NOTE: Pricing based on data collected August 2009. 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 LS 600h L in model year 2008. The all-wheel-drive luxury performance sedan seats five people and gets a combined EPA estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg. Despite already sporting the only eight-cylinder engine in the Lexus line, the LS 600h uses the hybrid system to boost the vehicle’s power, leaving its environmental performance in the dust. The LS 600h L is a full hybrid, offering electric-only operation under certain conditions, idle stop/start, power assist, and regenerative braking.
Environmental Score
The LS 600h L gains a meager 14 percent reduction in global warming emissions compared with the conventional LS 460. This is less than half the global warming emissions improvement than its cousin, the Lexus HS 250h, achieves over a comparable conventional model. With the 600h L, Lexus does not take advantage of the hybrid system to improve fuel economy but instead uses a larger engine to give the hybrid more power (438 peak horsepower as compared with the LS 460’s 380), making it a classic “muscle hybrid.” The smog-forming emissions of the LS 600h L earn it an EPA air pollution score of 9 out of 10. Despite its impressive full hybrid drivetrain, the total Environmental Score of 5.1 is only good enough to match the Saturn Vue Hybrid—a vehicle that does not even have the technology to truly be considered a hybrid vehicle.
Scorecard Environmental Score methodology
Hybrid Value
The LS 600h L has the lowest Hybrid Value of all the hybrid models. It is the most expensive hybrid vehicle from a major automaker and has the highest cost of hybridization at $21,565. Even in this high-end vehicle, this kind of cost differential helps to perpetuate the stereotype that hybrid technology is cost-prohibitive.
Scorecard Hybrid Value methodology
Forced Features
The price tag for the Lexus 600h L is just over $100,000—nearly $40,000 more than its conventional counterpart, the LS 460. While even its base models come standard with premium features, Lexus has forced customers to pay approximately $17,120 for features in the 600h L that are not in the LS 460, and gives the LS 600h L a Forced Features rating of “$$$$$.” These forced features include: Voice-activated navigation system with backup camera; Bluetooth technology; XM Satellite Radio with real-time traffic updates; 19-speaker surround-sound audio system; and intuitive parking assist. Click to see 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.
Visit the Reviews page to see what popular automotive websites think of this hybrid.
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