Just what is a ‘luxury car?’ I ruminated on this as I drove about in Lexus’ all-new hybrid, trying to get the fuel economy display to exceed 32mpg. That seemed a relevant question, since the company’s ads proclaim the HS250h to be the most fuel-efficient example of that breed you can buy.

I’d been impressed with the second-generation Lexus RX hybrid’s numbers, and those of the more performance-oriented GS450h as well. But, frankly, the HS wasn’t doin’ it for me. To start with, it looked a bit odd from some angles and had a very long snout. And while I dug the interior’s architecture, which features a cool center stack and (optional) haptic controller like the RX450h, it wasn’t that roomy; a normally-proportioned, 6’2” friend couldn’t lower the seat enough to avoid hitting the headliner.

Moreover, a luxury car should be refined, quite, and ride well. The HS got one of these three right: it was pretty quiet—at least until the continuously variable transmission revved the 2.4-liter, 147hp four cylinder to its power peak to supplement the batteries. The result was something akin to the sound of a mooing cow; not exactly high-class. And road noise was always present in depressing quantities, while the ride was rarely less than brittle and unyielding.

I could forgive these issues if the Lexus was fast in a strait line or fun in the corners, but it was neither. That’s probably because the HS weighs an astonishing 3740 pounds—about 700 more than the Prius, whose platform it shares—meaning fairly lethargic acceleration (8.7-sec 0-60 according to independent tests), and a certain ponderousness in directional changes.

I did manage to get it to display over 40mpg on one drive, using the ‘Eco’ mode that softens throttle response. But that required driving like my grandmother and becoming a rolling chicane to other road users. Under what I’d consider ‘normal’ use, my week’s average was just above 30mpg—decent, to be sure, but nowhere near a new Prius’ ability to deliver numbers in the 50’s.

That's my best

But the HS' average disappoints

All my frustration isn’t directed at Lexus; at least they’re trying. But insofar as the HS250h is concerned, I think it’s too much of a compromise to justify its price premium over the Prius.

THE BROKER’S VIEW: The first-gen Lexus RX hybrid hasn’t held its value well (it doesn’t do much better mileage than a gas-only model), and used Prius prices have depended to a great extent on the cost of gasoline. So what it will do medium- or long-term is pretty much out of the buyer’s control. A lease would seem the safe way to go if you’d like to get behind the wheel of an HS250h: let Lexus take the risk.

Price as tested: $48,985

For more info from Lexus, go here.

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