I Test Drove the 2025 Lexus RX 350h F-Sport AWD: Here’s the Real Verdict

I Test Drove the 2025 Lexus RX 350h F-Sport AWD: Here’s the Real Verdict originally appeared on Autoblog.

There are plenty of AWD hybrid SUVs to choose from. So, what makes the Lexus RX 350h worth the added cost?

In a world where an AWD hybrid SUV is spotted in every other suburban driveway, and at least two options from nearly every manufacturer to choose from at various price ranges, you’d be the weird one for not having a hybrid SUV—all-wheel drive or otherwise. The Toyota RAV4 and Highlander hybrid are the two most popular AWD hybrid SUVs in Bend, and I remember seeing them everywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area, too. And there’s a good reason they’re so popular: they offer a plethora of options at a flexible price range.

Kristen Brown

All that is to prepare the question: when the RAV4 and Crown Signia both have a maximum price of around $47,000, what makes the 2025 Lexus RX 350h F-Sport AWD worth buying over those two options? Especially when the maximum price is $57,455 MSRP? After having the Lexus for a week, there are certainly a few good reasons to choose luxury over the RAV4 or Crown Signia. Let’s get into whether or not I think it’s worth the extra dough.

The exterior and design definitely earn extra points

Lexus doesn’t try as hard to hide its Toyota roots like Genesis hides its Hyundai roots, yet, stylistically, Lexus looks and feels like a completely different company that utilizes the best of Toyota’s technology. For instance, the Lexus RX shares the same platform and hybrid powertrain as the Toyota Crown Signia, but the styling and interior design feel completely different. As someone who prefers to like the way their car drives and looks, I prefer the looks of the Lexus over its Toyota counterpart. Both have similar grille designs, but the headlights, wheel design, and color all look more premium to me.

I’m usually very tough on interiors that don’t have a lot of personality. One of my biggest gripes with Lexus (and some Toyota) interiors is the flat black interiors. Granted, leather adds a pleasant look and smell to a car’s interior, but when there isn’t even contrast stitching to break things up a little bit, an all-black interior tends to bore me pretty quickly. At first, the RX had that effect on me. Lexus offers different colors for it, like a decadent Rioja Red with Dark Graphite accent trimming, or creamy tan leather with Ash Bamboo accenting. I’d opt for the red leather since it would be a unique and very sexy look for the luxurious Lexus.

Kristen Brown

The interior layout was both handsome and familiar, with my only gripe being the placement of the Engine Start/Stop button. It was at the very top left corner of the standard 9.8 or optional 14-inch multimedia screen, instead of being to the right of the steering wheel. This isn’t a dealbreaker, just something that took a few days to get used to. I prefer a more open interior, so the low-seating position in the sportier Lexus RX took a while for me to warm up to. But that wasn’t anything a quick seat adjustment couldn’t fix.

An RX 350h can be the tame MPG champ or a performance pony

The RX 350h’s driving controls spell out how capable it is for everyday driving, while other controls suggest it’s ready for the occasional spirited drive (“F-Sport” enters from stage right). On the shifter, there are the typical gears, and then there’s “M” for manual for those who like paddle shifters. Don’t be fooled, though–there aren’t any true gears in the RX. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes a combined 246 horsepower is paired with a CVT, not a standard transmission. Obviously, this is how you achieve over 30 mpg combined (when I had it, I was averaging 34 mpg), but it could be a dealbreaker for purists. I didn’t mind the CVT; it felt very responsive, rather than rubbery.

When you put it into Sport mode, though, it’s hard to believe that it’s a CVT. It hung onto the “gears” a little longer to pull the SUV through tight turns and corners, and it did an amazing job. It doesn’t have electronically adjustable suspension, but the RX didn’t need it as the ride quality wasn’t too soft and it wasn’t too stiff, either. It had just the right amount of feedback and a good amount of absorption. My youngest slept every time she was in the Lexus, and she had a hard time sleeping in any car since there was so much to look at.

Kristen Brown

The AWD helped give it a little more oomph, too. When starting from a stop, the Lexus launched with almost startling agility, and it stayed poised and planted when accelerating. In Sport mode, the AWD is tuned to bias the rear wheels and move power where it needs to, helping transform the eco-friendly grocery getter into a spicier errand-runner. Regardless of which direction you take, the Lexus is ready for it, and it was enjoyable to drive either way.

It was great as a family hauler, too

Being roughly the same size as a Crown Signia (both have identical wheelbase lengths, but the Lexus is wider while the Toyota is longer, and they’re the same height), there was plenty of space for the whole family. My two toddlers and their car seats fit perfectly fine, and their seats were very simple to install. The lower anchors were easy to find, and securing the buckles took minimal effort. The upper tethers were on the back of the rear seats, and the anchor point was secured by simply snaking it behind the tonneau cover. Easy peasy. The cargo space was plenty for a family of two or even three, with enough room for a double stroller and a diaper bag. You wouldn’t need to take anything out to make room for your Costco haul.

I also greatly appreciated how easy it was to control the rear climate controls from the main media screen. When I had the Lexus to review, it was quite warm, so being able to set the fan speed and temperature helped me keep my cool (literally) and not worry so much about how warm my toddlers were. They both liked the size of the rear windows and the large panoramic sunroof. They’re hard to please when they’re in the car, and it was nice to see them happy in the back seats.

Kristen Brown

When I took the rear seats out, the back seats were great for adults, too. There was more than enough legroom for taller folks, charging ports, customizable climate controls for both sides, cup holders, and an armrest with additional cupholders integrated into the middle seat that can fold down. When my husband was driving so I could experience the rear seats, I felt like I was being chauffeured. I would have no problem sitting back there for a long road trip. Mentally, I added it to my list of cars I’d pay to rent while on vacation, no doubt.

There are a lot of options for the RX 350

There are so many choices for the Lexus RX that it’s almost overwhelming. It can be bought as a gas-only car, a performance-oriented SUV with a turbocharged engine, a standard hybrid, a performance hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, and a performance plug-in hybrid. There’s also an option for a blacked-out package. Due to the numerous options, prices vary significantly, ranging from $50,475 for the standard RX 350 to $63,270 for the RX 350h Luxury. It’s a little much when the size and options suggest it’s more of a family SUV, but when other luxury SUVs around the same size are considered, the pricing isn’t that terrible.

Final thoughts

Whether or not the 2025 Lexus RX 350h F-Sport AWD is worth the money depends on how important a name brand is to the person doing the car shopping. Lexus is consistently being recognized as one of the most reliable brands you can buy right now, and that’s thanks to its Toyota roots. Toyota is known for its hybrid technology and reliability, so it’s not at all surprising that the two brands are always battling for the top two spots on the reliability charts.

Kristen Brown

Buying a Lexus is never a bad decision–but in this economy, it’s difficult for me to rationalize paying extra for the ability to say, “I drive a Lexus,” when the same technology is in the Crown Signia or RAV4. Some people enjoy climbing into a car that represents the pinnacle of luxury and reliability, though, and the Lexus RX 350h is just that.

I Test Drove the 2025 Lexus RX 350h F-Sport AWD: Here’s the Real Verdict first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 8, 2025

This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.