2,205. My tester was further optioned with a new-for-2025 Black Line Special Edition package for $8,635, bringing it to $93,079 before taxes.

Styling: 7/10

The RX is a good-looking vehicle from three of its sides, but Lexus’s so-called spindle grille has never really grown on me, and here even less so with the odd flat edge above it that makes that front end look even more odd than before. The cabin is a little plain, dominated by a massive infotainment screen, but there are quality materials and handsome metallic accents to make up for it.

Safety: 8.5/10

The RX gets the top five-star crash-test rating from the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). At the non-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), it got the top “Good” in most tests; but in the updated moderate front overlap, which now assesses potential injury to a rear-seat passenger as well as to those in front, it ranked “Poor.”

Standard driver-assist technologies include full-speed adaptive cruise control, emergency front and rear braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, road sign recognition, and the back-up camera that’s mandated on all new vehicles sold in Canada. Lane change assist, front cross-traffic alert, a self-parking feature, and panoramic cameras are part of available packages.

Features: 8/10

The RX 500h comes with heated and ventilated front and rear seats, power-folding rear seats, a heated power-adjustable steering wheel, 64-colour interior ambient lighting, a camera-based rearview mirror, head-up display, 12.3-inch digital instrument display — that feature is standard across the RX lineup for 2025 — plus a 14-inch touchscreen (other versions get a 9.8-inch display). It includes wireless smartphone connectivity via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with trial periods for subscription features such as navigation and mobile apps.

Two optional packages are available. In addition to the extra driver-assist features mentioned above, the F Sport Performance 3 adds triple-beam LED headlights with washers, adaptive high-beam control, a 12-speaker premium stereo, and a 1,500-watt inverter for an extra $5,800. The new Black Line Special Edition has all that plus illuminated door sills, orange brake calipers, grey-stitched and perforated leather, unique 21-inch wheels, branded floor and cargo mats, and black exterior accents for the $8,635 it adds to the asking price.

User-Friendliness: 7/10

While most of the RX’s climate functions are screen icons, they are generally easy to use; and cabin temperature is handled by simple dials, as is stereo volume. But the electronic gear selector is awkward, requiring a sideways tap before you then push or pull for a gear, plus a separate button for park.

I also don’t like the cruise control functions on the steering wheel. You move your thumb on a little touchpad, which opens an icon in the head-up display; from there, you figure out which side of the touchpad to tap to make things happen. If you don’t like using a head-up display, you’re now stuck with it anyway. Other RX models have buttons for these functions, and this just seems like tech for the sake of tech.

Practicality: 8/10

The RX lineup seats a maximum of five; a third row isn’t offered anymore after the larger Lexus TX was added to the lineup. At 838 L of cargo volume with the rear seats up the RX 500h isn’t class-leading, but it will still handle your shopping or luggage. Space increases to 1,308 L with the seats folded, but they don’t go flat. A hidden storage cubby keeps the wireless phone charger out of sight, and there’s a deep console bin between the seats. Press the cup holder bottom and it will drop down to keep taller drinks secured. Should you need to tow, maximum capacity is 1,585 kg (3,500 lb).

Comfort: 8/10

The RX 500h’s seats are sculpted and bolstered, and they’re as comfy and supportive as they look, but be sure all drivers in your household get a spin behind the wheel when you’re shopping. At 5-foot-9, my Other Half complained that the driver’s seat didn’t go back far enough. I’m five inches shorter and wished for that same chair to go higher. Rear-seat legroom is good and the 60/40 split folding bench has power-recline functionality, while the ride is smooth and supple.

Power: 8.5/10

The RX 500h uses a turbocharged 2.4L four-cylinder engine that works with a hybrid system, which together makes 367 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. As with all RX models, all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard, but more on that shortly. A six-speed automatic transmission handles shifting duties rather than a continuously variable transmission (CVT), giving a crisp, responsive feel when accelerating. It’s a self-charging hybrid, and doesn’t get plugged in; that’s what the RX 450h+ is for.

Driving Feel: 8/10

The RX 500h’s AWD system controls the electric motors on the front and rear axles for optimal and almost instant torque delivery, with the ability to focus up to 70 per cent of the available torque to the front, or up to 80 per cent to the rear as needed. Active four-wheel steering is standard, which can turn the rear wheels by up to four degrees to tighten its turning radius. You still won’t mistake it for one of the sportier German SUVs — you feel its weight, and the steering could be more communicative — but it’s surprisingly quick and more fun to drive than you might be expecting.

Fuel Economy: 8/10

The RX 500h is rated by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) at 8.7 L/100 km in the city, 8.4 on the highway, and 8.6 in combined driving. Surprisingly, I averaged 10.2 L/100 km. It’s unusual for me to be that far over the published rating, but several colleagues have reported going above it, too. Premium-grade fuel is required.

Value: 8/10

The RX 500h starts at $84,444 and goes to my tester’s $90,874 with the most expensive optional package. Getting into the gas-only RX 350 runs from $62,435 to $77,934; while the RX 350h hybrid is priced between $64,795 and $80,294. 

Meanwhile, the Japan-built RX 450+ PHEV comes in a single trim line at $89,155 before tax. Its features match my tester’s; and while it isn’t as powerful, it’s rated for 60 km of battery-only operation after it’s been plugged in and charged. When that’s depleted, it reverts to conventional hybrid operation and is rated at 6.7 L/100 km combined. The RX 500h doesn’t face a great deal of competition as a premium-brand hybrid; rivals such as the BMW xDrive50e, Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e, and Volvo XC60 and XC90 are plug-in hybrids.

The Verdict

With the top-tier version of the 2025 Lexus RX 500h offering the same features as the RX 450h+, it comes down to whether you want to spend on performance or efficiency. The RX 500h isn’t the absolute sportiest crossover on the market, but give it a test-drive: it just might surprise you.