LEXUS HYBRID ACHIEVES 28 HWY MPG...YAWN

Yes, that is actually good mileage!

If you look at the performance figures for the car, any other car would be getting much less in the way of miles per gallon. Don't compare to the super high numbers for the Prius, as they don't apply to other cars. Compare this car ONLY to other luxury cars of this size and weight and performance. Mercedes E/S class, BMW 5/7 series, for example. 28 mpg is higher than those. A V8 Mercedes will NOT get 25 mpg around town. Try 15 at best. The Lexus is VERY fuel efficient for what it is.

Also, look at what they are comparing it to in the article. A VW Passat Wagon? Hello, is this supposed to be an accurate comparison? Give me a break, the Passat is nice, but it doesn't compare to the Lexus.

"Hybrid" doesn't mean super high miles per gallon. It means much better than other cars OF THE SAME CLASS with SIMILAR PERFORMANCE FIGURES.

Apples -- > Apples / Oranges --> Oranges

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DocVijay @ Sep 7 2006, 10:34 AM) [snapback]315698[/snapback]</div>

A BMW 525 gets 30MPG on the highway. I know I'm not supposed to point that out, but oh well.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Sep 7 2006, 05:38 PM) [snapback]315732[/snapback]</div>

A BMW 530d gets 35mpg combined cycle. On the highway, it's rated 45 mpg. And it's by all means more performant than a 525...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(vtie @ Sep 7 2006, 09:15 AM) [snapback]315753[/snapback]</div>

But us Americans are stupid... Diesel is a myth, it doesn't count for us

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(vtie @ Sep 7 2006, 12:15 PM) [snapback]315753[/snapback]</div>

Sssh... don't mention diesel. It's not allowed!

 

I do not know... 31/27 for a 4365 pound vehicle is a step in the right direction.

Don't forget that the emissions are of course lower.

We're lucky to get 18 combined in our MDX. (We offset the beast by using the Prius whenever and wherever possible of course.)

I still have to applaud anybody willing to fork over the extra dough in the luxury car segment for what is a modest boost in MPG.

 

I'd be pissed if I got 28 MPG.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Sep 7 2006, 11:38 AM) [snapback]315732[/snapback]</div>

I beleive I mentioned that you had to compare to similar cars with similar PERFORMANCE as well. THe 525, while it may be an equal in the luxury department, the performance lags behind quite a bit.

Yes, the diesel version gets even better mileage, but it's NOT AVAILABLE HERE! Also, the performance is nowhere close, but more comparable to the 525. Yes, I agree there are some really nice luxury cars with good mileage, but NOT with the Lexus's level of performance. To some people, performance is still very appealing. If it weren't, Mercedes and BMW would not be building multiple models with 400-500+ hp. (The MB twin turbo V12 is especially nice! )


I'll say it again (in bold and caps this time):

WHEN COMPARED TO SIMILARLY EQUIPED CARS WITH SIMILAR PERFORMANCE THE LEXUS ACTUALLY GETS QUITE GOOD MILEAGE! (I even threw in some italics for good measure.)

 

The hp rating of the Lexus is more like the V8 version of the BMW. The mpg of the Lexus is MUCH better then the v8 version of the BMW. I terms of luxury BMW is now a little behind of Lexus. In the past the 5 series was IT but not now, Lexus has BMW beat.

BMW and Mercedes reliability has gone downhill recently and apparently <I have no first hand experience with this> the Lexus dealers deliver a better buying experience.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DocVijay @ Sep 8 2006, 02:39 AM) [snapback]316062[/snapback]</div>

May I suggest the 535d if you need more performance? 0-100km/h in 6.2s, 38 mpg on the highway. I know that neighter the 530d nor the 535d is available in the U.S., but that not really a point if you are interested in comparing the merits of different technologies.
And, when it comes to real-life performance, I think I would by far prefer the 535d over the lexus hybrid. Or even the 530d. Of course, the 0-100km/h numbers of the lexus hybrid are almost impossible to beat, but there is more in life than that. The diesel engines can sustain their maximum power output and tremendous torque for as long as the fuel lasts. This is a weak point of any hybrid technology with small batteries when it comes to performance. Those who drive a prius in the mountains know that. I'm also curious to see if the car can deliver it's rated 345hp over the entire speed range, up to 250km/h.

But, nevertheless, I think your bold-faced, capitalised, italised point is entirely correct.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(vtie @ Sep 8 2006, 01:10 AM) [snapback]316218[/snapback]</div>

That is what you are mistaken. The GS450h wastes a lot of gas trying to fill the battery full time. Toyota knows that they needed to make sure the battery/electric motors need to produce power when needed for the HP game. So Toyota decided to keep the battery charged most of the time, that is why the city mileage is worse than freeway mileage.

Now if Toyota had designed a switch to allow econ/sport mode, the GS450h (in econ mode) will have equal or better mpg than the RX400h/highlander-hybrid.

 

Not really worth the upgrade I would say, but it is an improvement....

I owned a 2000 GS400, I sold it when I bought the Prius. The GS430 is the newer model, and this is the hybrid version of the newer model. Had to wait for both cars, waited longer for the GS (6 months) as they were very popular in 2000.

I loved the GS400, it was a great car, put over 125k miles on it. The only reason I got out of it was because I have a 90 mile p/day commute and I can take advantage of the car pool lane. Of course I also like not using as much gas!

Anyway, I was very good at keeping track of my mileage in the GS. It was a 300HP motor that year, car was VERY fast for a 4 door sedan. I was always VERY impressed with the mileage I received in the GS. A 300 HP V8 engine and I consistently got 22 MPG in that car. For a straight gas V8 performance car, not trying to get good mileage, 22 MPG is pretty darn good.

That said, squeezing out an additional 6 MPG by going to the hybrid is probably not worth the cost of the upgrade, even though it is nearly a 30% increase in the mileage. You'd have to do a lot of miles to make that up.

For me, going from a 22 MPG average, to the 46 MPG I'm getting in my Prius (driving the high speed carpool lane has it's impact) was a big improvement and well worth it. Saved over $1,000 in fuel in about 6 months....

Ken

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dipper @ Sep 8 2006, 07:04 PM) [snapback]316421[/snapback]</div>

I would say this only adds to my argument. Because it's a performance-oriented hybrid, there have to ensure the maximum availability of the electric assistance indeed, compromising the efficiency.

And yet, because of the limited battery capacity, it is still only an assistance that can run out of juice quickly if you have to rely on it for an extended time. But you won't find this fact back in the 0-100km/h numbers

 

Yeh, try taking the Lexus GS450h to race up a long and twisty maintain road (say, hwy 17 from Silicon valley to Santa Cruz). Let us know how long the "V8 power" last. When the battery juice runs out, you are left with a V6 engine hauling 200lb+ extra weight compared with a GS300. Around town or on flat highway, I am sure GS450h is a blast to drive but I would rather buy a plain and simply V8 if performance was what I wanted. Look at the sales numbers, performance hybrids are not selling!

For now, I would rather drive my Prius which gives me consistent 46mpg in Silicon Valley commute. Occasionally, I would take my 8-yr old '98 BMW 540iA out for a spin to satisfy my "evil side" and keep the Bimmer happy.

 

Of all the marketing words.... :lol: ...Fuel consumption is nearly 20 mpg.

That is probably for Highway 20mpg...

Makes the Yukon looks like gas sipper at 22mpg highway on petro instead of Diesel.

 

Green car? 20 mpg?
Thanks for the picture of a pregnant overconsuming station wagon anyway, Arroyo.