Extraordinary Rides

The 2020 Lexus LS 500h Hybrid is comfortable and luxurious Story and photos by C.A. Haire whopping $23,000. After all of

Car buyers who are seeking the best fuel this, it’s rather insulting to be economy often shop for a hybrid vecharged $380 for floor mats that hicle. They use a gas-powered engine should have been standard. combined with a battery/charging system to Under the hood we get a 3.5-liprovide maximum fuel efficiency. Because the main advantage is to spend less ter V-6 engine and hybrid combo putting out 354 horsepower. Fuel Floor mats aren’t standard on the $116,000 2020 Lexus LS 500h Hybrid. They’re an extra $380. on fuel bills, these systems are usually placed economy is claimed to be 25 mpg in the city, 33 computer drive offers many modes to choose in inexpensive vehicles to spend less on the on the highway and 28 overall. This compares to from: normal, eco, custom, comfort, sport initial purchase as well. But in the case of this the nonhybrid LS 500 that has a 416-hp, 3.5 V-6 and sport plus. The 2,400-watt stereo sounds Lexus LS 500h, the entry fee is anything but rated at 23 mpg overall. We put 600 miles on the great. There are more buttons and switches cheap—$116,000. clock to get real-world figures. In heavy city traffic than a space shuttle, so there is an obvious

The base price starts at $80,000. Add $1,500 the mileage was 24, in mixed commuting 27 and learning curve to master it all. for air suspension, $3,000 for the safety packhighway trips 28. This compares to the LS 500 The LS 500h is very comfortable to drive, age, $2,000 for an upgraded stereo and $3,000 nonhybrid we drove previously at 15 mpg in hard and those spending lots of time behind the for those larger alloy wheels, among other city driving, 19 in mixed and 27 on the freeway. wheel will have few complaints. But keep in small items. As can be seen, the hybrid car gives about 25% mind the excellent fuel economy promised

Then we get the “Executive Package.” It has to 65% fuel economy improvement in town, but will be obtained on city streets, not the freeKiriko glass panels, massaging seats, a sun not so much on long highway trips. way. For drivers planning to take lots of inshade, reclining rear seats and a host of other The cabin is a nice place to be, with plenty terstate trips, the standard LS 500 nonhybrid goodies too long to detail here. This added a of comfort and luxury toys to play with. The may be a more practical choice.