Auto Express – August 20, 2019

102 SpecialIssue http://www.autoexpress.co.uk

BUYINGCARS Usedtripletest

LexusRX450h PorscheCayenne VolvoXC90 Verdict

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Economiesof(large)scale

Twopetrol-electric hybrid, large premium SUVsfaceuptoone with moretraditional diesel power

RX450hPremier

Years:2016todateEngine:3.5-litre6cyl,308bhp

Insgroup: 45 Officialecon/CO 2 :51.4mpg/127g/km

Why?TheLexusRX450hprovidesupmarket

electrifiedmotoringwithoutneedingtoplugin

Pricesfrom: £25,950

CayenneSE-Hybrid

Years:2015to2017Engine:3.0-litre6cyl,410bhp

Insgroup: 49 Officialecon/CO 2 :83.1mpg/79g/km

Why?Aslongasyoucankeepthebatterycharged,

thisisanultra-efficient,ultra-desirablelargeSUV

Pricesfrom: £29,980

XC90D5Inscription

Years:2015todateEngine:2.0-litre4cyl,222bhp

Insgroup: 34 Officialecon/CO 2 :48.7mpg/152g/km

Why?Brilliantquality,comfortanddieselfrugality

maketheXC90D5astraightforwardchoice

Pricesfrom: £28,500

LEXUShaschampionedthehybridSUV

sincethemid-2000s,withsimplicityatthe

coreofitsphilosophytomakeelectrified

motoringaseasyaspossibleforthebrand’s

discerningcustomers.That’swhytheRX

450h’spowertrainisstraightforward:a

large,lazy3.5-litreV6teamsupwithasmall

batteryandmotorset-up.You’relikelyto

findthedieselVolvocheapertorun,though.

Atleastcustomersaresatisfied.Lexus

alwaysdoeswellinourDriverPowernew

carsurvey, andthebrandwonoutrightonce

againin2019,theRXfinishing5thoverall.

THEPorscheCayenneispossiblyatitsmost

appealinginhybridform.Hereisapremium

SUVwithnotjustmassesofhighqualityand

driverappeal,butalsogenuinelylowreal-

worldrunningcostsonitsside.However,

tomakethemostoftheCayenneSE-Hybrid,

youreallyneedtokeepthebatterycharged

withregularovernightplug-ins,because

itselectric-onlyrangeis22miles.

TheCayennehasn’tfeaturedinany

recentDriverPowersurveys,butgiventhe

brand’smarketpositioning,expectcostly

billsshouldanythinggowrong.

OURCaroftheYearfor2015,theVolvo

XC90occupiesanenviablespotinthe

premiumSUVmarketowingtoitshigh

levelsofqualityandrefinement.Forthose

notinterestedinhybridpower,theXC90

D5issomethingofano-brainer,withafairly

frugalturbocharged2.0-litredieselengine.

Fromnew,theXC90D5wassignificantly

cheaperthantheLexusorPorsche,butithas

helditsvalueonthesecond-handmarket.

BoththesmallerXC40andXC60scored

wellinourmostrecentDriverPowernew

carsurvey, withVolvofinishing13thoverall.

Lexus uses lots of high-quality materials Smallest display hereand many buttons Most functions operate via central screen

VolvoXC90

★★★★★

Volvo’sXC90winsinthis

unconventionaltestbybeing

themostconventionalchoice.

It’sahigh-qualitycarthatwill

takenoadjustingto,should

becheaptorun,andmakes

senseforprivatebuyers.

LexusRX450h

★★★★★

TheLexuswillprovetobea

straightforwardandhassle-

freehybridSUV,onthe

evidenceofourDriverPower

surveys.Fueleconomywon’t

bemind-blowing,buttheRX

isthecheapesttobuy.

PorscheCayenne

★★★★★

ThisPorscheisthemost

desirablechoice,butpresents

themostcomplexownership

experienceandpotentialfor

pitfalls.Plusbuyerswhocan’t

keepitrechargedshouldlook

atadifferentpowertrain.