Lexus RX Hybrid

We rented a 500h hybrid, and were impressed with the RX500h’s powertrain, which combines a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a two-motor electric drive to produce a healthy 366 horsepower and 406 lb.-ft. of torque. It gets off the line smoothly, thanks to an initial electric shove. The forward-force is strong with this one. There’s plenty of giddyup anytime you need a burst of speed, whether to merge onto a highway or pass slower traffic on a two-lane road.

And while it may seem behind the times that Lexus fitted the RX500h with a six-speed automatic—instead of a CVT or eCVT, as in many hybrids, or an 8 or 10-speed automatic—we’ll take a super-smooth-shifting six-speed like this any day over a CVT. It makes for a more engaging driving experience and avoids the rubber-banding effect that is synonymous with continuously variable transmissions. To be fair, Hyundai and Kia employ a six-speed automatic in some of their hybrids, too.