myLexus007

I'm thinking of buying a used 2010 HS250h Premium with NAV, 83,xxx miles for $15K. Is that a good price?

The HS250h is to replace my current daily driver 2007 ES 350 ultra luxury with 113K miles. My commute starts to get far and 60/40 hwy/city, so I thought the HS would be a better fit with better mileage. But I'm afraid I will miss the silky smooth and powerful V6 on the ES, plus the ES 350 drive is incredible for long road trips, in which we will plan to use the HS250h for road trip as well.

Questions:

1. How does HS250h drive compare to ES350? How is the road noise? Wind noise? Power? Interior space? Handling? Height position?

2. Does the HS250h really gets 35/34 MPG, better? lower?

3. What amenities on ES350 that HS250h doesn't have and vice versa?

Thanks!

Clutchless

I had a 2008 ES350 and now have a 2011 HS250h. I find the HS to be very comfortable with low road and wind noise. It is not as floaty as the ES350 and drives more like an Audi. The handling and steering are better, more precise. You sit up higher and the view is better. I find it very comfortable and it would be great for long trips. We use it as our commuter for the daily 45 to 90 minute ride each way. It feels like it has almost as much room inside as the ES350, partly due to the higher seating position. The trunk is smaller, partly due to the battery pack behind the rear seat.
I average 33 - 38 MPG and drive it like I stole it most of the time. The Camry 4 cylinder hybrid system has plenty of power, but is not as quick as the 3.5 V6 in the ES350. However it is fast enough and you can push the Power Mode button to increase throttle response and quicken steering without affecting mileage much.
I have the Premium model with Nav and it has all the amenities my old ES350 had except for the HID headlights that move when going around corners. Your Ultra Luxury model probably has more options than were available for the HS.

To compare prices look on www.cars.com and www.edmunds.com

You really need to drive one to compare them. We plan to keep this car a long time.

With that many miles on it, get the automatic transmission fluid changed. It is like a manual transmission in that you just drain and fill it back up with about 4 quarts of Toyota WS ATF. Any Toyota dealer can do it for you.

Superes350

If you can find an ES300H, I'd get that over the HS. It's larger, still gets mid-to-high 30 mpg, and it's more comfortable in terms of road noise and wind noise..

GS300ken

I got 2013 ES350 for a week when my 2010 HS got recall done. I can tell you that the ES looks boring when comparing with HS. It drives like a Camry and the interior is cheap. The only thing I like about the ES is the blind spot monitor. When I got my HS back, I really appreciated it lol. My HS gets around 34 mpg average.

Superes350

Are you sure you were driving an ES350? The interior is not cheap, it's certainly an upgrade over an HS, and the ride is also better.

SW17LS

IMHO the ES is a consoderably more refined car to drive than the HS. The hybrid system in the HS is coarse, the interior is oddly laid out. I had a couple as loaners when they were still being sold. No interest.

WNYhs250h

Hi Friend. I just bought my first 2010 HS250h and my first Lexus. I can only really comment on #2 and the price.

I bought my Lexus from a Chevy dealer. They are well known in my area for good deals on new Chevy/GM cars, and I think they accepted the HS250 as a trade-in, thinking it would fly off the lot. 100 days later, it was still on the lot and I bought it from them.

Mine was the premium package minus the Keep Lane Assist and any video features. No big deal.

It was listed with 43,900 miles for $18100. I talked them down to $18000.

I think that the mileage on your prospective HS should allow you to talk them down to $14,000. Upon looking at the carfax, you can judge better (service history, # of owners, etc).

As for your #2.

It drives well. If you've ever driven a go-kart, think of it that way. The body is modeled after the European Toyota Aventis, so it's amazing at handling, turning, and the short wheel base can make tight squeezes a cinch. The tradeoff is a bit of a rough ride sometimes. There are ways to address this, but overall, it's a little less smooth than most of the other models available.

