Lexus LS 600h Review
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In a climate where it's become bad form to covet large, luxury cars on environmental grounds, Lexus is giving you a chance to have your cake and eat it too with one of the biggest, boldest and most luxurious cars around: the Lexus LS 600h.
The concept of an environmentally friendly limousine may sound like an oxymoron, but think about it for a moment -- there will always be a market for large, plush cars powered by large engines. So why not make those cars more efficient and more environmentally responsible? Why not make a petrol-electric hybrid? A big car with a green heart, so to speak.
That's exactly what Lexus, Toyota's luxury division, has done. Outwardly there are no obvious clues, but a quick glance at the technical details and it all becomes clear. The rationale behind the hybrid LS was to offer V12 engine performance with the economy and emissions profile of a V6. Which is why we've got, for all intents and purposes, a very plush and powerful Prius.
Okay, so that's not really a fair comparison, but you get the picture. This LS packs a 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine and an electric motor. The latter forms part of the car's hybrid system, which includes the battery pack, electronic control gubbins and the continuously variable transmission.
But for all the technical wizardry packed into the 600h -- and there is a lot -- all you need to know is that you can leave your sackcloth suit and hemp shoes at home because compromise has been eliminated from this car. And it's been done in spectacular style. The 600h effortlessly sprints to its limited 155mph top speed and goes from zero to 62mph in 6.3 seconds. And driven sensibly, this LS will return a claimed 30.4mpg on the combined cycle. That's right, this big old bus will post economy figures to rival a family-size petrol people carrier. Are you sitting down? C02 emissions are a modest 219g/km.
The 600h is ferociously fast to accelerate, and happy cornering at speed too
After driving the car and pouring over the spec sheets, we can't find a catch. The 600h gets up there like rocket to the moon if you're in a hurry, thanks in part to the extra oomph from the electric motor.
It will also go round corners quite well -- at speed or not -- thanks to an all-wheel drive system, clever adjustable air suspension and a thoroughly sorted electric power steering set-up. Unlike a hydraulic system, the latter saves valuable fuel. It's also linked to the many safety systems, which help stop you from taking too many liberties but without destroying the fun.
You can also thank the car's continuously variable transmission (CVT) auto gearbox for the smooth driving experience. And of course there's the suspension, which can be manually switched to and from sport-normal-comfort settings but, again, can also be left alone.
If you're in the front, you'll notice a slightly better ride -- more stable, more planted and better able to deal with poorly surfaced urban roads. In the back you'll benefit from the extra 120mm of stretch, and if you go for the only optional extra -- the Rear Seat Relaxation Pack -- you'll never want to get out. It has electric reclining rear seats, Ottoman thigh and leg rests on the left-hand seat, plus a massage function, temperature sensing climate controls, a DVD player independent of the front unit and a fixed centre console complete with all the necessary controls.
The leather and wood interior of the Lexus LS 600h oozes quality
Such thoroughness when it comes to equipment levels has become a Lexus trademark -- especially with the LS -- making this cost-option package akin to the icing on the cake. Even without it, you get electric everything, heated and cooled seats, an impressive stereo, a DVD-based sat-nav plus colour touch screen and Bluetooth phone connection, a Volvo-rivalling array of safety kit and all the leather and wood you could ask for.
Lexus is one of Toyota's brands, which means our ethical concerns over the company's lobbying of US fuel econonmy measures stands for this car too. Read our Prius review for more detail on that.
Alright, so this is a hybrid limo, one that captains of industry can drive (or be driven in) without feeling an ounce of guilt. A green car for rich people? Sort of, but if you're a company boss and want to practice what your firm's annual environmental impact report preaches, such a purchase is easy to justify.
Edited by Marian Smith
Quality
Value
Ethics
Green
