2010 Lexus RX 450h

For many Americans, the Lexus RX crossover utility vehicle is the face of Toyota's luxury brand. When it launched in 1999, it hit a sweet spot among buyers who wanted a luxurious midsized SUV-alike with Toyota's legendary reliability. In fact, the RX now accounts for more than half of all Lexus vehicles sold in the States.

The second-generation RX was the first Lexus of any kind to be offered with the Hybrid Synergy Drive system. That RX400h model debuted as a 2005 model; now, the hybrid is a core model for the third-generation RX.

Today Lexus released pricing for the 2010 RX450h hybrid model. The base price of the front-wheel-drive model is $41,660, and the all-wheel-drive variant starts at $43,250.

On top of each price, buyers will be hit with a mandatory $870 charge for delivery, bringing the stickers to $42,530 and $44,120 respectively. Beyond that, you can add several trim levels and/or option packages, meaning that the nicest version will roll out at well over $50,000.

That's a case where buyers should pray for the return of higher gas prices, since the front-wheel-drive RX450h delivers EPA mileage ratings of 32 mpg city / 28 mpg highway, for a combined 30 mpg. The all-wheel-drive version is almost as good, at 30 mpg city / 29 mpg highway for a combined rating of 29 mpg.

2010 Lexus RX 450h

2010 Lexus RX 450h