A wonderful vehicle, but does it justify its $5,000 price bump?

Is the 2010 Lexus RX 450h worth the hype? The price?

With the exception of the much less powerful hybrid versions of the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner, the 295-horsepower 2010 Lexus RX 450h is rated by the EPA as the most fuel-efficient SUV on the road. That's definitely something to be proud of, but real-world fuel economy is disappointing. Granted, 24.2 mpg sounds impressive for an SUV pushing nearly 300 horses, but that figure loses its luster when you paid an extra $5,000 for something you thought would be closer to 30 mpg. As is the case with hybrids in general, the redesigned Lexus RX 450h best serves drivers who spend the majority of their time traveling at slow speeds and in stop-and-go traffic, where the gas engine is used sparingly and fuel economy is maximized. For others, the added expense that comes with the 450h badge is hard to justify.

Lexus RX 450h Research
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