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Extraordinary Rides The 2020 Lexus LS 500h Hybrid is comfortable and luxurious Story and photos by C.A. Haire
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ar buyers who are seeking the best fuel economy often shop for a hybrid vehicle. They use a gas-powered engine combined with a battery/charging system to provide maximum fuel efficiency. Because the main advantage is to spend less on fuel bills, these systems are usually placed in inexpensive vehicles to spend less on the initial purchase as well. But in the case of this Lexus LS 500h, the entry fee is anything but cheap—$116,000. The base price starts at $80,000. Add $1,500 for air suspension, $3,000 for the safety package, $2,000 for an upgraded stereo and $3,000 for those larger alloy wheels, among other small items. Then we get the “Executive Package.” It has Kiriko glass panels, massaging seats, a sun shade, reclining rear seats and a host of other goodies too long to detail here. This added a
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85085 | AUGUST 2020
whopping $23,000. After all of this, it’s rather insulting to be charged $380 for floor mats that should have been standard. Under the hood we get a 3.5-limats aren’t standard on the $116,000 2020 Lexus LS 500h Hybrid. They’re ter V-6 engine and hybrid combo Floor an extra $380. putting out 354 horsepower. Fuel economy is claimed to be 25 mpg in the city, 33 computer drive offers many modes to choose on the highway and 28 overall. This compares to from: normal, eco, custom, comfort, sport the nonhybrid LS 500 that has a 416-hp, 3.5 V-6 and sport plus. The 2,400-watt stereo sounds rated at 23 mpg overall. We put 600 miles on the great. There are more buttons and switches clock to get real-world figures. In heavy city traffic than a space shuttle, so there is an obvious the mileage was 24, in mixed commuting 27 and learning curve to master it all. The LS 500h is very comfortable to drive, highway trips 28. This compares to the LS 500 and those spending lots of time behind the nonhybrid we drove previously at 15 mpg in hard wheel will have few complaints. But keep in city driving, 19 in mixed and 27 on the freeway. mind the excellent fuel economy promised As can be seen, the hybrid car gives about 25% will be obtained on city streets, not the freeto 65% fuel economy improvement in town, but way. For drivers planning to take lots of innot so much on long highway trips. terstate trips, the standard LS 500 nonhybrid The cabin is a nice place to be, with plenty may be a more practical choice. of comfort and luxury toys to play with. The
