NOTE: Pricing based on data collected February 2011. Costs of hybridization and forced features are UCS estimates based on information available on manufacturer websites.
See full Hybrid Scorecard methodology
Vehicle Summary
Lexus introduced the GS 450h, a luxury hybrid sedan that seats five people, in model year 2007. It gets a combined EPA estimated fuel economy of 23 miles per gallon (mpg), a modest 3 mpg improvement over the hybrid’s conventional counterpart, the GS 460. The GS 450h is a product of the brand’s initial “performance hybrid” concept, choosing to focus on improved performance rather than increased efficiency. Although the GS 450h does provide greater Hybrid Value than “muscle” hybrids like the Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid and Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, due to its relatively low hybridization cost, new competition in the form of the Infiniti M Hybrid indicates that hybrid technology can be used to make significant strides in reducing global warming emissions while maintaining vehicle power. The GS 450h is a full hybrid, offering electric-only operation under certain conditions, idle stop/start, power assist, and regenerative braking.
Environmental Improvement Score
Compared with the GS 460, the GS 450h achieves only a 13 percent reduction in global warming emissions, despite downsizing from a 4.6-liter V8 engine to a 3.5-liter V6 engine. This is less than half the global warming emissions improvement than that of its cousin, the Lexus HS 250h (over its own conventional counterpart), and half that of its more direct competitor, the Infiniti M Hybrid. The low smog-forming emissions for the GS 450h earn it an EPA air pollution score of 8 out of 10, matching that of the HS 250h and its more gas-thirsty sibling, the LS 600h L. It is here where the GS 450h excels over the Infiniti M, which only merits a 6 for smog-forming emissions.
Despite its impressive full hybrid drivetrain, the GS 450h has a poor overall Environmental Improvement Score of 4.5, similar to “muscle” hybrids like the Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid and Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid—despite having a downsized gasoline engine. Lexus has proven it can offer hybrids that deliver significant global warming savings but failed to do so in the GS 450h.
Scorecard Environmental Improvement Score methodology
Hybrid Value
The estimated cost of the hybrid system on the Lexus GS 450h is $2,320, a very modest price premium compared with the other hybrids in the Scorecard lineup. This vehicle’s “Good” Hybrid Value rating should be attractive to customers deciding between the GS 450h and the conventional GS 460, but less attractive when looking at the full field of hybrid luxury sedans. Lexus could make this vehicle more attractive in the wider hybrid market by focusing more on fuel efficiency improvements like those in their CT200h and HS 250h models, as well as in the Infiniti M Hybrid.
Scorecard Hybrid Value methodology
Forced Features
By design, the Lexus brand offers premium features on all its models. Both the conventional and hybrid GS models come loaded with premium features, but the hybrid model comes with a few more and earns a Forced Features rating of “$.” Forced features on the GS 450h include intuitive parking assist, a backup camera, power rear sunshade, and headlamp washers. Click for the full list of forced features.
Scorecard Forced Features methodology
Hybrid Scorecard Home
Additional Info
Visit the Who’s Got Hybrids section to read comments and stories from actual hybrid owners.
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