Performance Leans Into Hybrid Power
Hustling along what passes for a twisty road in Southeastern Wisconsin, the 2025 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance is doing its best impression of a sporty SUV. I’m not buying it.
This top-of-the-line hybrid draws its power from a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission and permanent magnetic synchronous electric motors in the front and rear. But it sounds more guttural than expected, like a tuned V6. That can’t be right. It has to be synthetic.
A few miles down the road, I dig into the vehicle menus in the 14.0-inch touchscreen and find an Active Sound Control screen with settings for High, Medium, Low, and Off. It’s on High. I was right, gosh darn it. It's all artificial, like the automotive equivalent of autotune.
F Sport Performance Bits
Lexus imbues this high-end hybrid with sporty cues, both mechanical and cosmetic, most of which are exclusive to the F Sport Performance model or shared with the F Sport Handling trim. It comes with standard adaptive dampers with a Sport setting, larger 15.7-inch front rotors clamped down by black-painted six-piston calipers, and rear-axle steering, all riding on big 21-inch wheels.
The F Sport Performance model also gets a unique front fascia, grille and rear valance treatments. Inside, the cabin is dressed up with leather upholstery (in striking Rioja Red), sport seats with large bolsters, aluminum-trimmed pedals, and a surprisingly small, perforated leather steering wheel.
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The mechanical bits do their best to wrangle the RX 500h’s body through corners, but I wouldn’t call it sporty. The steering is surprisingly direct, though not particularly quick. With 8.1 inches of ground clearance, the RX 500h leans in turns, though the dampers’ Sport setting fights diligently against that. Still, it feels tall and wide, not exactly lithe.
Most of all, though, the RX was built for luxury, not handling, and it doesn’t want to rotate willingly when I attack corners. It prefers to push, and I have to get harder on the brakes than I'd like to get the front end pointed toward my intended path. The rear-axle steering doesn’t really help here. It can turn the rear wheels up to four degrees opposite the fronts, but that happens at parking lot speeds, not when negotiating twists and turns.
The 21-inch wheels feel like too much as well. The twistiest road I can find is also riddled with broken pavement. The 235/50R21 Bridgestone Alenza Sport A/S tires don’t crash over the bumps, but they do send some sharp impacts through the cabin. A smaller, lighter wheel-and-tire combination would improve both ride quality and handling.
When put to the test on a twisty road, the RX 500h F Sport Performance feels like a sporty crossover wannabe, not the real thing. It’s controlled, but in a somewhat artificial way. It’s certainly firmer than other RX models, but if you want real sport, shop the Germans.
Real Hybrid Power
The power is real, though. The turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder puts out 271 horsepower on its own. With the help of two electric motors, total system output hits 366 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The rear motor gives the RX 500h standard all-wheel drive.
Unlike other RX hybrids, which use a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), the RX 500h has a six-speed automatic transmission, which is better for power delivery here.
We think the RX 500h blends its power well. Torque is ready from a stop and remains strong. The six-speed automatic generally keeps the engine in its power band with clean, positive shifts, not the slurred effect you get with a CVT. Standard paddle shifters let me take control, but I default back to the transmission programming after only a few miles.
In a world of 600-plus-horsepower electric vehicles, 366 horses isn’t exactly crazy, but it gets the RX 500h moving quickly. Lexus says it hits 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, and that feels perfectly doable. That’s about as fast as a turbocharged V6, but turning off the Active Sound Control reveals a normal, well-muffled turbocharged four-cylinder.
This hybrid powertrain is more efficient than any turbo V6. Its EPA rating is 27 mpg, 28 highway, and 27 combined. That’s better than many gas rivals, especially given the power, but it’s not nearly as efficient as what other Lexus and Toyota hybrids achieve.
Comfortable, High-Tech Cabin
In addition to the sporty features, the RX 500h F Sport Performance model benefits from the RX’s roomy and high-tech cabin treatment. It comes standard with a 14.0-inch touchscreen and a head-up display. The touchscreen sits within easy reach and reacts quickly to inputs. Buyers also get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, cloud navigation, and Lexus Intelligent Assist that can control various vehicle features using the “Hey Lexus” voice command.
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The head-up display is quite unique. It's controlled by four-way touch-sensitive pads on either side of the steering wheel and handles functions like cruise control, audio, voice commands, and more. These menus show up in the standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, too.
Comfort remains one of the RX’s greatest strengths. The front seats are roomy and supportive, with eight-way power adjustments, and the second row has good head- and legroom for taller adults. Power-folding seats in the second row expand cargo space from a healthy 29.6 cubic feet to a more useful but surprisingly small for the class 46.2 cubic feet.
Premium Features, Premium Price
The 2025 Lexus RX ‘s MSRP starts at about $51,675 for the RX 350 and $53,825 for the hybrid RX 350h. The RX 500h F Sport Performance sits at the top of the lineup and is priced accordingly, starting at $67,500, including a $1,350 destination charge.
For that money, buyers get a roomy, luxurious hybrid crossover that balances power and fuel economy. Despite the F Sport name, it’s only artificially sporty, but it retains traditional RX comfort. Should you get one, skip the artificial sound. It has plenty of power without the theatrics, and the natural engine note makes it sound more like a genuine Lexus RX.
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