2010 Lexus HS 250h: The Automaker's First 4-Cylinder Hybrid

What’s New:

This is Lexus’s first all-new dedicated hybrid. Not only is it a hybrid, but it is the luxury automaker’s first 4-cylinder. And for Prius customers who have been yearning for an upscale 4-cylinder hybrid, this is Toyota’s answer.

After thoroughly reviewing the Lexus HS 250h for a week, we found this to be one of the most sophisticated vehicles on the road today. It combines the best of luxury, fuel-saving technology and high-tech safety features, enhancing ones driving experience. In fact, we believe that the HS 250h futuristic interior design should serve as the gold standard for the next generation of automobiles.

Must Have Goodies:

If you can afford to drive a Lexus, why skimp on options? You might as well load up your HS 250h with the most advanced technology available from any automaker. In addition to the 10-way power front heated/ventilated seats and the high-end 15-speaker Mark Levinson audio DVD/CD Player, our fully loaded vehicle included such features as a navigational system, a keyless remote starter; a heads up display system, which allowed the driver to keep his eye on the road, viewing the speed, directional arrows from the turn-by-turn navigational system and radio/satellite stations; and a $4,000 tech package.

The tech package included a Lane Keep Assist (LKA) warning system, which works in conjunction with the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. The optional LKA feature is designed to help drivers stay within their chosen lane and uses Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and the Lane-Departure Warning (LDW) function. LKA and LDW depend on the detection of lane markers by the optional on-board camera, and are intended for use primarily on well-developed roads and highways, with markings.

LDW also alerts the driver of unintentional lane departure by sounding a warning buzzer and displaying an alert. LKA works in conjunction with LDW and the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control to help the vehicle stay in the center of its lane.

Furthermore, the HS 250h pushes the envelope, offering an optional wide-view front monitor, which is similar to the traditional rear view camera. Unlike the rear camera, the front camera improves the driver’s ability to see in the traditionally blind areas around the front of the vehicle. This is specifically helpful when parallel parking or pulling into parking spaces.

What Rocked:

Just like on-demand TV, at the touch of a button or the click of the mouse, our new HS 250h allowed you to keep up with everything from your financial portfolio, as it relates to stock updates, to warnings of an approaching storm to the latest scores of your favorite sports teams to a Energy Consumption Monitor (ECM), which provided a graphic display of the approximate flow of energy within the hybrid system. Seeing the ECM, forces drivers to change their driving habits and strive for fuel efficiency.

And, yes, Lexus’s newest hybrid was equipped with an advanced computer-like stationary mouse to control everything on the Multi-information screen, which was located in the center of instrument cluster. Using the mouse virtually eliminates the nasty finger prints typical of most touch screen computers.

Drivers who aren’t ready to fully embrace all of the sophisticated features in the Lexus can opt out of using the point-and-click mouse to operate the air/heat, audio system and navigational system via the traditional method of adjusting each system by hand. The HS250h airplane-like free flowing center instrument panel extends out to the driver and front passenger seat in a V-shape formation. The forward design console not only makes it easier to read and adjust the different controls, but it also creates a great place to rest your right hand too. Also to capitalize on the comfort, the vehicle came equipped with a sliding adjustable center armrest.

Likewise, the all-new HS 250h also becomes the first Lexus to offer Lexus Enform, a personalized subscription-based safety system. Like GM’s OnStar, Lexus Enform will be available at the touch of a button to serve as a personal concierge, helping occupants to do everything from securing dinner reservations to ordering concert tickets. Toyota offers a similar system on the Prius, which is known as Safety Connect.

The HS 250h also has a small joystick-like gear selector, which serves as a substitute for the traditional gear selector. The Lexus HS 250h gives drivers a peak into the future, as it relates to advanced interior designs. And for God’s sake, Lexus chose a more traditional design to the exterior of the vehicle, as opposed to the bubble shape design of the Prius and Honda’s Insight, which are both dedicated hybrids. Moreover, Lexus chose not to relocate the tachometer and speedometer to the center of the vehicle, as they did with Toyota’s dedicated hybrid, the Prius.

What We Hated:

At first glance, the exterior design of the entry level Lexus hybrid, slightly resembles Toyota’s popular Corolla. However, immediately upon entering the high-tech cabin, thoughts about the Corolla-like exterior design becomes a flash in the pan. In fact, the five-seater HS 250h is much roomier and without a doubt more luxurious than the Corolla. In true form, there is no mistake about the HS 250h being a Lexus - inside and out.

Another minor concern we had is that several times when we attempted to access the three-day weather forecast via the computer screen, it worked intermittently.

Lastly, when driving the vehicle at night, we found it difficult to locate the appropriate gears on the joystick-like gear selector. Lexus should consider adding extra lighting to the gear selector.

Any Juice:

While it’s oxymoronic to associate a 4-cylinder hybrid with power and speed, you won’t be disappointed with this Lexus. As a matter of fact, the HS 250h generates 187 total system horsepower when combined with the electric motor and the 2.4-cylinder Atkinson engine. The vehicle also contains a Power Mode switch, which the driver can use when extra power is needed. Conversely, using the button means you may be sacrificing the maximum fuel efficiency expected in a hybrid.

The Verdict:

In sum, you won’t be disappointed with this smooth-riding five-seater 4-cylinder hybrid. It’s not like any car we’ve driven, with all of its advanced technological features. After spending time behind the wheel of the HS 250h, it’s like learning to drive a car for the very first time. We were able to squeak out 460 miles on one tank. According to the EPA, the entry level Lexus hybrid should produce 35 miles in the city and 34 miles on the highway.

The HS 250h is available in two trim levels, a base and a premium package. The base luxury hybrid kicks off at $34,200 and can easily run up to $48,525 if you opt for the premium package with all of the options.

To sum up, just like the auto industry was transformed when it converted from the horse-and-buggy to gas powered vehicles, we expect the Lexus hybrid to be a change agent, too.

Visit our Car-Buying Toolbox, to price out the HS 250h.