I haven't driven a vehicle with this powertrain, but the "CVT" in the RX400h is anything but something one 'has' to live with. I quite enjoy it.
My parents' RX is a 2006 - first model year of the hybrid. It, too, was hella expensive, packaged only one way: loaded. Next year or the year after, you'll be able to buy one of these a lil' cheaper (but $15,000 or so) depending on how much kit you want in yours. I don't agree with the practice of first-year gouging, but what can I do about it other than complain?
7.5L/100km = 31.4 US MPG. That's pretty insane for a ~2,000kg CUV in the city...but yeah, limited cargo space would be something to consider. I've seen this in person and never thought the trunk looked all that small, but I've also never tried packing it. It is wider than a Honda Fit, however, and in some instances, that matters more than height or depth.