As for fuel - it's all in how you drive. I'm aggressive, so between my aggressive driving in the city and cruise control on the highway/freeway, I'm getting 37mpg. When I first got it, I kept the tachometer in the dark green whenever I could and took advantage of hills and got 45mpg with a full tank. It's really up to how you drive it in Eco Mode. I also slow roll in Fully-electric mode down neighborhood streets (keeping it under 20mph).

It's a fully enjoyable car, and the premium package seals the deal.

myLexus007

THANK YOU ALL for the input!!

So I test drove the HS250h this past weekend, overall very impressive with the handling and the overall package Lexus quality. The interior is a bit small and more noticeable in the back. The layout definitely reminds me of 2010-2015 Prius (the waterfall) in which I didn't like (we have a 2013 Prius now too and the 50 MPG overcame that). Power was definitely less than ES350 but I don't mind to exchange for a better MPG.

Conclusion, I'll wait for the ES300h to get a bit cheaper and then upgrade. The current 2013 ES300h with equivalent miles is about $10K more than HS250h.

Have had 2013 ES 350 for loaner and I agreed with Superes350, quality is much higher especially interior space and design. Never driven ES300h so any reviews would be appreciated.

Magellan55

IMO, the HS250 is more a direct comparison to the IS250, not the ES350. Similar performance, similar dimensions, similar ride. The HS has a bit more room, especially in the back, but is probably closer to the IS250 in roominess than the ES350. Same with sportiness. If you like how the ES350 rides, then you won't like the HS250 (or the IS250 or likely any BMW). I test drove both back-back before settling on the HS250 5 years ago. It was really close though - the sales manager was convinced I was going for the IS250 and was surprised when I signed a contract on the HS instead.

For reference, my previous two vehicles were a Saab 95 and VW Passat - both manuals. I never thought I'd step foot in a Lexus showroom due to their "floaty" reputation. But the HS intrigued me as did the IS250, so I stopped in.

SW17LS

The IS and HS are even more different than the ES and HS. The HS is FWD, the IS is RWD. The IS has 50/50 weight distribution and the HS has a very strong front bias, like the ES. From a handling and dynamics perspective the IS is worlds ahead of both the HS and the ES.

The HS rides firm, but don't mistake a firm riding car for a dynamic car like an IS or a BMW. The HSs I've driven all reminded me very much of my wife's old Prius.

Magellan55

Smacks a bit of RWD snobbery :-) I'd agree for race track use, but the average driver, especially Lexus owners, would much more likely notice the difference between how the ES and HS feels than the IS and HS. You'll know it before even getting out of the dealership. Below maybe 7/10's, the difference between FWD and RWD is very nuanced, and that's where most drivers live. I drove the IS and HS back-back, not on a racetrack, but in town, on a highway, and some back roads (you know, where most people drive daily), and found no difference other than the really bad throttle lag on the HS from it's CVT. Both had similar power, steering responsiveness, emergency handling, and braking.

But, stepping into an ES loaner, the difference is immediate: "boat".

SW17LS

no snobbery, they're just different. Having owned both you can definitely tell the difference in everyday driving, it changes how the car looks, how it feels from the drivers seat (RWD cars have a longer hood, the cab sits further back), weight distribution is different and it change show it feels when turning, when accelerating, and when braking.

I went from RWD Lexus vehicles to FWD and back to RWD/AWD. There is definitely a difference.

Magellan55

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that. IMO, ask the people waiting in the Lexus service area if their car is FWD or RWD, I'll bet less than half have a clue. I just think the average car owner can't tell the difference.

bullnobull

I agree Mattsrs
After many Lexus cars, I finally went for the 2022 ES300hUL. Different car feel, More like the older LS430 with better technology.
The UL with quiet windows, better seat material, flawless trans, etc. has left me with little regret other than the tires 18" ride. I am old school, I want tall,soft riding side wall tires. Still this is a great car.