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Lexus GS Hybrid - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 Lexus GS Hybrid ranks 3 out of 13 Luxury Large Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 57 published reviews and test drives of the Lexus GS Hybrid, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

Lexus calls the GS 450h a “no compromises hybrid,” and it’s easy to understand why.  It offers the power of a V8 with the fuel-efficiency of a V6, and the kind of opulent cabin that Lexus is known for.  It is a tight fit for taller drivers, however, and still trails the best sport sedans in handling.

When most car shoppers think of hybrids, they picture oddly-shaped, smaller hatchbacks with lackluster performance but great fuel economy.  That’s Toyota’s fault – the Prius set the mold.  The luxury division of Toyota, however, has broken that same mold with several quick, luxurious hybrids that don’t trade away much of anything in pursuit of fuel-efficiency.  The Lexus GS 450h, like the larger LS600h, is among the most fuel-efficient cars in its class, but it doesn’t offer the kind of sky-high fuel economy numbers you’ll see on the window sticker of a Prius or a Lexus HS250h.

Instead, the GS Hybrid offers performance that competes with luxury sport sedans, a sumptuous passenger cabin, stylish bodywork and excellent safety ratings. 

It can’t hang with the most performance-focused large luxury cars on a winding road.  Reviewers say the steering of the GS Hybrid is too light, leaving the driver detached from road feel.  It also won’t suit taller owners.  Driver much over six feet will want to test drive an Infiniti M or Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan instead.  Headroom is tight at all four seating positions in the GS hybrid.

But this car still offers something none of its major rivals can: a hybrid powertrain.  Several rival luxury automakers are working on hybrid variants.  By the 2011 model year, an Infiniti M hybrid and a Mercedes-Benz E-Class Hybrid may be available.  But this year, there is no other large luxury hybrid on the market, and reviewers like this one so much, it may continue to dominate the market even after its competition arrives.

The GS 450 Hybrid comes in only one trim level. Its equipment list is close to comprehensive, but a handful of upgrades are offered.  For 2010, the GS hybrid gets a slightly modified grille, standard 18-inch wheels and a new power rear sunshade.

• "The 2009 Lexus GS 450h offers power and luxury, without costing a bundle at the pump. But merely average cabin tech suggests waiting for a model update." -- CNET
• "Lexus's boast for the GS 450h is a tall one, but not unrealistic: that it blends V8-style acceleration with fuel economy typical of 6-cylinder cars and exhaust emissions usually associated with 4-cylinder engines." -- Consumer Guide
• "Truly green-minded consumers will likely find that this model doesn't bring about nearly the amount of fuel savings one might expect of a car with a hybrid badge. But those wanting maximum thrust with minimum thirst in a truly elegant wrapper will no doubt be entirely satisfied." -- Edmunds
• "With most hybrids, including the current Prius, the strangeness of their mechanicals sometimes shows through. The hybrid system in the GS450h is so highly evolved that its only remaining unusual behaviors are positives." -- Automobile Magazine
• "It's smooth, it's meticulously crafted, it's packed with technology, and it may reflect the future of the automobile. But soul is conspicuous only by its absence here. " -- Car and Driver

GS Hybrid Performance - 8.9 (Very Good)

The engineers at Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota, have a lot of experience building hybrids that perform adequately while sipping gas.  This car, however, turns that model on its head.  The 2010 Lexus GS Hybrid emphasizes speed while beating the fuel-economy of every competitor. CNET raves, "Our perfect power train combines high performance with excellent fuel economy, an ideal that the 2009 Lexus GS 450h comes the closest of any car we've seen to delivering." Power isn’t everything at this price, however.  Auto writers say the handling of the GS doesn’t match what some German sport sedans offer. Read More

GS Hybrid Exterior - 8.6 (Very Good)

Only a small hybrid badge distinguishes the GS 450h from its conventionally-powered cousin, but reviewers say that’s a good thing.  The Lexus GS is one of the sharpest designs ever to come out of the normally conservative Lexus design studio.  Lexus has slightly altered the grille of the GS Hybrid for 2010, but reviewers don’t comment on the change. Read More

GS Hybrid Interior - 8.1 (Very Good)

Lexus is known for the sumptuous quality of its interiors, and the GS450h carries the Lexus name well.  Some writers call this the best interior in a class filled with fine interiors; small details reveal a craftsmanship even some luxury automakers can’t match.  Auto writers note, however, that headroom is tight at all seating positions, and some say the cabin technology is a bit out of date. Read More

GS Hybrid Safety - 10.0 (Excellent)

The federal government has not performed crash testing on the Lexus GS 450h.  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does not test hybrids separately, but has given high marks to its conventionally-powered sibling in crash tests. Read More

GS Hybrid Reliability - NA

Lexus cover the GS 450h with a basic warranty lasting for 48 months or 50,000 miles. Hybrid powertrain components are protected separately, with an eight-year warranty.  Read More