Autocar Reviews the Lexus RX 450h
Autocar’s quick review of the Lexus RX 450h is very complimentary of the hybrid’s new driving experience, and contains a very interesting passage I thought worth pointing out:
And because this is the Euro-spec RX, it gets retuned suspension and a retuned power management unit that will provide better off the line acceleration but still (Lexus claims) return comparable fuel consumption.
..the handling and ride is much better. It’s calm and resolved at speed, and feels well tied down on the twisty Hungarian B-roads I tried it on – the new electronic roll bars (Lexus calls it Active Stabiliser System) help, but even without them the RX is flop free and precise, which makes it comfortable and easy to hustle through windy roads quickly. You might even enjoy yourself…
Even though it’s quite common for vehicles to have different spring/damper settings to better deal with Europe’s roads, I wonder if Lexus Europe wanted to avoid one of the North American complaints that the new RX450h is slower than the outgoing RX400h, even if it meant sacrificing fuel economy.
Update: Looks like this Euro-spec suspension might just be the optional Sports package.
[Source: Autocar]
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on the bottom of the article, it said that 0-62 as 7.8 seconds which is definately comparable to the US Spec. what I am surprised to see is active stabalizer bars as part of the car. thats very interesting as only the GS has that function
but does speed really matter when it comes to hybrids much? sure its nice to have a sub 8 0-60 on a hybrid but i hate it when car mags put Lexus down cause the hybrids are slow…no Lexus is slow, i know that from experience. im not saying speed isnt important but sometimes they make it seem like its the ONLY thing that matters.
Motor journalists are often quite preoccupied with “sports”-handling etc. even in family cars. RX400h got flak for being to plushy (justified IMO), so I think it is a strategy from Lexus Europe to supply reviewers with the most sporty options for the 450. All reviews I’ve seen here also praises the 450 for the handling improvements compared to the 400. One reviewer even labeled it “best drivetrain ever”
Active Stabiliser Suspension is optional in the LS600hL also.
Most auto mags are biased against Lexus, but Autocar’s reviews of Lexus cars have been positive lately.
Hey guys this is an off topic question, but does anyone know how to switch the GPS from a white background to a black background? We have an 08 ES 350, the white background can be distracting at night. I thought it couldn’t be changed but then I found this video. Watch it about 30 seconds in:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sFywai40qw
Could someone please help? Thank you!
maybe you should think about joining a lexus forum like clublexus.com/forums or lexusownersclub.
just FYI, you can have the screen in black at night, or you can just have it with the white background but dimmer.
option 1: at night, click display on the nav button. then there should be a button to click called “night mode” or something. you must do this at night with the headlights on. from now on evertime the headlights turn off, the white comes back, and then when the headlights are on, the black background comes back
option 2: to have it just dim a whiter background, you need to find the knob that increases/decreses the interior lights (including the guages). this knob should be behind the steering wheel off the to the side near the ODO button. first the function of the knob is turning it all the way clockise will turn the interior lights brighter, and turning it counter will turn off the interior lights completely. I am of course talking about the background lighting behind all the buttons when the headlights are on. What you need to do then is notice that there is a resistance on the far clockwise part of the knob. you need to not be in that resistance, but right before it. Ill clarify this later if you dont understand, it is hard without a video
What’s weird is that Edmunds managed 7.6s in the RX450h—so this whole idea that there’s a Euro-spec RX seems questionable. Rather than Europe-only, I have a suspicion Autocar drove a RX with Sports package.
You’re absolutely right, there’s more to any vehicle than its 0-60—especially when the vehicle is an SUV and not a sports car.
Thanks for looking into this, Josh. Much appreciated. Jay, let us know if this works for you.
Just to clarify, if the instrument panel brightness is set to maximum, the GPS screen will remain white and night mode is disabled.
If the instrument panel brightness is set to maximum, by understanding is that the Nav can still be in night mode. if it was in day mode, then will will not dim to a darker white
Thanks for the tip Josh. Unfortunately there is no “night mode” button. However there is an option to turn the screen off completely.
I remember a friend of mine had an 05’ RX, the GPS switched to a black background automatically when the headlights were switched on. A few months ago we got an 08 RX loaner and I don’t remember the navi having that function. Maybe Lexus decided to discontinue that feature?
Like I said before, if the instrument panel is set to MAX brightness, the Night Mode button disappears. You have to lower the instrument panel brightness. Night Mode is still available, but only if your instrument panel is not set to max brightness.
Also, it depends if you have set the headlights to automatically engage at night. If the headlights are switched to manual/off, the Night Mode may not engage either.
When I tried it the brightness and contrast were both set to half and my headlights were on and set on auto. Should the headlights be off and set on auto? Should I try to turn the brightness and contrast all the way down?
this is very strange indeed. in my 04 RX330, i have night mode even at full brightness
THAT WAS IT! As soon as I dimmed the instrument panel lights night mode appeared on the Display Screen. Thanks Dan!