2011 Lexus HS 250h Reviews

The 2011 Lexus HS 250h sedan was the smallest and most economical car Lexus had ever built when it went on sale in late 2009 as a 2010 model, but it’s unquestionably luxurious. Lexus has noted that more than 60 percent of luxury-car buyers would consider a hybrid if one were available.



Official EPA mileage for the Lexus HS 250h is 35 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. Lexus says the HS 250h qualifies as a Super-Ultra-Low-Emission-Vehicle (SULEV).



The front-drive HS, which stands for “harmonious sedan,” is Lexus’s first dedicated hybrid, just as the Prius was for its parent Toyota. The downside: The HS 250h’s cabin is a bit buzzy and—like all hybrids—the continuously variable transmission is flavorless compared to a traditional geared transmission.” As for combing fuel economy and performance, Motor Trend seems to have nailed what the HS is all about, “How to describe the HS driving experience? ‘Then there’s Lincoln’s MKZ Hybrid. Its $34,330 starting price bests the HS by $330 and is larger and delivers way better fuel mileage, 41 mpg city and 36 highways.

The Lexus HS 250h is unchanged for 2011.



The Lexus does, however, borrow its power train from the Camry Hybrid, which gives the HS significantly better performance than a Prius. As far as fuel-conscious hybrids go, the Lexus HS 250h is quick, accelerating from zero to 60 mph in only 8.7 seconds. The forthcoming Lexus CT 200h will be a hybrid of a luxury car and a hatchback. For the time being, though, the 2011 Lexus HS 250h represents a solid choice for combining both luxury and fuel frugality.



The 2011 Lexus HS 250h is a five-passenger, front-wheel-drive compact sedan offered in two trim levels: base and Premium.



The Premium trim adds 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic wipers, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, driver memory settings, heated and ventilated front seats, real-wood cabin accents and upgraded leather upholstery.



Options include a rear spoiler, rear parking sensors, a separate front-and-rear parking-camera system, adaptive LED headlights, a Mark Levinson audio system and a hard-drive-based navigation system with traffic/weather/sports/stock reporting. Fuel economy checks in at 35 mpg city/34 mpg highway and 35 mpg combined, which is about average for a midsize hybrid sedan.



Safety

The HS 250h comes standard with antilock disc brakes with brake assist, stability and traction control, side curtain airbags, front-and-rear seat-mounted side airbags and dual front knee airbags.



Interior Design and Special Features

The HS 250h also comes loaded with plenty of high-tech features, and controls are mercifully intuitive. Despite the HS 250h's smaller size, its backseat offers a decent amount of head- and legroom for taller folks.



Driving Impressions

With a focus on fuel economy, the 2011 Lexus HS 250h won't impress spirited drivers as much as frugal owners.

The Lexus HS 250h was introduced this past year, as the highest-mileage luxury hybrid sedan. The HS is actually larger and wider than the Mercedes C-Class, BMW 3-Series, or Lexus IS—or about six inches shorter than the Lexus ES and about six inches longer than a Toyota Corolla sedan.



The hybrid power train in the 2011 Lexus HS 250h is essentially what's tried and true from the Toyota Prius (and Camry Hybrid); it's a version of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system, here combining a 147-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine with a 40-horsepower electric motor system to produce 187 horsepower altogether. The electric-assist steering has a rather quick ratio and reasonably good weighting, but soft suspension tuning means there's plenty of lean (and nosedive when braking); overall the HS handles in an unexciting but safe way. Braking is one of the high points; while hybrids often have touchy, jerky brake-pedal action due to regenerative action, the HS 250h stops predictably and without a hitch.



The 2011 Lexus HS 250h is otherwise tight and quiet inside, thanks to details like an acoustic windshield and triple-layer door seals. As can be expected on a Lexus, there's a fine-sounding 330-watt Mark Levinson audio system available.