2009 Lexus GS 450h

The Lexus GS 450h is one of only two luxury sedans powered by hybrid technology. The other is the flagship Lexus LS 600h (*Est. $106,035). These two premium-priced hybrid sedans sit in a class by themselves and really don't compete on the same level as a Toyota Camry Hybrid (*Est. $26,150). Rather, the two Lexus hybrid cars are aimed at those who might compare them against a BMW or Mercedes Benz luxury sedan. Owners should not expect to recover the extra cost of a luxury hybrid, reviewers emphasize. Edmunds.com estimates that it would take more than 11 years for a GS 450h to break even versus a nonhybrid GS 460 (*Est. $53,470).

The 2009 Lexus GS 450h hybrid sedan comes with a performance-focused, 340-horsepower V-6 gas/electric powertrain. ConsumerGuide.com's editors say, "It blends V-8-style acceleration with fuel economy typical of six-cylinder cars and exhaust emissions usually associated with four-cylinder engines." On paper, the GS hybrid's fuel economy isn't particularly impressive -- about 22 mpg in city driving and 25 mpg on the highway -- but if you compare these figures to the 17 mpg city rating of the V-8 engine in the Lexus GS 460, the numbers have more impact. Like other full hybrids, the GS is can run in an electric-only mode, but it's an act AutoblogGreen.com describes as "possible but challenging."

The Lexus GS 450h is "sneaky quick," according to The Detroit News' Scott Burgess. It's capable of sprinting from zero to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, even faster than the V-8-engined GS 460, according to Edmunds.com. The GS 450h includes a slew of standard features not found on other hybrid cars, from standard leather heated and ventilated seats to rain-sensing windshield wipers, a back-up camera, sunroof, 10 airbags and a 10-speaker premium sound system. The suspension can be adjusted to a "sport" setting and includes an optional active stabilizer system to reduce body roll during hard cornering. Edmunds.com testers claim that the GS 450h offers "a nearly perfect compromise between sport sedan responsiveness and touring sedan comfort." Trunk space is almost 11 cubic feet for 2009, but that's still small for a luxury car. AutoblogGreen.com's Sam Abuelsamid points out, however, that "even the nonhybrid GS doesn't have a huge trunk, just a mere 12.7 cubic feet."