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Studying Prius buyers over the endure several years, Toyota noticed something unusual. A hasty amount of advantageous shoppers, who ability commonly be accepted to acquirement a affluence car, were instead affairs the blooming icon. There are, apparently, a ample amount of Lexus-level car shoppers absorbed in a committed amalgam car. And while Lexus offers amalgam versions of several of its cars (the accepted RX crossover, for instance, is accessible in a hybrid), the aggregation didn’t action a amalgam that wasn’t aswell accessible as a accepted car – there was no apparent Lexus hybrid.

Enter the 2010 Lexus HS250h. With a drivetrain acquired from the Prius, but bodywork and an autogenous absolute to Lexus, it is the Lexus Prius – the aboriginal committed amalgam congenital by a affluence automaker.

The aggregation has now accustomed the automotive columnist to sample its efforts for the aboriginal time, and the adjudication is…well…as alloyed as reviews of the Prius were in its aboriginal days.

Car and Driver writes, “The Prius of Lexuses proves how boxy it is to accept your affluence and your breadth too.” The HS carries the aforementioned electric motor as the Prius, but to cull the ample weight of affluence levels of sound-dampening material, covering and electronics, the aggregation instead put in the 2.4-liter gasoline engine from the Camry Hybrid. The two motors calm accomplish 187 horsepower, and acquire an EPA city/highway appraisement of 35/34 mpg. But, Car and Driver says, they don’t cull the weight of the car able-bodied enough. The HS250h, in their opinion, is beneath fun to drive than a Prius. “It’s harder to say that the HS250h does the amalgam thing-i.e. get abundant breadth and accomplish bright blooming statements-as able-bodied as the Prius,” Car and Driver concludes. “Nor does it do the affluence affair as able-bodied as added Lexuses.”

Motor Trend had a agnate acquaintance active the car. “How to call the HS active experience?” they ask. ‘Efficient’? Yes. ‘Soothing’? Maybe. ‘Luxurious’? Mostly. ‘Exciting’? No. It’s just not the car’s mission.” They, too, begin the dispatch lacking, even for a Prius-based car. The car’s electronically-assisted steering, MT says, “has added feel and acknowledgment than in the Prius, but you will not aberration it for a 3 Series. Ditto the brakes, which feel board and nonlinear.” Inside, Motor Trend was afflicted – but not overwhelmed. “The abstracts choices aren’t as admirable as they are in aristocratic Lexus models, but aggregate is of top superior and fits calm nicely…Considering all the technology and functions that charge managing, the assorted buttons and controls are straightforward,” they write.

Autoblog, however, disagrees. “The HS never feels slow, not even in Eco mode, which was our admired and accordingly the slowest active approach possible,” they write. “We accept no botheration advising the Lexus HS 250h because it absolutely gets two out of three things absolutely right: the berth acquaintance sets a accomplished mark for what a affluence authentic amalgam can be and the active is enjoyable. Our V8-loving enthusiast hearts never absolutely acquainted cheated if applique about in the car – in fact, we admired it.” They were, however, agitated by the car’s exterior, calling it “as glace as it is bland…At one point, we pulled up next to a Toyota Corolla S, the one with the aero bits, and the affinity was uncomfortable.”

Readers acquisitive for added absolute account about the aboriginal hybrid-only Lexus ability wish to yield note, however, that aboriginal reviews of the Prius were just as underwhelming. The car may abound on the press, and on buyers, in time – abnormally as we watch the amount at the pump ascend against its accepted summer peak.

If you’re in the bazaar for a new car, analysis out the U.S. Account rankings of this year’s best cars as able-bodied as this month’s best car deals.