Vehicle Tested
| 2010 Lexus HS 250h
Base Price: $36,970
At-Tested Price: $46,547
Built in Japan.
Options
Wide-View Front Monitor
Mark Levinson Audio System
Navigation System
Tech Package
Cargo Net
Trunk Mat
Premium Floor Mats
Engine: 2.4-Liter I4/Electric
Transmission: CVT Automatic
Drive Wheels: Front-Wheel Drive
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Luxury-car buyers expect a lot from their vehicles. They expect the finest materials, loads of extravagant features, high levels of safety, and preferential dealer treatment. One of the last things on a luxury buyer's shopping list is efficiency. Face it; if you're worried about the annual fuel costs for a Land Rover Supercharged, then you probably can't afford one anyway.
Lexus feels its owners are more environmentally conscious than most luxury shoppers and has quietly offered hybrid models for years. Currently, Lexus offers three hybrids: LS 600h, GS 450h and RX 400h. Unlike a purpose-built, ultra-mileage vehicle like the Toyota Prius, the Lexus hybrids place a premium on performance and use the hybrid drivetrain to improve fuel efficiency. That is until now.
For the 2010 model year, Lexus introduces the HS 250h--a purpose-built five-passenger hybrid luxury sedan that shares some underpinning components with the Prius. Like the Prius and all other current hybrids, the HS 250h combines a gas engine with an electric motor. It plays in the premium compact sandbox with other cars like the Acura TSX, Audi A3, Volvo S40 and Lexus' own IS.
Two trim levels are offered, Base and Premium. Both come only with the hybrid powertrain. It consists of a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a battery-powered electric motor. The two combine to produce 187 horsepower. A second electric motor acts as a generator, charging the batter when coasting and decelerating. A continuously variable automatic transmission juggles the engine and motor input to drive the front wheels.
The HS 250h has three driving settings, Power, Eco, and EV mode. The EV setting allows the HS to operate in electric-only mode at speeds up to 20 mph--provided that there's sufficient charge in the battery.
Standard safety features include antilock brakes with brake assist, stability control, automatic collision notification, active front-seat headrests, tire-pressure monitoring system, and dual-front, front-knee, front- and rear-side, and curtain side airbags. Lane departure warning and lane assist, Lexus' Pre-Collision system, rear park assist, rear-view monitor, and wide-view front monitor are optional.
The Base model lists for $34,650 and includes dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, ten-way power driver seat, eight-way power front passenger seat, center console, carpeted floor mats, auto on/off headlamps, power heated outside mirrors with puddle lamps and turn signals, power door locks power windows, moonroof, SmartAccess key system with pushbutton start, tilt and telescope steering wheel with audio controls, AM/FM/CD/MP3/Satellite player with six-disc changer, digital-media player input and Bluetooth cell-phone connection, auto-dimming rear-view mirror with compass, first aid kit, tool kit, illuminated glove box, HomeLink programmable garage door opener, variable intermittent wipers, vehicle theft-deterrent system, fog lamps, 17-inch aluminum wheels and P215/55R17 V rated all season tires.
The Premium has a starting price of $37,420 and adds drivers-seat memory system, auto-dimming side-view mirrors with memory and reverse tiltdown, heated and ventilated front seats, power passenger-side lumbar support, power tilt and telescope steering wheel with memory, rain-sensing windshield wipers, semi-aniline leather-trimmed seating, wood-trimmed interior and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Options include a 350-watt Mark Levinson surround-sound audio system, heated seats, LED headlamps, rear spoiler, navigation system with voice command and real-time traffic information, heads-Up display, and sport suspension. The HS 250h is built in Japan and has an $875 destination charge.
Get Up and Go Though Lexus quotes a 0-60 mph time of 8.4 seconds, which isn't bad for the class, the HS 250h doesn't feel that quick. The hybrid powertrain feels particularly sleepy if you have the throttle set to ECO mode. Step hard on the gas from a stop and the HS strolls forward until the gas engine kicks on and gets into its powerband.
Once you are underway the HS feels much livelier and easily keeps up with around-town traffic. At freeway speeds, passing power is unimpressive, though.
As you might imagine, the hybrid system delivers power to the front wheels differently than a conventional gasoline-only powertrain. A computer balances the output of the gas engine and electric motor through the continuously variable transmission. From a driver's perspective, it takes a little getting used to, but soon becomes second nature.
Using the ECO mode will relegate the HS to the slow lane but boost fuel economy. The POWER setting makes the HS drive most like a conventionally powered vehicle. Set the HS 250h to EV mode and you can operate in electric-only mode but only for short distances when the batteries have sufficient charge.
The Lexus HS 250h is EPA rated at 35 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. Those numbers aren't particularly impressive for a small hybrid sedan but are considerably better than other premium compacts.
