2011 Lexus GS 450h Reviews

Lexus GS450h

This black Lexus GS450h looks slick, provides a comfortable ride, and has a very quiet cabin. Although Lexus touts this car's performance credentials, there's a noticeable delay in power when you gun it from a stop. Jake Holmes, Associate Web Editor

Lexus has a mixed bag with the GS450h. It has been a long time since I've driven a GS hybrid and I was pleasantly surprised by the strong acceleration the system offers. Highway fuel economy suffers in comparison with a BMW 535i, but the city fuel economy is pretty good. The next generation Lexus GS will be out in just a few months and battery technology has come a long way since the GS450h debuted, so hopefully Lexus has found a way to better package the battery pack in the upcoming new GS hybrid.

Lexus has promised a game changing new GS for 2012. Phil Floraday, Senior Web Editor

As with the GS350, the interior of this car is quite nice but needs to be updated. The 2011 Lexus GS 450h is unchanged.

The 2011 Lexus GS 450h isn't your typical hybrid. By comparison, the conventionally powered GS 350 achieves 22 mpg and trails the GS 450h in acceleration. Selecting the hybrid GS 450 will set you back an additional $12,000 over the GS 350 and $3,500 over the GS 460. As a luxury sedan with spirited acceleration, the GS 450h is an admirable choice without a fuel economy penalty.

The 2011 Lexus GS 450h is a midsize, hybrid-powered luxury sport sedan offered in a single well-equipped trim level. Other options include a rear spoiler, run-flat tires, an advanced suspension (requires run-flat tires), adaptive cruise control (includes Pre-Collision system) and a 14-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound stereo.

The 2011 Lexus GS 450h is powered by a combination of a 3.5-liter V6 engine and two high-output electric motors that combine to generate up to 340 hp. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) directs power to the rear wheels. Lexus estimates the GS 450h will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, which is quick even for a V8-powered midsize luxury sedan. Its EPA-estimated fuel economy is better than average for a V6-powered midsize luxury sedan at 22 mpg city/25 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined.

Safety
Standard safety features on the 2011 Lexus GS 450h include antilock brakes with brake assist, traction control, stability control, front and rear side-impact airbags, front knee airbags, side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. Some trunk space had to be sacrificed for the hybrid battery, with the GS 450h accommodating only 10.6 cubic feet of luggage compared to 15 cubes for the conventionally powered GS models.

The Hybrid badges are small and rather easy to miss on the 2011 Lexus GS 450h, and that's no mistake. This sport sedan, which can accelerate to 60 mph just as quick, if not quicker, than the V-8-powered GS 460, was conceived more as a high-tech performance sedan than a hybrid-halo model.

Speed gathers quickly and often faster than you intend in normal driving