Lexus has announced that its first dedicated hybrid luxury sedan, the 2010 HS 250h, will go for $34,200 plus a $875 destination charge.
That $35,075 will give you leather-trimmed seats, power front seats, a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio and 17-inch aluminum alloys. It also gets the standard Lexus safety treatment with ten airbags and front active headrests. A $1,600 Touring package can be added if you wanted a few bells and whistles like LED headlamps, heated front seats and 18-inch wheels.
The Premium model will drain your wallet of $36,970 before destination and gives you heated-and-ventilated seats, rain-sensing windshield wipers, 18-inch wheels, heated mirrors, wood trim and a key fob memory system that allows individual driving settings to be recalled upon entry.
We're not sure a few "luxury" features are worth a $12,000 premium over the standard 3rd-gen 2010 Prius (especially when you're only getting 35 mpg combined).
93aero says:
03:11 PM, 07/20/09
the price doesnt seem too bad for a lexus, but compared to the pruis....
brn says:
03:14 PM, 07/20/09
I think $28K seems perfectly reasonable.
Wait, it costs how much?
audipilot says:
03:57 PM, 07/20/09
Is it me or does this car make no sense what-so-ever? By the time you hit the $37,000 mark, you're pushing A4 and 3-Series territory. Granted, they would be incredibly stripped down, at least they are powered by a real engine....oops.
firstwagon says:
04:06 PM, 07/20/09
Can you get 35 mpg in a A4 or a 3 series?
If you are not interested in speed (and judging by traffic, a lot of people aren't) it would be a fine entry level luxury car where you don't need to worry about the price of gas.
Not something I would look at but I'll bet others will.
niallyb says:
04:59 PM, 07/20/09
At that price driving satisfaction becomes important. An A4 Premium Plus is about the same money and just as well equipped. A 328i with leather (and nothing else) is about the same.
I'm sure there's a market for this but I doubt they read this site regularly lol:)
billt9 says:
05:52 PM, 07/20/09
The Prius V costs $32,520.
The HS starts at $35,075. $2,555 more. About right.
Except the mpg. And the size.
Seriously, Drivetrain of a Camry Hybrid, size and style of a Corolla. What the hell.
cwc1 says:
06:46 PM, 07/20/09
"Lexus...its first dedicated luxury sedan"?
Lexus is all about luxury sedans (with just an occasional coupe). So, I don't see why this is considered its first one?
hondacura4 says:
07:06 PM, 07/20/09
I'm a bit on the fence with this car. I can fully understand the concept of a consumer who wants the "benefits" of a small full hybrid car but doesn't want to do without the luxury and features of a Lexus.
On the other hand the styling is very generic, almost Corolla like but its finished in typical Lexus fashion.I can accept the concept but I cant get passed the styling.
inlinesix says:
07:12 PM, 07/20/09
CWC1, I noticed that too. Seems like a mistake.
I think there will be buyers for this car, at least a few. If Lexus sells a lot I'd like to see the look on Bob Lutz's face.
blueguydotcom says:
07:13 PM, 07/20/09
Wow, 34k for a corolla
autoboy16 says:
07:33 PM, 07/20/09
Blueguy, the Hs is not a Corolla. Its actually is own car. Not like the ES and Camry.
kingkhalas says:
08:51 PM, 07/20/09
it really does look like a corolla.
inlinesix says:
09:23 PM, 07/20/09
Yea it does look like a Corolla even if its not supposed to be based on one.
iancar says:
09:33 PM, 07/20/09
It makes perfect sense as no one can get their money back from driving a Prius instead of a normal Corolla anyways. It will be a great car for hollywood stars who just can't make enough money to buy a LS600hL.
billt9 says:
10:11 PM, 07/20/09
convergent evolution.
It ended up being the shape of a corolla, size of a corolla, and the interior dimensions of a corolla.
Damn this "not a corolla".
It's a bat wing, not a bird wing. All the same.
blueguydotcom says:
10:46 PM, 07/20/09
autoboy, it looks like a corolla with a big L badge. On purpose or not Toyota already makes a very efficient, slow, FWD compact sedan that gets in the 30 mpg range.
eric808 says:
02:29 AM, 07/21/09
Pricing is somewhat reasonable. But to me, if you want a Lexus hybrid that badly, then save up for the RX, LS, or the GS versions instead of this.
tryan says:
03:05 AM, 07/21/09
Give me a Mini Cooper Clubman (non-s) with the manual transmission and every option instead. At least I'll have some fun driving, save (some) money on acquisition cost and get relatively equivalent fuel mileage.
If I really needed the space for four adults, I'd still take a Jetta TDI and save significant money over this gussied-up non-Corolla...
As many people have noted, I'm sure there is a market for this car, and it's probably for people who'd like to be able to exude a more aristocratic 'smug' than a standard Prius would allow... ;)
1487 says:
06:02 AM, 07/21/09
Those are base prices, there are some expensive options available that will likely send this over $40k. Lexus only plans to sell 25k of these which tells you its a niche vehicle. The price is OK, but the styling is a killer. Looks like a corolla which is not a good thing.
stephen987 says:
07:38 AM, 07/21/09
Silly. But not as silly as it would've been at the earlier forecast price of $39,999.
niallyb says:
10:00 AM, 07/21/09
Who's fool that said "Its its own car".
Its an Avensis (sold in Europe - my sister drives one) with different cladding and a different interior.
In Europe the Avensis is the next size model up from the Corolla and competes with the Mondeo. They dont sell the Camry there anymore cos no one bought them.