Sometimes being a blogger is pretty awesome, and getting the chance to check out the new Lexus HS 250 Hybrid was definitely one of those times. Now, as a luxury car novice, I will admit that the little things (like heated seats, USB iPod connectivity and back up cameras, all of which come standard on the HS and are seriously cool) were enough to keep me a totally happy camper. But there’s a lot more to love about the HS than the standard luxury fair.
For parents, the HS is a pretty good, and very green, solution to the problem of finding a car that’s practical but doesn’t make you feel stogy. It boasts an eye catching and youthful look, especially for a four door, eco friendly sedan. There’s nothing that screams “parent” about the exterior of the HS. It’s sleek interior also looks decadent, but its blend of natural woods and leathers with surfaces made from renewable, plant based resources (rather than petroleum-based products) makes that decadence a sneakily responsible decision. Also responsible, both as someone with kids who you’d like to be able to breathe and drink clean water and as someone who wants to watch their gas budget, is the HS’s Super Low Emissions status. The HS is at the top of it’s class in fuel economy, and if you keep the battery well charged you can even drive in full electric mode and use no gas at all.
*Click photos to enlarge
User friendly dashboard readouts let you keep your acceleration in non-gas-hog mode and tell you how far you can go on the gas you’ve got – I drove the HS all over the Los Angeles area, including a few minor road trips, and never got below 270 miles of “cruising distance” so it’s clear a little gas in the HS goes a long way. Add in tons of airbags, an impressive navigation system, an emergency crash detection/stolen vehicle tracking system and a handy fold down arm rest in the back seat that’s wide enough to keep argumentative siblings from duking it out while you’re driving and the HS is a great candidate for family car.
So what’s the down side? The instrumentation panel is the biggest issue with the HS – basically, there are too many buttons (and a joy-stick, seriously, it’s kind of an old school video game flashback). This feels like a car that’s stuck somewhere between the past and the future. Most of the bells and whistles, back up camera, side view cameras etc can be accessed with the surprisingly easy to use once you’ve got the hang of it joystick and the nav screen. But, many of these features are also accessable through the traditional buttons and dials we’re all used to. There are a lot of redundant access points, and the cockpit like control panel that hosts all these gadgets kind of dominates the front seats of the car.
To sum up – is the HS perfect? No. Is it pretty darn sweet and family friendly? Absolutely!
