First impression: 2010 Lexus HS 250h hybrid

At a recent New York introduction, Consumer Reports Senior Auto Test Engineer Gabe Shenhar and I had a chance to drive the new Lexus HS 250h hybrid, the brand’s first four-cylinder model. It’s designed for hybrid buyers who want a little more luxury without giving up great fuel economy. And for entry-level luxury car buyers who want a car with better fuel economy. So far, the HS is in a class of its own.

We drove two of the front-drive sedans about 40 miles, and thought we’d share some early impressions from our hands-on experience. (For a full preview, see the Lexus HS 250h report from the New York auto show.) First, the HS 250h is available with just about every whiz-bang new electronic feature on the market, including laser-guided cruise-control, forward and rear-view monitors, lane departure warning with steering assist, and a heads-up display.

Behind the wheel
Gabe and I found the ride rather stiff—especially for a car wearing a Lexus badge. Handling is OK, but the HS 250h is not particularly agile. Engine noise can be relatively pronounced for a luxury car.

Inside, the HS 250h feels narrow, with the back seat being especially tight. The second row struck us as being roomier than the Lexus IS rear seat, but not as spacious as the more accommodating Prius. Trunk space is compromised by the batteries. Adding green appeal, the interior uses organic fabrics on the seats that make a passable imitation of leather, and organic materials are also found in the carpet and dashboard.

Lexus says their customer research shows that 60 percent of hybrid buyers also own a luxury car, and 60 percent of luxury car owners express an interest in buying a hybrid. In addition to Lexus’s current performance-focused hybrids that are quick but yield only moderate economy gains, the HS 250h will soon give those buyers a thriftier alternative. Over a 9-mile city-loop driving route, we averaged fuel economy in the high 30 mpg range, according to the trip computer. EPA figures are 35/34/35 city/highway/overall.

To be offered exclusively as a hybrid, the HS 250h will go on sale at the end of August. We’ll buy one for our full test program shortly thereafter, and then we’ll see how the HS 250h really stacks up. 

—Eric Evarts

Learn about driving green in the Consumer Reports special fuel economy section

Comments

[MikeDudical]

"Lexus says their customer research shows that 60 percent of hybrid buyers also own a luxury car, and 60 percent of luxury car owners express an interest in buying a hybrid."

This is the problem with Hybrids. They cost too much. Especially right now when websites like Craigslist.com and Repofinder.com are sitting on a glut of used cars for pennies on the dollar. Buying a green car needs to make sense economically as well as environmentally. Right now it's just a novelty for the rich.

[Cale]

Luxury hybrid cars make a lot of sense to me. Why should the amount of money you spend on a car be a reflection of how much gas it burns or pollution it emits?

Yes, hybrids are a luxury but not necessarily "high luxury". Honda offers the inexpensive and fuel efficient Insight hybrid (<$20k, 38mpg overall), though I hear it isn't a very good car.

[coolcar]

I think it is a close cousin to the European Toyota Avensis.

[Jerry]

Used vehicles are selling for a premium. It is a false notion that vehicles have lost value at a faster pace than historical averages.

[B. Good]

To MikeDudical, why must one be rich to drive a $20K Honda Insight or a $22K Toyota Prius? Some people don't like to buy used cars, so you should not lump everyone in together.

I buy a new car every 6 to 7 years. I was one of the first to buy a Camry Hybrid when they debuted 3 years ago, and I paid just over $26K for it. I also got a tax credit of $2,400 (no longer available on Toyota hybrids). So for about $24K, I got a fine hybrid mid-size sedan that has achieved just over 36 MPG over 3 full years of "religious" tracking compared to 24 MPG in my previous 4-cylinder VW Passat. Sure, the car was more than a 4-cylinder Camry non-hybrid, but part of the premium was for dual climate control, BOSE/Infinity sound system, SmartKey, and an air-filtration system. As for the SmartKey, it's SO nice never to need to take the key out of my pocket. And, as an added bonus, I have better acceleration than the 4 cylinder Camry AND my 4 cylinder Passat.

Aside from replacing the water pump TWICE, (but free under warranty), I've had no problems with this car. It's the nicest, most luxurious one I've ever owned.

If you do your own research, you will find that there ARE hybrids that are good values as well as hybrids that are NOT. Just don't dismiss them all so quickly--this is the same thinking that convinced American car companies that hybrids would NEVER succeed. And look where they are now....

[coolcar]

Just buy a Prius! Save money while getting a more versatile, fuel efficient, and economical package :)

It's the same thing with Lexus ES vs. Toyota Camry V6 XLE, Lincoln MKZ vs. Ford Fusion SEL V6, Acura TL vs. Honda Accord EX-L V6, and Nissan Maxima vs. Nissan Altima, although Toyota insists the HS is not a twin of the Prius. Do these pricier siblings of the conventional cars really offer that much more so that they deserve a $4,000-6,000 sticker premium? Maybe some extra power, AWD, amenities, a nicer interior, or a nice badge on the grille, but not much else.

[Frank]

I think theres nothing too special about this car other than the nifty gadgets. You might as well buy a Ford fusion and get 41 mpg for a lower price or like some of you said the better overall vehicle Prius. For some reason Lexus is acting more like the mimicking Kia and Hundai. Look at that grill, doesnt it remind you of the Ford fusion or Edge. You cant avoid the similarities to the Prius. Lexus is becoming a chip of the ol Toyota. Itll become what Lincoln was to Ford in the early 2000's. A few brush trokes and some elbow grease to a Toyota and walla you got yoruself a Lexus. Sad