The Lexus LS600h L has a base price of $104,765 and EPA city/highway fuel economy estimates of 20/22 mpg. When I was in high school, my parents always waited up for me if I was out late with friends. Since I was one of those geeky types who never missed curfew, I actually welcomed the porch and hallway lights that greeted me. It was a sign that someone cared enough to make sure I got home safely.
Walking up to the 2008 Lexus LS600h L with the Smart Access key fob nestled in my purse was kind of like that. As I approached the car, the interior lights glimmered in greeting. And since the LS600h L costs about as much as a house, I guess it was kind of like being welcomed home all over again.
The LS600h L is the newest hybrid in the Toyota Motor Sales fleet, rounding off their hybrid family at six. But this premium hybrid costs four times as much as a Prius and offers pretty much every whistle and bell you might possibly want in a lux-laden vehicle. Except seat massagers for the driver (hint, hint).
Previous hybrids have been marked by sluggish acceleration, cheap interiors and a premium price with few premium amenities. This long-wheelbase luxury hybrid changes all that. While the LS600h L gets moderately better fuel economy than its gasoline-only brother, the LS460, the focus of this hybrid isn’t necessarily its fuel sipping characteristics. It’s the power.
Equipped with a 5.0-liter V-8 engine and two electric motors, the LS600h L explores the performance aspect of the electric boost, generating equivalent power to competitors with a normally aspirated 12-cylinder engine. With 438 horses under the hood, this all-wheel drive luxury hybrid hurtles to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. Plus, the powertrain is so smooth, you’ll hardly notice when you’re switching between the gasoline-only engine and the electric-only operation or a combination of the two.
In addition to exceptional acceleration, the Lexus Hybrid Drive system enables the LS600h L to achieve 20 mpg in city driving. While highway driving is only slightly better at 22 mpg, this is no mean feat for a vehicle weighing more than 5,000 pounds. During my weeklong test, I averaged 17.6 mpg in short, mostly city drives.
To wring the best fuel economy out of this vehicle, you can monitor your progress through various info screens displaying consumption and energy usage. Additionally, there is a gauge on the control panel that advises the driver when the vehicle is utilizing regenerative braking, when the vehicle is being driven economically and when the driver is employing the use of heavy-footed acceleration.
But just because the LS600h L is a hybrid, don’t expect it to look like one. Unless you know that the “h” stands for hybrid or you catch the subtle hybrid badging on the silver rim of the car, you wouldn’t know that the car in front of you is a technological masterpiece chockfull of kilowatts.
Also unique to the LS600h L are the blue accents on the headlamps, taillamps, badging, engine cover and Smart Access key fob.
Inside the LS600h L has pretty much every luxury amenity you could want … and with a base price of $104,765, it better. The touch-screen navigation is incredibly easy to use, and when the Real-Time traffic subscription is activated, it doles out invaluable information about Chicagol area highways. The plush leather seats are heated in both front and rear seating positions, and for an added bonus the front seats can also be cooled. My personal favorite, however, is the heated steering wheel for winter-cooled hands. Power sunshades, wood trim and the surround-sound audio system allow all passengers to travel with style.
For even more luxury and comfort, this hybrid offers a number of options that make the LS600h L a traveling home theatre or an executive suite on the go. The test vehicle added the Premium Luxury Package II ($7,570), which includes reclining rear seats and a power 9-inch screen, wireless headphones and a remote control. All you have to bring is the popcorn.
I had passengers during the test week who actually refused to ride in the front seat. Instead, they lounged in the back pressing buttons, reclining their seats and generally acting like a pampered guest. Which is what this car is made for.
Also a part of this package is the Advanced Parking Guidance system, which allows the car to “park itself.” Well, not quite, but it’s definitely helpful when backing into a tight parking space or parallel parking on a one-way street from the “wrong” side. The driver does have to do some work to line up the car to get it into the space, but once the system is activated, the driver just has to use the brake to control the speed. The car controls the steering.
The test vehicle also added Pre-Collision System and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control ($2,850), preferred accessory package ($227) and premium floor mats ($265), which brought the as-tested price up to $115,667.
I was pretty impressed with just about every feature on this car from the navigation system to the optimal driving position. The only thing that disappointed slightly was the trunk space. For a vehicle with a length of 202.8 inches -- which is longer than many SUVs and minivans -- I would have expected more cargo volume. The 11.7 cubic-feet of space in the trunk will probably fit a golf bag, maybe two, but if you’re going on a family vacation, you’ll be hard pressed to fit everyone’s luggage if there are more than two people on the trip.
The LS600h L is definitely in the same league as the top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz and BMW vehicles, and adding in the hybrid powertrain sets it apart just enough to make things interesting. Power, performance and fuel savings to boot.
While the LS600h certainly can’t beat out my parents who waited with the lights on, played chauffer and often threw homemade pizza or pasta into the mix, it definitely gives that sense of coming home when you slip behind the wheel.
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