Lexus hybrid
Help save the planet, and look good doing it.
Bah, humbug! As a hybrid-car Scrooge, that’s normally my first reaction to hybrid cars.
At the risk of generalizing, hybrids tend to be overpriced (compared to their gasoline counterparts), slow, and, well, just plain dull. But testing the new-for-2013 Lexus ES300h Hybrid is starting to convince me otherwise.
Though conservatively styled, the ES’s new body style is decidedly bolder than the outgoing model. The nose features a new grille and large lower air intake, headlight surrounds sweep longer, flowing into the fenders, and deeply sculpted recesses for the fog lights combine to give a modern face. In side profile, fender arches are more pronounced and kick-ups at the end of the rocker panels and behind the rear wheels add visual interest. A subtle trunk spoiler finishes off the tail.
A combination of technological tweaks to the gasoline/electric power plants and transmission and aerodynamics (Lexus claims a drag coefficient of 0.27, making the ES300h slipperier than a Porsche 911 Carrera) gives the new premium hybrid impressive fuel economy ratings.
Lexus can always be counted on for the quality and luxury inherent in its vehicles, and the ES300h’s interior is no exception.
The instrument cluster has a simple layout and is easy to read, thankfully avoiding the busy, techno-Gameboy gauges found in some hybrid vehicles.
The dashboard’s lines are elegantly modern, with a row of double-stitching that colourmatches the very nice Ivory Nu Luxe (faux leather) upholstery. (A full leather interior is optional.)
Keyless entry/ignition, heated seats, dual-zone climate control, wood grain trim, driver seat memory, sunroof, analogue clock, fog lights, eightspeaker audio system, backup camera with seven-inch display screen, and a feature I really liked — a driver’s seat that automatically slides back and steering wheel that tilts up when the car is turned off, enabling easier exit/entry — are all standard features one expects in a premium sedan.
The cabin is a remarkably silent, comfortable space to spend time in, and the rear seat has plenty of head and leg room for adults. Lexus claims the new ES has increased rear seat space over the previous model.
Like all hybrid cars, the ES300h has several Drive modes: Eco, Normal and Sport. In Normal mode, the 200-horsepower (combined gasoline and electric) motors provide sufficient power around town and the Lexus drives like a normal, gasoline-powered car. Switch to Eco mode and the drive-by-wire throttle is programmed to be slower, the CVT transmission shifts earlier, and (as we discovered in -15 C winter conditions) the climate control system is affected. Driving in Eco mode makes acceleration leisurely compared to Normal or Sport, plus there’s the unwelcome side effect of forcing the heater fan to run at low speed. The result is in really cold weather, it takes the interior longer to warm up. We found that in frigid temperatures, it’s better to start off in Normal, allowing the climate control system fan to operate normally, and when it does, the ES300h warms the interior very quickly.
Once the gasoline engine was up to operating temperature and the cabin toasty warm, I switched to Eco mode, where the hybrid’s leisurely acceleration on ice-covered city streets isn’t a disadvantage, and it’s in stop-and-go bumper- to-bumper traffic that hybrids shine. Even in very cold weather, with lots of idling, our ES300h’s on-board computer informs us the Lexus is sipping regular fuel at a stingy 8.1 L/100 km in city driving. Though nowhere close to the official fuel-economy ratings, that’s still impressive in our real-world, severe-weather testing.
I feel like choking when I say I like the 2013 Lexus ES300h Hybrid. No, it’s definitely not a drivers’ car. But it is cushy soft, luxurious and comes with that reassuring Lexus badge, delivering quality, reliability and superb aftersales service.
If you’re one of the few who’s committed to the benefits of hybrid cars and you’re willing to pay the $4,400 premium over its gasoline counterpart, the 2013 Lexus ES300h Hybrid is a rock solid choice.