Test Drive: 2010 Lexus HS 250h

Filed in archive Hybrid , MPG , Toyota on June 8, 2010

They say the rich are different from you and me. Having only lived on the shady side of the wall I'm in no position to judge but from what I've noticed that's probably true. Different, though not necessarily smarter. Which could go a long way to explain why Lexus is having a difficult time selling its HS 250h sedan. In spite of being the world's only dedicated luxury hybrid (until the Fisker comes onstream) the 250h has been all but ignored by the Burberry crowd who can afford its entry price.

My sense is that these folks are not willing to pay extra in order to save money on gas. They'll watch their investment budgets like the proverbial hawk but keeping track of miles per gallon or liters/100 km is seldom a priority. And that's a shame because the other good reason for buying this car is that, in addition to saving resources, a hybrid emits considerably less carbon dioxide than a conventional automobile and thus becomes a weapon in the war against climate change. As well, the Lexus HS 250h is a fine automobile, as I discovered during a week-long test drive in Southern Ontario.

What Lexus means by "dedicated hybrid" is, of course, that it was designed from the road up for that purpose, as was the Toyota Prius. What the 250h fails to do, however, is make a visual statement, whereas the Prius is a car you can spot from halfway across the mall parking lot. The Lexus is attractive, in a bulldog sort of way, yet it easily blends into the scenery. If the car had been made a little longer, say the same size as a Lexus ES, it might have looked sleeker but on the other hand the compact dimensions are a definite plus in an urban environment. I'll give it full marks for common sense.

There is no lack of luxury inside, thanks also to a spacious cabin and a roomy rear seat. The instrument panel contains digital readouts similar in content to the Prius, making it possible to know whether power is being delivered by the batteries or the 2.4 liter 4-cylinder internal combustion engine. At the same time the driver can see how his or her driving style affects fuel economy. Useful information, for sure, but I paid little attention because anything that takes my eyes off the road is a distraction. Ever notice how far you travel at 30 mph if you look down for two seconds? Try it sometime when there's no traffic around. Scary.



What I especially admired is the design of the console, sloping down from the top of the dash on an angle that's absolutely perfect when you're reaching for the switches that control climate and information systems. Not so incidentally, the "gear lever" protrudes from the console at steering wheel level. Both the placement and its diminutive size (like your little finger) are unusual but one adjusts and it soon becomes second nature. Well, it does once you get used to flicking it down to go forward and up to reverse. That's all you get, folks, for the 250h uses a CVT transmission. And don't forget to step on the brake pedal when changing otherwise you'll go nowhere. Although doing so is second nature in my own car I did forget, several times, and couldn't understand why we weren't moving. Very disconcerting as there's no engine sound when the car's standing still.

Close by the gear lever are two significant buttons, one marked "Eco Mode," the other marked "Pwr Mode." Press the Eco (for economy) button and gas mileage goes up but performance drops. Press Pwr and full engine power is available at the expense of fuel economy. I soon learned to stay with Pwr in the city, in any situation where instant acceleration was required, and on steep hills. Once on the highway and away from traffic I stuck with Eco; particularly useful on a 300 km round trip from Toronto to cottage country and back. The claimed 50 mpg was actually exceeded in that journey

The 250h includes just about every luxury feature you could want; far too long to list but if you really must know click here for the US specs (where it's known as the HS Hybrid 10) and here for the Canadian specs. It comes in two series: Premium and Ultra Premium, each with its own derivative. Premium gets a Premium Sport package while Ultra Premium adds a Premium Luxury version. Mine was the Premium Sport, though I never found anything to justify the "sport" label aside from handling in the turns, which was firm, flat, and generally reassuring. Performance was more than adequate and the CVT transmission was outstanding. Together with a quiet electric/ICE combo it provides a smooth, silent, seamless power flow.

In spite of my enthusiasm for the 250h there were a few things I didn't like. Limited vision was one, thanks to the high sills and thick door posts. A second "beef," though minor, was that the car felt heavy, perhaps due to the fact that I prefer cars you can toss around by the seat of your pants and the 250h is not one of those. And finally, and inexplicably, the driver's seat became uncomfortable after an hour or so behind the wheel. Was it just me? Maybe, although I'm of normal stature and have no back problems (thank goodness) and my passenger during our long ride (who does) had no such complaints. Try before you buy.

To sum up, a little advice for the well-off. Forget your pretensions, try saving the earth by driving a hybrid, become aware that a sedan with a smaller footprint can be just as comfortable and safe as your current luxobarge. Take a test drive and you may well discover that the Lexus HS 250h is all the car you really need. With that in mind, luxury never felt so good.