10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Lexus RX Edges Up, Toyota 4Runner Follows
If you’re in the market for a Lexus RX, the starting price of the mid-size luxury SUV is creeping up by $600 for the 2026 model year. On the other hand, if you’re in the market for a Lexus RX with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, multiply that sum by 10, then subtract it from the price of the 2025 RX 450h+ Luxury trim — the only version of the outgoing model available with the PHEV. All that’s to say you’ll be able to pay some six grand less for that plug when the 2026 models start hitting dealerships later in the year.
Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Genesis GV80 Too Much for Cadillac Escalade
In Cars.com’s most popular news story of the past week — our pricing report on the 2026 RX lineup — we break down what it’ll set you back to buy any of the 14 trim levels distributed among four powertrain choices. If you’re going gas-only, the new RX 350 starts at $51,175 (prices include destination) and rises incrementally across five more trims up to the F Sport Handling, which tops out the range at just under 60 grand. The RX 350h, meanwhile, with one of three hybrid propulsion systems available, starts at $53,475 for the Standard and tops out just shy of $58,000 for the F Sport Design. The PHEV comes in two flavors of the RX 450h+, just under 67 grand for the Premium and $73,310 for the Luxury, while the hybrid-powered RX 500h is around 67 grand at the base.
For full pricing details on the 2026 Lexus RX — including a trim-by-trim breakdown of features and equipment, standard and available safety tech, as well as powertrain specs and fuel-economy estimates — follow the link below to the No. 1 news story on this week’s countdown of most read articles.
Elsewhere in SUVs, the Toyota 4Runner returned for 2025 — redesigned for the first time since the first term of the Obama administration (which now seems like a really long time ago!) — more refined but no less rugged for it. With SUVs now the dominant choice for family duty, can the off-road-inclined 4Runner handle rocks and rugrats? Cars.com’s Jennifer Geiger hit the pavement with her brood to see how the 4Runner fares on family road trips. The results? Mixed to positive. In the plus column were comfortable second-row space for kids in booster seats, convenient snack-stowing spots, abundant device-charging ports, a responsive and intuitive infotainment display, ample cargo room, and a vastly improved EPA-rated fuel-economy estimate. The 4Runner falls short of fabulous in accommodation for non-booster-type child safety seats, wireless Android Auto connectivity and budget-friendliness exemplified by the steep $61,219 as-tested price for our long-term TRD Off-Road Premium hybrid.
For Geiger’s full accounting of her family road trip in the 2025 4Runner, follow the link below to the No. 2 news story of the week.
Beyond all that, we’ve got headlines on the Hyundai Palisade, Dodge Charger, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and G-Class, Subaru Outback, Jeep Wrangler and much more — so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:
1. How Much Is the 2026 Lexus RX?
2. Is the 2025 Toyota 4Runner Good for Families?
3. 2026 Hyundai Palisade Review: Growing Gains
4. 2026 Dodge Charger: Jumpin’ Sixpack, It’s a Gas, Gas, Gas!
5. Here Are the 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy Right Now
6. 2025 Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain Review: Wearing Your Dress Shoes On a Hike
7. Redesigned 2026 Subaru Outback Gets Price Bump, Starts at $36,445
8. Nearly 79,000 Jeep Wranglers Recalled for Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
9. Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy
10. 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 With EQ Technology Review: Pricey and Portly, But Plenty Potent
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