Staff photo by Mark Kennedy /
The 2019 Lexus RX450h has an attractive, two-tone interior.The Lexus RX, as much as any other vehicle, is the crossover that KO’d the luxury family sedan.
For suburban Chattanooga moms of a certain income level, the RX mid-size crossover is the default luxury vehicle. Its legendary comfort and durability are a potent one-two combination for upper-middle class buyers who treasure these two virtues.
If you add great fuel economy and sporty styling to your must-have list, you land on this week’s tester, the 2019 Lexus RX450h F Sport, the hybrid version of the RX overlaid with a list of visual and technical upgrades included in the F Sport trim package. As a bonus, the RX450h adds 31 mpg highway, 28 mpg city fuel economy numbers.
During a one-week trial in our Matador Red Mica Lexus tester, we sampled the RX450h while doing mostly highway driving, where this top-selling Lexus really shines. On Interstate highways, with its radar-powered cruise control engaged, the RX450h turns what could be an exhausting drive into a relaxing trip.
FAST FACTS
* Model: 2019 Lexus RX450h F Sport* Exterior color: Matador Red Mica* Interior color: Stratus Gray* Engine: 3.5-liter six-cylinder gas engine, plus two electric motors* Horsepower: 308 hp* Transmission: Continuously Variable* Fuel economy: 31 mpg highway, 28 mpg city* Local Dealer: Lexus of Chattanooga* Price (as tested): $61,854