Routine city driving is likely to yield about 33 mpg and straight highway driving perhaps a bit lower at around 30 mpg. If, and that's a big if, you are willing to live life in the slow lane and employ all sorts of fuel-economy boosting tricks, you should be able to average close to 40 mpg in an even mix of city and highway driving. Lexus says the HS 250h will run fine on regular-grade gasoline.
On the Road From the smooth-riding ES to the posh LS, Lexus is known for offering some of the softest-riding cars in the luxury market. The HS 250h is no different. The soft suspension is tuned to absorb bumps and provide a smooth and drama free ride. The fuel-economy minded tires don't offer much isolation from small or sharp impacts, though. This is particularly true on Premium models with the 18-inch wheels.
Conversely, the HS doesn't feel as athletic or nimble when compared to other compact luxury sedans. Body lean is modest but evident and the steering feels numb and lacks any on-center feel. While that's fine in low-speed driving, it grows tiring on longer expressway jaunts and when navigating twisty roads.
The brakes have what's become a traditional hybrid two-stage feeling. When coming to a stop there's a transition period where the brakes switch from regenerative mode to friction mode. It's less noticeable on the HS than on some other hybrids, but still a bit disconcerting at times.
Though the HS cruises quietly, it isn't decompression-chamber quiet like some other Lexus models. There's a fair amount of wind and tire noise at highway speeds and the engine growls coarsely around town.
Behind the Wheel The HS 250h sports a very futuristic dashboard with a center stack that's dramatically angled rearward in an effort to place more controls closer to the driver and passenger. Materials and assembly are just average, giving the HS an ambiance that's more modern than luxurious.
Two large and thankfully somewhat conventional gauges face the driver from behind the steering wheel. They are easy to read, night or day. This is refreshing as most other hybrids feature graphically gimmicky IPs that are somewhat distracting and tend to deliver more entertainment than true information. The start button sits high and to the right of the steering wheel. Below it is a joystick that controls the transmission.
Radio and climate controls are fairly conventional but the optional navigation system is controlled by a mouse-like track ball that's off putting even when you are familiar with it. It would make sense for Lexus to ditch this arrangement in favor of a more conventional touch-screen navigation system.
Front seats are comfortable if a bit firm and confining. Not unusual for the class, but those expecting Lexus' soft and sumptuous seats will be in for a shock. Head and leg room are decent, though taller drivers will want a little more room on both accounts. Large door openings make getting in and out easy, but taller drivers will find that their right knee bangs up against the proboscis-like center-stack outcrop. Visibility is fine except to the rear quarters, where larger pillars block the outward view. The all-around view camera is a nice touch when parking.
Like most vehicles in this class, the rear seats aren't quite adult comfortable. Leg room is the biggest plus, but head room is tight for those approaching six feet tall. A flat floor is a nice touch.
The trunk is on the small side for the class and the hybrid battery pack precludes fold-down rear seats, further hindering storage. Thankfully there's a fairly large glovebox and lots of open and covered bins in the dashboard and center console.
Bottom Line Face it, no one is going to buy the HS 250h for its performance, though regularly netting 30 mpg might be a lure. Still, that kind of fuel economy can't match Toyota's own Prius.
Lexus will claim that the HS isn't just about fuel economy. It's about blending luxury, environmental consciousness, and technology. In that vein, the HS succeeds. As you might expect, prices are on the steep side when compared feature-for-feature with conventional competitors. But owning the HS isn't about getting the best value it is about making a statement and showing concern for the environment.
Specifications, 2010 Lexus HS 250h
| Dimensions
| 4-door sedan | Engine
| DOHC I4/Electric
| Wheelbase, in.
| 106.3
| Size, liters/cu. in.
| 2.4 / 144
| Length, in.
| 184.8
| Horsepower @ rpm
| 147 @ 6000
| Width, in.
| 70.3
| Torque (lb.-ft.) @ rpm
| 138 @ 4400
| Height, in.
| 59.3
| Transmission
| CVT Automatic
| Weight, lbs.
| 3770
| EPA Estimates, mpg
| 35 city / 34 highway
| Cargo Capacity, cu. ft.
| 12.1
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| Fuel Capacity, gals.
| 14.5
| Manufacturer's Warranty
| Seating Capacity
| 5
| Bumper-to-Bumper
| 4 years / 50,000 miles
| Front Head Room, in.
| 38.0
| Powertrain
| 5 years / 70,000 miles
| Front Leg Room, in.
| 42.6
| Corrosion
| 5 years / Unlimited miles
| Second-Row Head Room, in.
| 36.8
| Free Roadside Assistance
| 5 years / 50,000 miles
| Second-Row Leg Room, in.
| 34.5
| Free Scheduled Maintenance
| None
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