Lexus LS 600h

The LS600h is four-wheel drive, has a CVT gearbox and a Hybrid Synergy Drive electric motor. Despite all the cool stuff, it handles like a dead badger. Approach a corner at anything like an enthusiastic speed and the LS600h understeers itself straight into the arms of its myriad electronic minders and bongs mournfully at the mistreatment

• Comfort

  If you sit anywhere in the thing it's better than having Disneyland brought right into your most comfortable sofa moment. There are DVDs and seats that ventilate and massage, ‘ottoman' seating that reclines almost into a flat bed in the rear, multi-zone climate, a self-park function - even the electric drive system allows for silent, perfectly ramped gatherings of speed. It's surreal, astonishing and bloody brilliant.

  

• Performance

  More confusing than Britney Spears' haircuts, this 5-litre V8 spits out 290kW and does the 0-100km/h sprint in just 6.3 seconds. Oh, and it's a hybrid.

  

• Cool

  People keep saying that Lexii are bland. Truth is, they're new and not flawed. The LS600h may be boring to drive, but it's very cool.

  

• Quality

  If there is such a thing as better than the LS460, the LS600h is it. Not built but hewn. Not made but forged. If all cars were built this well, the car business would cease to exist because no-one would ever need a new car.

  

• Handling

  The LS600h is four-wheel drive, has a CVT gearbox and a Hybrid Synergy Drive electric motor. Despite all the cool stuff, it handles like a dead badger. Approach a corner at anything like an enthusiastic speed and the LS600h understeers itself straight into the arms of its myriad electronic minders and bongs mournfully at the mistreatment.

  

• Practicality

  Not quite as practical as little brother 460 simply because some space is taken up by the Synergy Drive. You'll never notice it though.

  

• Running costs

  The 600h will manage around 9.3L/100km, but isn't going to be a $100 oil service, even with the best will in the world and using pattern parts from a Holden Vectra. Don't expect it to be as kind on your wallet as it is to the pandas.