How much is car insurance for the Lexus RX 450h?

The Lexus RX 450h has it all — luxurious comfort, strong performance and fuel-efficient hybrid technology. With such a winning combination, it’s no surprise this hybrid is becoming a well established member of the Lexus SUV lineup.

How much is car insurance for the Lexus RX 450h?

Simply type in your zip code to look for the cheapest quotes available from leading car insurance companies and start your new car search by reading a Lexus RX 450h review below.

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Luxury and Fuel Efficiency: A Winning Combination

Reviewers are generous with their praise for the Lexus RX 450h. Edmunds.com says that, despite hybrid SUV competition from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volkswagen, the RX 450h “remains our recommended choice for a luxury hybrid crossover SUV.” U.S. News & World Report calls its combination of hybrid technology and high-end luxury “very satisfying.” According to HybridCARS, the Lexus RX 450h is unique among luxury hybrids because its fuel savings are substantial enough to pay for the added cost of its hybrid technology. EPA estimates are an impressive 30 mpg city/28 mpg highway with all-wheel drive, and 32 mpg city/28 mpg highway with front-wheel drive.

The five-passenger Lexus RX 450h is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 gas engine and a continuously variable transmission with sequential shift and snow modes. The gas engine combines with two electric motors in the front-wheel drive model, or three electric motors in the all-wheel drive model, to yield 295 combined horsepower. The driver has the option to engage an electric-only mode for low speeds, and an ECO mode to optimize air conditioning and throttle inputs. Regenerative braking and an exhaust-heat recovery system intended to accelerate engine warm-up are two features that enhance the hybrid performance. As for driving performance and the other qualities a luxury SUV owner expects, reviewers are clear that this is a true Lexus luxury vehicle which just so happens to be a successful hybrid. In other words, expect no compromises in quality, driveability or available luxury and technology options.

Starting at $43,935, the Lexus RX 450h is noticeably more expensive than some gas-only luxury SUVs, as reviewers are quick to point out. However, Edmunds.com also remarks that it is less expensive than comparable luxury hybrid SUVs, with the notable exception of the Audi Q5 Hybrid — a livelier SUV but, overall, a less practical and refined ride.

How Safe is the Lexus RX 450h?

With 0-to-60 mph acceleration in under eight seconds, the Lexus RX 450h is powerful despite its fuel-efficient aspirations. To match this performance with an equal measure of safety, its large, four-wheel, power-assisted disc brakes operate with electronic-controlled, anti-lock braking, electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist. A total of 10 air bags, the most available in its class, includes front seat-mounted side-impact air bags that deploy a larger area of coverage than normal. In addition, driver’s and front passenger’s dual-stage front air bags and knee air bags, as well as a front passenger size sensor, add further protection, as do roll-sensing side curtain air bags for front and rear seats, as well as outboard rear seat-mounted air bags.

Other safety features include vehicle stability control, vehicle traction control, front and rear crumple zones, active front headrests, tire pressure monitoring, rain-sensing wipers, available roadside assistance, and a collision-sensing system that engages seat belts and brake assist prior to impact. Some safety-oriented options include a backup camera, parking assist, and, on the all-wheel drive model, a side monitor system and a radar cruise control feature that engages the brakes if the RX is following too close to the vehicle in front.

With this impressive list of features, does the Lexus RX 450h perform well in crash evaluations? Although the hybrid RX was not specifically tested, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave a similar RX model the highest rating in all categories and named the Lexus RX a Top Safety Pick in both 2010 and 2011. The federal government, through its National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, tested the 2011 Lexus RX 450h according to its stricter new criteria and awarded it four out of five stars overall. According to an earlier testing method, the 2010 RX 450h received the top rating of five stars for all impact categories with the exception of four stars for rollover. These scores are reassuring, as are positive safety reviews from reviewers who like the RX 450’s extensive list of safety equipment noted above.

How Much is car insurance per month for the Lexus RX 450h?

Most sources estimate the average cost to insure a Lexus RX 450h at around $1500 to $1650 annually – or $125 to $135 a month. Car insurance premiums for the front-wheel drive version priced a little lower than that of its all-wheel drive sibling. While some conventional SUVs may cost you less to insure than the Lexus RX 450h, remember that the RX 450h has the added expense of its hybrid technology as well as its generous luxury features, all of which increase statistical repair cost averages.

This average insurance price range is merely your point of departure, however, because other factors will affect your personalized quotes, including your age, gender and location, as well as your credit score, annual mileage, driving record and multi-policy bundling discounts. Other factors relevant to statistical calculations of risk may come into play as well. These variables can have a substantial upward or downward effect on the quotes offered to you; for example, if you live in a state with low average car insurance rates, you many pay less than half the annual premium of a similar driver in a costlier area of the country, especially if you live in a town with a low incidence of car theft and vandalism.

In addition to these variables, heavy competition between car insurers will affect how cheaply you can insure a Lexus RX 450h. With this in mind, enter your zip code now to shop for the lowest car insurance prices available!

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