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I'm wondering if all the 400h owners out there are happy with the mileage that they are getting at this point. I realize that is completely subjective and also that no one is getting the mileage promised on the sticker. But, compared to having bought a RX330, would you still have purchased your 400h? I'm close to buying one, having trouble getting the price down to where I want it (@$45k-ish. Best offer so far is $47k) and wondering if it is worth the extra $$. I live near Hartford, CT for what it's worth.
Any input would be welcome.
The 400h has an extremely smooth CVT trans, electric ac compressor, and power steering, immediate power at any
speed range and to me is a better driving experience than an rx 330 or 350. Once i drove the hybrid would not go back to the others.
In last 275 miles, i am getting 31.3mpg. This is mix of highway/city/country, fast/slow, traffic/free flow. Key appears to be keeping down G-forces when accelerating, but dont have to go slow. I was doing plenty of 70mph.
Wife, who likes to feel G-forces, tends to get 26-27.
I have never gotten much better than that.
Most of my driving is in the city, on relatively short trips around town, especially during the summer when I'm not taking certain trips I normally take on the freeway.
I believe my best sustained mileage was around 25.5. I guess you could say I'm not happy, at least with that aspect. I had an RX300 and I believe that car got close to 18-19 overall. It didn't have the power, but it rode better, was much better in terms of driver vision, and the Levinson sound system sounded better to my ears than the new one. Lexus didn't recommend premium fuel, either. I drove my RX400h for a while on regular and it runs fine, but to me it runs a little better on the 91 octane.
But it's hard not to like the vehicle, overall. I must say, I don't have a fetish about getting extremely high mileage, and wouldn't drive differently just to get better mileage. If I need to accelerate, I do. But I don't have a leadfoot, and don't see why my mileage would be much different than anybody's. Out in traffic there are always situations in which stepping on it might help, as for instance at a light in order to get past a slower vehicle, and change lanes. If I need it to go, I do step on it. If I'm in a hurry, or want to make a light, or whatever, I do give it the gas.
My guess is that I drive pretty much like most people, at least most who don't have a hybrid. I'm 55 and haven't gotten a ticket in about 15 years.
I wanted a hybrid vehicle for some time, but I am a little concerned over getting the best mileage... Any tips?
If the mileage is not working out well, can Lexus do anything? Like check the batteries, etc.? :confuse:
Thanks!
On these vehicles, as with non-hybrids rated for 87 octane, there is no mileage or performance benefits to running high octane gas. You simply pay $.20 extra with no benefit. The engine is designed with a low enough compression ratio for low octane. High octane gas resists self-detination at higher pressures, but unless your engine is designed to take advantage of this, there can be no benefit.
Note that on modern vehicles where premium (high octane) is recommended, you can run low octane without damage to the engine. The vehicle will compensate for the low octane by tweaking the timing, ignition, etc. (Note: older vehicles do not account for this and detination, and engine damage, can occur). When running low octane in modern premium-recommended vehicles, an associated decrease in performance and mileage will occur. But for an engine desinged for low octane, no performance or mileage increase can be realized by running premium.
On a related note, for an accurate 'operating cost' and mileage comparison, a person should consider the manufactures recommended octane when choosing a vehicle. For example, if a vehicle, where premium is recommended, gets 20mpg and another vehicle gets 20mpg with regular octane, and there is a $.20/gal price difference, over 20,000 miles, 1,000 gallons of gas is used. For that 1,000 gallons, a $.20/gal difference amounts to $200 extra for fuel costs from two vehicles that get the exact same mileage. (Your savings may vary if your area does not have a $.20/gal priced difference between Premium and regular).
So, not only does the RX hybrid get much better mileage, but it does so on $.20/gal cheaper regular gas rather than using premium gas like the RX330 non-hybrid.
Can you help with my confusion here?
In the NY-CT area on 87 octane we average 26-27 mpg, and 28 mpg if we take hour-plus trips and stay below 70 mph. I tried one tank of 91 octane last spring and mileage seemed to be 1-2 mpg higher, but that doesn't do more than pay for the higher price so we use 87 octane.
