Intwominds aboutbuyinga hybrid car?
AHYBRID IS a halfway point between a fully electric car, with its limitations of range and a conventional fuel-burning car, either petrol or diesel. You get both, with the advantages of both. In the Lexus ISh, a conventional petrol engine is mounted in line with an electric motor and the car will run on either power unit, or both.
One of the main strong points is the wonderful quietness as you move away on electric. But the benefits of hybrid power do not stop there; it is also extremely powerful and very economical. We didn’t see the claimed 60.1mpg but consumption was always on the right side of 40, averaging 43.6mpg for our full test. Carbon dioxide emissions are 101g/km, bringing annual car tax down to £20.
In the 300h there is a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with power output of 178bhp. The electric motor gives 141bhp and the two together on full song achieve impressive acceleration, soaring to 80mph in just 13.7 seconds.
The hybrid configuration brings many benefits, revealed when you open the bonnet. There are no visible drive belts, no starter or alternator and no conventional 12-volt battery. The battery is a nickel metal hydride unit, mounted under the boot floor and power goes to it via a charger unit running off the back of the engine. Power is taken to the rear wheels through an electrically controlled CVT (continuously variable transmission) with six speeds.
A rotary control behind the transmission selector gives a choice of power modes, beginning with eco, which we used most of the time, going through sport position and there is even a “snow” mode, to avoid wheelspin. Full electric power can also be selected, though after a while the petrol engine cuts in unobtrusively to stop the battery becoming too depleted.
The trip computer can be switched to show whether the car is being driven electrically or by petrol, as well as the state of charge. On the over-run and when braking, the car’s energy is fed back into the battery. You never plug into the mains; the car is self-sufficient.
The IS 300 h is generously equipped, too. Steering is precise, brakes are responsive and it gives a ride in which bumps are heard rather than felt. Seats are upholstered in perforated leather, with heating for all four and electric adjustment for both front seats, with three memory settings for the driver.
When power is switched off, the driving seat moves back slightly and the steering wheel (electrically adjustable) is raised for easy access.
A navigation system with a large, clear map sensibly mounted at the top of the console is standard with the Premier model and standard or optional on all other versions. It gives good guidance with well-phrased instructions but, annoyingly, every time the power is turned off the map reverts to half-screen display, with the second half showing the audio selection. Though I have to admit that the audio in the Premier model is exceptionally good.
As well as the 2.5-litre 300 series, there is the 200 with 2-litre engine but the extra cost of the larger engine is worth it. All 300 models have electrically controlled CVT. The range starts at £28,995 for the SE but I would go for the Luxury model, good value at £30,995.