2011 Lexus HS 250h Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Write a review$36,330 to $39,100
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Now in its second year of production, the Lexus HS 250h sails into 2011 with nary a change but some color adjustments. Apparently Toyota thinks they got it right with their eco-lux, touted as the first luxury sedan to be designed from the ground up as a dedicated hybrid. Exterior color choices for 2011 drop Golden Almond Metallic for Satin Cashmere Metallic, while Black Sapphire Pearl is lost to make way for Deep Sea Mica. Aurora White Pearl is gone without a trace.
Lexus pits this 4-door, 5-passenger hybrid between the IS and ES in terms of size and within its lineup, although buyers didn’t seem to agree with that in terms of sales. While starting its first few months as the top-selling Lexus hybrid, recalls to the braking and fuel systems scared away buyers enough to drop it to the bottom of their sedan sales.
For its front-wheel-drive powertrain, the HS 250h utilizes a 2.4-liter gasoline engine with a pair of electric motors, one exclusively as an engine starter and a generator for the batteries. The twin-cam 4-cylinder engine gets variable valve timing and produces 147 hp for a total of 187 in combination with the electric motors. There are many attempts at maximizing efficiency here, including an exhaust heat recovery system, electric oil pump and electric steering, not to mention aerodynamic enhancements all around. Front and rear spoilers, side skirts, underbody ducting and more add up to a 0.27 coefficient of drag that Lexus will make sure you don’t forget. A continuously variable transmission provides further efficiency, if not quick shifting.
This is a problem with the HS 250h – it never provides the kind of performance you’d expect from a luxury sedan. Even the most sedate entry in the class has some stout acceleration, but more important is the experience of getting up to speed. The HS 250h will reach 60 mph in 8.4 seconds – not exactly slow – but it just accomplishes the task. It has no style or grace in doing so. The transitions are muted, power delivery is delayed, and the engine screams under acceleration, sounding like the fasteners are going to come off when pushed hard. This runs contrary to the huge attempts at sound and vibration isolation that Lexus has made sure you know about in its press releases. Even the electric motors whine obtrusively as the generators recharge the batteries under deceleration.
Still, at a $35K entry price, the HS 250h is an approachable hybrid luxury sedan – as long as you don’t want too much luxury. That price will net you a Base trim that isn’t a stripper with power front bucket seats in leather, a 6-CD and MP3 player, tilt and telescoping leather steering wheel and a full power package including sunroof. However, for real luxury items like wood trim, a power steering wheel, heated/vented seats with upgraded leather and larger 18-inch alloys, you’ll have to move up to the Premium trim, which will cost you an additional 2 grand.
Where you really end up getting screwed is on the options list. The navigation system alone will run you $2,000, while the full Tech Package, with the pre-collision system, lane departure and keep, adaptive cruise and head-up display, will add $4,000 to your bill, with the navigation system requirement. Two clicks and you’re uncomfortably close to 50 grand.
Of course, this would be fine if the HS 250h handled and drove like a $50K car, but it just doesn’t. The suspension is stiff and abrupt, the handling varies from too light to near-numb, and the noise is a constant annoyance, varying only when wind noise eventually supersedes engine noise at cruising speed, right before tire and road noise rise triumphant above them all.
It’s ambitious and noble for Lexus to be taking this dedicated approach to its eco-minded projects. We’ve been reminded continually about how the HS 250h contains 30% plant-based plastics and how it’s 85% recyclable, including its big evil batteries, but that’s just not enough. An ecological approach to automotive design can’t take sacrifices into account as part of the design process. A hybrid, especially a luxury hybrid, has to perform comparably to its conventional counterparts, or it’ll remain a quirky addendum instead of a viable option.
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2011 Lexus HS 250h Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Rear side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · 6 disc in-dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · XM with NavTraffic satellite radio · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 9 · 137 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 10.8 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.1 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Center console trim: wood · Door sill trim: illuminated scuff plate · Door trim: leather · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Foot pedal trim: aluminum · Shift knob trim: wood · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: front · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: rear · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: grocery bag holder · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Engine
Electric Motor Battery Type: nickel-metal hydride · Electric Motor HP: 141 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 105 · Electric Motor Torque: 199 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP: 147 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP@RPM: 6000 · Hybrid Gas Engine Torque: 138 · Hybrid gas Engine Torque@RPM: 4400
Exterior Features
Body side moldings: chrome accents · Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: chrome · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: lip · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Hybrid
Starter Type: motor/generator
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low battery
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: auto delay off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: integrated turn signals
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 8
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Moonroof: tilt/slide
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear · Impact sensor: fuel cut-off
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Heated: front seats · Passenger seat power adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Upholstery: leather-trimmed
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Turns lock-to-lock: 2.8
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 24 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Navigation system: hard drive navigation system w/voice activation · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app function: vehicle location
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy · Wheels: aluminum
Wheels
Wheel spokes: 7 · Width: 7.5
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Laminated glass: acoustic · Power windows: with safety reverse · Solar-tinted glass: rear
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · USB auxiliary audio input · 6 disc in-dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Mark Levinson · AM/FM radio · XM with NavTraffic satellite radio · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 15 · 137 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 10.8 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.1 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Dash trim: wood · Door sill trim: scuff plate · Door trim: leather · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: 3 driver · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 4 · Parking sensors: front and rear · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: rear · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Engine
Electric Motor Battery Type: nickel-metal hydride · Electric Motor HP: 141 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 105 · Electric Motor Torque: 199 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP: 147 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP@RPM: 6000 · Hybrid Gas Engine Torque: 138 · Hybrid gas Engine Torque@RPM: 4400
Exterior Features
Body side moldings: chrome accents · Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: chrome · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: lip · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Window trim: chrome
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Hybrid
Starter Type: motor/generator
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Exterior entry lights: puddle lamps · Headlights: auto delay off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Moonroof: sliding sunshade
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Impact sensor: battery disconnect · Parking sensors: front and rear
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front and rear · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Upholstery: semi-aniline leather · Upholstery accents: leather-trimmed
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Turns lock-to-lock: 2.8
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 24 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Navigation system: hard drive navigation system w/voice activation · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app function: vehicle location
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Laminated glass: acoustic · Power windows: with safety reverse · Solar-tinted glass: front