Top-Rated Hybrid Truck Autobytel & AutoPacific Consumer Award

Top-Rated Hybrid Truck Winner: 2012 Lexus RX 450h

By Jeffrey N. Ross

AutoPacific's 2012 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) utilize more than 75,000 customer surveys to assess the owner satisfaction for new cars, trucks, minivans and SUVs in 26 vehicle segments. Based on surveys tabulated during the first quarter of this year, the 2012 Lexus RX 450h was named the top-rated hybrid truck. Rather than looking at sales figures or being a popularity contest for advertisers, the VSA looks solely at the overall ownership experience of the vehicles, and satisfied Lexus RX 450h owners helped make this the best-rated hybrid truck.

Top-Rated Hybrid Truck: 2012 Lexus RX 450h

As the first-ever luxury hybrid, the Lexus RX has helped make Toyota a leader in hybrid vehicles, and the 2012 Lexus RX 450h shows that by being recognized as the top-rated hybrid truck by its owners. With an EPA fuel economy rating of up to 30 miles per gallon in combined driving, the Lexus RX 450h is an efficient way to drive the family around town in luxury. The RX 450h was likely chosen as the best-rated hybrid truck by consumers for its powerful yet efficient drivetrain that delivers hybrid-like fuel economy without actually feeling like a hybrid. The five-passenger RX doesn't make any sacrifices between its hybrid and non-hybrid models, but the abundance of cabin technology (including the Lexus Remote Touch controller) makes this an easy pick for the highest-rated hybrid truck especially when compared to the other Toyota hybrids it was positioned against.

Top-Rated Hybrid Truck WInner: 2012 Lexus RX 450h Competitors

Showing the diversity of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system, all of the entrants in the hybrid truck category used this advanced technology, but while the 2012 Lexus RX 450h grabbed the top-rated hybrid truck award, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Toyota Prius v weren't that far behind. It isn't clear why the numerous other hybrid crossovers, SUVs and pickup trucks on the market weren't even mentioned by consumers for this award, it does show how much Toyota is dominating when it comes to fuel-efficient utility vehicles. Of the three Toyota products in the running for the best-rated hybrid truck, the Lexus RX 450h proves that luxury, efficiency and practicality can all coexist. With new advanced technology being added to cars each model year, don't expect Toyota's position as the highest-rated hybrid truck to go uncontested for much longer.

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