Teresa’s View
Well, fasten my seatbelt and call me a tree hugger. This week’s tester — the all-new Lexus GS 450h — is a hybrid, luxury sport sedan that belongs in the “having-your-cake-and-eating-it-too” hall of fame. The 450h is the world’s first performance luxury, rear-wheel drive, alternative-fuel sedan. The good news is that there’s no corresponding loss on the power side of the equation. In fact, the GS 450h is the fastest GS Lexus sells, jetting from zero-to-60 in 5.2 seconds, according to manufacturer reports.
As a gen-u-ine hybrid, the GS 450h can operate on the gas engine only, the electric motor only or a blend of the two without ever giving away which power plant is working at any given time. It recharges its batteries during use, so there’s no need to plug the car into anything. Frankly, you don’t have to think about the engine at all.
That said, fuel economy figures aren’t extraordinary, having been sacrificed at the altar of performance and power. The EPA estimates are 25 mpg city and 28 highway. And it prefers premium petrol.
If I have any concerns at all about the GS hybrid it’s that the car is almost too quiet. Sprinting along snaking back roads, I found myself surprised to see that I was going a lot faster than I meant to drive. I blame the winning combination of 3.5-liter V-6 gas engine and permanent magnet electric motor. Together, they generate 340 horsepower.
Responsiveness and road dynamics are heavenly thanks, in part, to the Adaptive Variable Suspension. The high-tech Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system raises stability and traction-control systems to new levels, anticipating a bad outcome well ahead of the play, and automatically applying corrective forces with a combination of braking, throttle and steering. You get to think you are a fabulous driver.
Like its gas-powered brother, the GS 430, the GS 450h is equipped with all the essential luxury features. Navigation, rear backup camera, adaptive headlamps, rain-sensing wipers and a power moonroof are standard. My fave? The heated and ventilated front seats, natch.
What Is It?: The 2007 Lexus GS 450h is a four-door, five-passenger, midsize premium performance hybrid sedan. Prices top $55K — between $6K and $10K over the cost of the gas-only model.
Gadget Rating: 8.9 out of 10. Some controls have been grouped and stored behind a covered panel to the left of the steering wheel. A touch-screen houses most other gadgets. Teresa’s Tip: Get the optional top-of-the-line Mark Levinson audio system with surround sound. Oh. My. Gosh.
The Back Seat: The back seat is as accommodating as the rest of the vehicle, although legroom is tight. Be sure to watch the doors. Due to the slicked-back exterior design, they’re shaped with a brutal leading edge that can biff a hip if you’re not careful.
Grocery Sack Test: The trunk loses nearly half of its cargo space to the battery and the rear seats don’t fold forward for that extra room. Plan your shopping accordingly.