A Subtle Shade of Green

Though we tried the Lexus RX 400h on a couple of dirt roads, Lexus engineers were quick to point out that although the RX 400h is technically an all-wheel-drive vehicle, it’s not a capable off-roader. True, the mass majority that will buy this hybrid SUV won’t ever take it on anything more challenging than a graded dirt road, or on snow. However, it is important to note that sand is to be avoided. Since the rear electric motor is air-cooled, there’s a concern for excessive heat build up, which would cause the system to shut down (to protect itself), temporarily leaving the RX 400h's passengers stranded. Not good when the tide is coming in. If you want to go off road, or drive on the beach, the 2006 Lexus RX 400h is not for you.

Don't expect fellow motorists to immediately identify you as environmentally responsible if you're driving a 2006 Lexus RFX 400h. It looks like a clone of the RX 330, though Lexus sprinkled a few practical additions to the design for the purposes of differentiation, such as a new front grille, a secondary bumper grille to aid electronics cooling, round fog lamps, and rear LED tail lamps.