Lexus GS 450h

The Lexus GS450h is a nice little hybrid sidestep. Yes it can run on electric power and yes this is a ‘proper’ hybrid, but if you start thrashing it the car will use the batteries and electric drive to increase performance (particularly from rest with instant-torque from the Synergy Drive). So what Greenies peg as a step in the right direction, petrolheads also think is a good thing.

• Comfort

  The Lexus becomes even more attractive for comfort lovers in 450h form. The brakes regenerate energy to charge the batteries and allow sublime soft-stops in town, and the engine will switch off if you've got sufficient charge and allow full EV running. It doesn't last long, but there's nothing better than avoiding the internal combustion engine if you want to be the smoothest limo in town.

  

• Performance

  The 450h gets a new version of the Lexus Hybrid Drive, a 3.5-litre Atkinson cycle V6 petrol in tandem with an electric motor to give 338bhp or, depending on demand, either running solo. Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries take care of the energy storage, and a six-speed sequential shift E-CVT manages the transfer to the rear wheels. It adds up to a respectably fast saloon, and an especially fast hybrid: 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds and limited to 155mph.

  

• Cool

  We like the two-fingered salute to the idea that ‘green' has to be righteous and dull, but the GS 450h isn't a cool-looking thing.

  

• Quality

  The interior is more European - think thoughtful and sober - with the slick dash dominated by a huge 12.3in screen, good-quality materials thoughout, and all the comfort-orientated buttons you could wish for in a generous standard spec.

  

• Handling

  The GS450h was always pretty rapid. Now it's more distinctly vigorous. All cars get adaptive variable suspension, but the F-Sport goes one better with Lexus Dynamic Handling, featuring dynamic rear steering, a variable-ratio steering rack and electric power steering. Translation? The rear wheels steer in the opposite direction to the fronts under 50mph for that nimble feeling, in the same direction at higher speed for stability, and the electric steering changes ratio and weight depending on demand. It's good. More distinct than before, easily more dynamic. But complex and not - understandably - with all that much natural fluency.

  

• Practicality

  There's even less space in the boot of a GS450h than there is in the stock motor, so don't expect cavernous load capacity. There's also no more room in the rear, so if you have three tall friends that you drive around a lot, you might want to consider something without such a bustle back.

  

• Running costs

  The 450h gets a really quite good 47.8mpg on the combined cycle. But if you drive it anywhere near hard then that'll drop like a stone wrapped in lead and then wrapped in more, slightly heavier lead. C02 output is really rather low (compared to anything in a similar class) at just 137g/km.