Speed makes a big difference--even if our mileage indicator has not been reset for over 200 miles, if we get up to 75 mph you can see the integrated mileage number drop in a matter of minutes.
Will by trying regular fuel next tank. $.30 differential doesn't seem worth it if no engine damage from 87 octane. Manual says it will run on it. And even says to use 87 octane with ethonal blends. Can't claim to understand it all.
Like the car. First car I've owned all tricked out like this.
For the first nine months I averaged between 28 and 30 mpg on regular gas. For some reason, I've been averaging only 22 to 23 mpg
for the last two months. Still buying gas at the same place and no change in driving habits. The dealer says nothing is wrong and refuses to do anything. Have you heard of any problems like this?
I live at 7,000 feet and have had a 2007 Lexus 400h for 11 months.
Current mileage is 9,500.
For the first nine months I averaged between 28 and 30 mpg on regular gas. For some reason, I've been averaging only 22 to 23 mpg
for the last two months. Still buying gas at the same place and no change in driving habits. It's impossible to drive even 4 mph without the engine turning on. But for the first 9 months I could drive 20 to 30 mph on electric power alone.
The dealer says nothing is wrong and refuses to do anything. Have you heard of any problems like this?
Incidentally, it is winter here and I thought perhaps using the heater would require the engine to stay on. So I turned off the heater for about 20 miles and started monitoring mpg from zero. I ended up with 22.4 mpg.
I'm guessing the Toyota firmware is the same in your RX400h as it is in my Prius.
1) The heater does want to be ready to serve and hence the motor runs all the time during cold weather, particularly at stop lights and any acceleration at all.
2) Ethanol blends here in Colorado during the winter months at 10% lower my mileage by *exactly* 10%. So that's 2.8mpg less for you plus the heater...
Try taking a road trip to boost your mileage.. Seems to help over the city driving in the winter.
Good Day, John
of California's emission standards? The AWD feature uses electric motors on the rear wheels.
At 6000 miles, my overall average is 21 mpg according to the car's computer.
RX400h (AWD) 2007 :confuse:
for pollutant and gas savings. :lemon:
I sometimes use premium regular gas and sometimes use less octane but never lower than 87%. The car still looks fab and it is so much more comfortable and safer than the smaller hybrid SUVs and Prius. I plan to keep this SUV for a long time. I will never buy any car unless it is a hybrid. I just bought a hybrid Tribute Grand Touring 2008 for a relative and this is a great car, too but smaller. The dealer I use in Fort Myers provides excellent service, free car washes, car loans and a genuine "white glove" experience.
if using the whole tank of gas then you run the risk of running out to deplete the gas tank don't you? Am i making sense??????
I really would like an accurate read of my gas mileage -- thinking of switching to this car -as my Acura MDX 2005 is a gas hog -- think i get 17 average, not awful but not good in this economy.
your note makes the car sound wonderful and I am achieving an average of 17 mpg with my Acura mdx.
Hope that helps.
I bought when the 400h first came out in 2005 and I had a reduction in pricing also by negotiating. The prices seem different now but I have not checked into them. The best approach is to use the Edmunds.com procedure to calculate what people are paying for the new Lexus 400h with references to invoice and MSRP.
Note: when I bought the hybrid Lexus, the twin non-hybrid RX330 was getting about half the fuel economy as the 400h.
Yes, I like the Lexus 400h...I also bought one for my daughter when I bought mine.
And if you could tell me - what would the car sell for in your area? FL correct? I am sure that the prices in my are are much higher- the Northeast (i live in CT).
Also recently drove and loved the EX Infiniti but for the price - it's an awfully small SUV (hard to even consider it one) it's more like a high stationwagon version of their G.
I am still very unsure of a good choice for my next car. (have a 2005 MDX now) I may have to wait for decent model to come out.
The MSRP at that time was about $50,000 plus she added over $2,000 for an upgraded audio system. We did not actually pay full MSRP because we negotiated from invoice with some extras to be thrown in and free maintenance for several years.
