Review: 2010 Lexus HS 250h

Congratulations, Lexus—you've built arguably the most fuel-efficient and eco-friendly hybrid luxury sedan ever

By Thane Peterson

Editor's Rating:

The Good: Smooth ride, upscale cabin, high-tech options, 35 mpg!

The Bad: Corolla-like exterior styling, small trunk, rear seats don't fold down

The Bottom Line: A classy little luxury car that's easy on the environment

Reader Reviews

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Up Front

Would you buy a $35,000 luxury car that looks like a bulked-up Toyota Corolla and has barely half the luggage space of a Toyota (TM) Prius?

Having just test-driven a preproduction version of the new front-wheel-drive Lexus HS 250h hybrid, my answer is "yes." Arguably the most fuel-efficient and eco-friendly luxury sedan ever, the 2010 HS 250h is rated to get 35 miles-per-gallon, yet has a gorgeous wood- and leather-trimmed interior and comes packed with high-end conveniences. If you're looking for a small, classy second car and want to do something to help the environment, it's an excellent choice.

My guess is that at some point in the future—whether in 10 years or 20—many luxury cars will be like the HS 250h. They'll be smaller (the HS 250h is 185 inches long, midway between a Prius and a Toyota Camry), reasonably quick but not really sporty, and far more fuel-efficient. They'll either be powered by diesel engines—the main approach being taken by BMW (BMWG), Audi, and Mercedes (DAI)—or, like the HS 250h, by hybrid gasoline/electric power. Otherwise, they'll have all the comforts and advanced technology typical of traditional luxury cars.

The HS 250h, which is just now arriving in dealer's showrooms, is much more than an upgraded 2010 Prius. Based on a European model, the Toyota Avensis, it has a softer, quieter ride and is noticeably quicker than the Prius. The four-cylinder, 147-horsepower gasoline engine in the HS 250h is the same one found in the Toyota Camry hybrid, and the car's combined gas/electric powerplant generates a total of 187 hp, versus just 134 hp for the Prius.

The HS 250h also is more expensive than previous hybrid sedans, with the base model starting at $35,075, and the "Premium" version at $37,845. Even the cheaper model comes packed with goodies that include 17-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, full power accessories, a 10-speaker sound system, Bluetooth capability, and an iPod connection. The Premium model adds 18-inch alloy wheels, wood interior trim, rain-sensing wipers, heated outside mirrors, and a new memory system that allows each key fob to recall its user's seat, mirror, and air-conditioning settings.

A fully-loaded HS 250h costs upward of $50,000. Major options include a 15-speaker Mark Levinson sound system ($1,580), adaptive LED headlamps ($1,805), a hard-drive-based navigation system ($2,125), and a Technology Package ($3,900) that adds parking assist, a lane departure warning system, intelligent cruise control, and a heads-up display that projects instrument readings onto the windshield.

By comparison, according to the Power Information Network (PIN), the 2010 Prius sells for an average of $25,735, and even a loaded Prius V goes for a little over $32,000. The 2009 Nissan (NSANY) Altima Hybrid costs an average $25,642, the 2010 Camry Hybrid, $27,982, and the 2010 Ford (F) Fusion Hybrid costs an average $29,799. (PIN, like BusinessWeek, is a unit of the McGraw-Hill Cos.)

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