Like all Lexus vehicles, the 2008 GS 450h has a standard push-button start. When I got in the test car and pushed the button, nothing happened. Well, I thought nothing happened. The interior lights came on, but the engine didn’t turn over.
So, I hit the button again, and the lights went off. I hit the button again, and nothing happened again. Except everything happened. The GS 450h is a hybrid, so you may think you’re in accessory mode when you turn the car on. But, in fact, you are ready to drive with the electric motor.
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And that’s why Lexus has a light next to the tachometer that says “Ready.” Because the electric motor is silent, it’s hard to tell if you’re good to go. The light takes the guesswork out of it.
The GS 450h pretty much works like all the other Toyota Motor Sales hybrids. It’s a full hybrid that has a both an electric motor and a gasoline engine. Depending on the driving conditions, you can drive in electric motor only, gasoline engine only or a combination of the two. During a slow drive west down Belmont from Lake Shore, I moved about four blocks in the space of 20 minutes. I stayed in the electric motor pretty much the entire time. However, for those quick bursts of acceleration, the electric motor and V-6-powered gasoline engine work together to give the feel of a V-8. The best of both worlds.
Though the guts of the GS 450h are like the other Toyota hybrids, the primary objective is different. Sure fuel savings are nice, but the point of this hybrid is power. The regular GS is a rear-wheel dive sports sedan. The GS 450h is no different. In fact, it may be shocking to learn that the EPA fuel estimates for this hybrid are only 22 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. The gasoline-powered GS 460 has city/highway estimates of 17/24. So, there are fuel savings … kind of.
I had this car over the Memorial Day weekend, and I decided to take a road trip down to Indianapolis to visit my sister. Since this is a hybrid, I figured I’d play a little game with myself and try to beat the EPA estimates. I was going to engage in mostly highway driving, but I was going to have some city driving as well because my sister and brother-in-law always want to take “my car” while I’m visiting.
As you may have gathered from previous articles, I’m a bit of a lead foot. So, I decided to consult the experts at Lexus for some advice. The obvious – and not so obvious – tips they gave me were:
- Combine short trips to minimize cold starts.
- Accelerate slowly.
- Avoid heaving braking.
- Avoid speeds in excess of 60 mph.
- Coast as much as possible.
- Maintain recommended tire pressure.
- Avoid carrying unnecessary weight.
- Use air conditioner/defroster only as needed.
- Use premium fuel to improve performance and economy.
After reading these tips, I figured I was doomed to fail. Not only was I going to be carrying excess weight for the trip back (I had an Indianapolis 7 percent sales tax Target trip in my future), but there was also no way I was driving 60 mph all the way to Indy. I mean, the speed limit on I-65 is 70 mph, for Pete’s sake. And who actually goes 70 when that’s the speed limit?
Then there’s the whole “accelerating slowly” part. Geesh. Can’t a girl have some fun? So, it was with some surprise that, when I turned in the keys, the car said I averaged 25.8 mpg. I did my own calculations and came up with 26.5 mpg. Either way, I did beat the EPA estimates, and I’m sure with a little more effort on my part to follow the tips, I could have done better.
The test vehicle was loaded with $5K in options, including everything from run-flat tires to the navigation system. Between the standard features like heated-and-cooled front seats and Bluetooth connectivity for my cell phone, I had two very comfortable 3-hour drives. I talked to my mom in Florida hands-free all the way to Indy, and the easy-to-use navigation guided me through the I-65 detours.
I do like the Lexus navigation systems, but my one pet peeve is that you can’t adjust the system by touch while driving. Yes, there are voice-activated controls, but they’re kind of distracting. Every time I said Chicago for the city, it put me in Seatonville. It always took me two or three tries to get it right, all the while I’m looking at the nav screen thinking, Seatonville? How in the heck does Shi-kah-go sound like See-ton-vil?
Interior appointments in the GS 450h were first class all the way. The wood accents and the supple leather seats are the class acts we’ve all come to expect from Lexus. I liked the “hidden” control panel on the right side of the steering wheel that housed the mirror adjustments. Every time I hit the “Push” button, I felt very James Bondish.
The one thing that baffled me, however, was the lack of an iPod input jack. We’re talking about a well-optioned car that has a final MSRP of $60,741, and there is no auxiliary jack, optional or otherwise. But you know what was included? A cassette deck. Are you kidding me? Who still has cassettes … and actually plays them … in their car? Come on, e-mail me. I really want to know.
The test vehicle had this stunning Opaline Pearl paint that was kind of a bright white with a hint of blue. The paint combined with the hybrid badging were definite attention getters. It’s been a while since I’ve had random people come up to me and talk about a car, but sure enough, after dinner out one night, a Prius owner who had been waiting for me wanted to talk about the GS 450h.
Down in Indy, my brother-in-law and some of his friends had to give the car the once over, and the overall impression was favorable. My brother-in-law, who is a firefighter, was particularly interested in the hybrid components and made a beeline for the cutoff switch. His only negative comment was that the compartment housing the switch in the trunk should be clearly labeled for first responders to an accident scene.
Since the GS 450h is a sports sedan, it had excellent road manners. From the long, boring straight aways on I-65 to the fun cloverleaf on- and off-ramps, I thoroughly enjoyed driving this car. One of the most impressive things about the GS 450h was the seamless switch between electric-only motor and gasoline engine. There was a small shudder when the gasoline engine switched on, but it was barely perceptible. Plus, the overall quietness of the engine had you listening hard for the audible cue that the engine was running.
I think the GS 450h is an interesting hybrid that pushes the environmentally correct boundaries. It offers the power of a V-8 but fuel economy that bests a V-6 in city driving. Plus, it has rear-wheel drive performance, making it the only RWD hybrid currently available.
Now, if only there was an iPod input jack.
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