I also traded in a car for which I was given a "good" price and this lowered my sales tax on the new 400h. I usually do not trade in cars.. I sell them or give them to a close relative after buying a new car and using it for many years. I had never bought an "expensive car" before the Lexus and I am reminded many times of the value I received for the higher price. For example, the original Michelin tires on our 400h cars were of higher quality than the original tires provided by less-expensive cars. I was surprised recently when my daughter had a "cut" tire and needed a new tire. She was told she could put on the spare and use it. the spare tire was the same size and quality as the four originals. The Ft Myers dealership offers good service and always washes the cars whenever an owner wants it done either dropping by or with a service appt so that adds value to the purchase.
I like the 400h because it is larger, heavier, more comfortable and, IMO, more safe
when compared to the less-expensive hybrids.
I believe the new 400h cars offer a different pricing...use of a lower base price with additional charges for some things that were considered as part of the base price when we bought. So, the current base prices are lower in comparison to what we bought.
Frankly, when I bought my 400h, I was looking for a better fuel economy in a more "luxury" car and the Toyota hybrid Highlander was the only similar car. I did not realize that I would be getting much better performance using a hybrid Lexus . I did not mind getting lower mpg because the Lexus was so much larger than other hybrid SUVs/midSUVs My mpg ranges about 27 in city and higher on the highway but I almost always have the A/C on. Anyway, I only think that there are two hybrid models now in the Lexus.. the SUV and a car.
It is a good idea to look at the IRS.gov fuel economy list for seeing the hybrid models that still give you a tax credit. I just bought a mid-sized hybrid SUV for my granddaughter because I will get a tax credit of $3,000 on that model. This is a Mazda Grand Touring Tribute FWD, automatic, with upgrades. I had to buy this in California and spend $1,036 to put it on a car carrier to ship to my home in deep SW Florida. I bought in CA because the hybrid Tributes are only available there on a 350 total car production on a limited basis for sale in CA. I titled the Tribute in FL as a "new" car.
I had shopped in Florida using Internet Depts and the similar to Mazda hybrid mid-sized SUVs of Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner were not available much at all in Florida AND the prices for the hybrids were actually higher than the Mazda Tribute.
Since the Mazda Tribute hybrid had much better interior quality, IMO, we did not really like the Escape and Mariner although the Mariner looked better inside than the Escape. Her Tribute, with extras on it, gets about 36 mpg in city and perhaps a few miles lower on the highway (reverse of my Lexus).
I recommend like the Mazda Tribute hybrid for someone who does a lot of city driving and does not mind a smaller SUV than the Lexus.
I am very satisfied with my 400h. I could not justify an SUV without the mileage boost from the hybrid.
So i'm thinking of getting a used hybrid and I heard that you can go on battery alone up to 30mph. So if my work commute is less than 2 miles local on relatively flat road, does that mean i can run on electric forever???
Probably not because I guess the battery will eventually drain. But i figure with some regenerative braking, it can go for awhile w/o filling up. I have no experience with hybrids, so I'm clueless.
What kind of MPG can I expect if I use the hybrid solely for work commute and keep it under 30mph?
Also, are the maintenance cost higher than a regular 350? Wouldn't the battery die eventually and have to be replaced? I would expect this to be quite expensive.
thanks
I'm averaging about 27 mpg in very mixed driving, about 20% slow city driving, 40% 30-50mph urban, and 40% highway at 65mph. Per other posts here, a couple of very short trips to the store, where the car didn't get a chance to warm up, has pulled the mileage down. I've had some 30 mpg days when I didn't get on the highway at all. Highway driving seems to yield about 27-28 mpg. It's an awesome car considering all it can do and still pull that kind of mileage.
Before Lexus, I had Prius 2007, and for the first few months I had pretty good MPG about 45-50 average. but then I went to 40, or even 38.
I understand that my driving habits were changed significantly over the time, and the car itself is getting older and not so performant as before.
Anyway, my question is: does someone experience the same MPG degradation over the time?