Toyota/Lexus Hybrid Owners: Tell Me About Your Experiences

[Qs Laptop]

I have a 2017 rv 350 f sport, really like the car but it has 85k on it and I am sure needs $2-3k repairs due. Thought maybe I would buy a new one but they’re bigger with smaller 4 cy engine(I have v6). After looking I think I might just repair and keep driving even though I could easily afford new. Just not happy with the new models offered. Any thoughts?

Found this last night while surfing YouTube. A side-by-side comparison of the old style Lexus RX350 F Sport vs. the new style RX350 F Sport.

The first half is mostly a walkaround of the exterior and pointing out differences. I found the interior comparisons to be more compelling. The interior stuff starts at 11:50 on the timeline.

 

[TrvlBug]

We went shopping yesterday and had an eye opening experience. The Hybred Highlander limited does have all those features, but we found exactly 1 in stock around us within 60 miles. it was a grey one,and she is looking for another color. The problem as we were told is that with Toyota they have to look at what is coming in on their next allotment and they are all having problems getting the Highlanders, since they have come out with the "Grand Highlanders". We test drove a Subaru Forester Touring and she really likes it. I like the grounded feeling it had but I'm just starting my research into them. I know their are a lot of them on the road but I'm wondering about the full time 4wheel drive down the road. We have Dr. appointments and other things we have to do for the rest of the week but will be on the hunt again next week. One thing I heard is that the dealers don't negociate, sticker price on vehicle is price you pay and no games. anyone know for sure?
Thanks.

We are having the same issue with Lexus. DH has decided on an ES350 Luxury and there is 1 to be had within 250 miles of us, but the wrong color. Our local dealerships have less than a dozen cars on their lots. We put down a deposit yesterday and are waiting for the allotments to roll in...we might get a car within 2 weeks or 2 months and there will be a lot of other junk on the car that we don't want as you cannot custom order from either Toyota or Lexus. We expect to pay sticker price. Neither Edmunds or KBB has a 'what you should expect to pay for this car' price listed on their sites. Good luck in your search.

 

[Texas Proud]

Not trying to be political here.... but I wonder what will happen to prices if tariffs hit?

I have been thinking about getting DW a new vehicle but would like to wait a year or two when DD is out of college and off our insurance... she costs a LOT...

 

[dougmyers100]

I would lean towards the Toyota. With the Lexus, you have to use premium gas so that drives up the cost/mile significantly.

 

[EvanC]

My wife and I have a 2022 Lexus ES 300 H. I can’t say enough good things about this fabulous smooth, running powerful car. We bought it new and we currently have that 18,000 miles And consistently get between 40 and 44 miles per gallon.

Prior to this we had a 2012 Lexus ES350
When we sold it, it had 80,000 miles on it No mechanical troubles at all.
We have a good relationship with a local mechanic to change the oil every 3500 miles, breaks, etc. as needed. This non-hybrid consistently got 22 miles per gallon.

We do love Lexus/Toyota
Hope this helps but I’m sure it’s nothing. You don’t already know.

 

[Texas Proud]

I would lean towards the Toyota. With the Lexus, you have to use premium gas so that drives up the cost/mile significantly.

Is it required or recommended?

My sister has a car that recommends it, but it works just fine with regular but with a few less HP.

BTW, I know octane does not add HP... but the engine retards the timing on regular so you lose a few HP.

 

[ringtail]

I'm looking at possibly buying a Lexus RX350 Hybrid or a Toyota Signia Hybrid. I'm determined to get good gas mileage and the famed Toyota reliability. I figure the Toyota/Lexus hybrid system is the way to go.

So, if you own or have owned a Toyota or Lexus brand vehicle with the four (or six) cylinder hybrid system please tell me about it.
What do you like about it?
What don't you like about it?
What were you getting for mpg?
What year/make/model?
Did anything go wrong with it?
If so, what happened and how many miles were on it?

NOTE: I don't want to hear about Honda hybrids, Hyundai hybrids, or other manufacturer's hybrids. Only Toyota/Lexus.
I also don't want to hear about why plug-in hybrids are the way to go or why fully EV's are the way to go.

Just sold my 2008 Prius, which was a fantastic car. Still on the original hybrid batteries, 50+mpg in summer, 47 or so in winter. Unfortunately, Toyota at that time was experimenting with an expandable gas tank which over time loses flexibility, so by the end I was only able to put 2-3 gallons in at a fill. And to replace it would have been prohibitively expensive - but other repairs over the years were well below what I was used to.

My replacement car is a Camry. So far (winter only) I'm getting 46 mpg, and that included a warm snap so it looks like I'll be getting slightly worse mileage. You'd think in 17 years, it would get better.

Likes (both cars): gas mileage, trunk room, noise, stability in snow
Dislikes (both cars): Cannot see the 'corners' of the car so parking is harder than it should be. So many SUVs in our area that it can be hard to see in traffic or when backing out of parking spaces.

 

[swabby01]

In 2017 after totaling my MB E350 I shifted toward a hybrid. The vehicle that checked most of the boxes was an RX450h F-Sport which there is no equivalent now for - If there were it would be an RX350h Luxury FSport given that doesn't exist I am looking for a RX350h Luxury. I am very happy with the car overall. I like the styling a lot as a matter of fact I am trying to trade mine in for a new version. The overall average gas mileage since i took it off the lot has been 26.5mpg. When I was able to drive the car only on surface streets from home to work (before I retired) it averaged 28.5mpg, freeway driving really does reduce overall mileage. The only thing that ever broke on the car was the inside cover that moves when you open the panorama sunroof. It happened when it was brand new and the replaced the broken parts and has never been an issue since.
Why trade ? The 2017 is a V6 Hybrid hence the 26mpg. This years model is a 4 cylinder hybrid and is listed to get 36mpg combined. Last month my wife got the a toyota Crown Signia hybrid with what looks like a very similar engine to the one in the Lexus and her gas mileage so far after 1000 miles is 37mpg. The Signia is a new entry to the Toyota line that is an SUV version of the Crown Sedan

 

[Allytx]

My daughter has a Toyota Sienna hybrid and loves it. You can hardly tell it’s a hybrid, except the gas mileage is so great for a full size van. She thinks it’s about 55-57 combining town and highway driving. To be fair, she lives in a small town and often drives 90 miles to our city.