Photo Journal: 2010 HS250h Silver Opal Mica - Base
#1
Lexus Connoisseur
Thread Starter
Photo Journal: 2010 HS250h Silver Opal Mica - Base
Hello Someday! The HS250h is Lexus' first dedicated hybrid and their first hybrid starting at $34k. I had an opportunity to spend some time with a Silver Opal Mica HS250h Base. I did get a chance to experience the HS in it's true form. No Mark Levinson, no park assist, no back up camera, no heated seats and no HID! But don't be fooled. Just because this car was absent of the Lexus options we're used to doesn't mean it's totally stripped of it's Lexus qualities.
This Silver Opal Mica HS has plenty to offer. This car had the black leather interior with charcoal gray accents. It also has the usual standard features like theLexus 10-speaker Premium Sound System with 6 disc in-dash CD/MP3,XM Radio and USB/AUX inputs. You can even work your iPod through the steering wheel controls. All the usual standard Lexus power features are there including a moonroof, push button start and smart key remote access are standard. It also has a split 5 spoke 17" wheel package with Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus tires which are V rated!
Despite having a combined 187hp from a 2.4L 4cyl w/Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain, this car is no slouch. There is plenty of torque going up long grades and driving up the steepest hills of San Francisco. It is a fantastic highway cruiser. It's stable, smooth and in the cross winds, it feels very planted. Thanks to it's low 0.27 Cd, the HS cuts through the wind without effort or excessive wind noise. If you're going 20mph or below, you can run the car in full Electric (EV Mode) for a few minutes. The HS is a great city car. It's very easy to zig zag through traffic and a breeze to park in tight spaces. On the highways the HS is quiet and as smooth as a car twice it's size. Steering and suspension feel are very stable. Despite carrying a load of batteries, the HS can handle well in the twisties and those fast circular on and offramps of freeways. Body roll is very minimal thanks to the front and rear sway bars and V rated tires. Around town, the car seamlessly switches from gas to electric without noise.
The HS is all about efficiency and great fuel economy. The HS is EPA rated at 35 city/34 hwy and 35 combined. The worst mileage I experienced was 32.1mpg riding the car mostly in PWR mode and the drive selector in B. The best mileage I was able to achieve was 40.1 mpg mainly on the freeway. In mixed city/hwy driving averaged 34-35mpg consistently of course this is with the use of regular 87 unleaded gasoline. Being that this did not have all the bells and whistles, I was more focused on obtaining the best MPGs. I mostly drove in ECO and NORMAL drive modes if you can believe that!
So what's not to like? The HS250h would make a great commuter car as well as a traveling companion. Most importantly it only needs 87 octane gas. If you haven't driven one, try it out, you will be surprised. Below are a few pics of my experience with the HS250h.
July 2009 - Silver Opal Mica - HS250h Base w/no Navigaton - MSRP $34,200
HS meets Wald ISF
Yes they are related in someway...L-Finesse.
RX's, ISc's and more...
Gauge cluster of the HS250h
HS with the 2IS and 1IS
HS and a Corolla. Same size? NOT.
Bamboo Pearl & Silver Opal Mica. BP is darker and greener.
HS meets M3
HS meets it's cousin 3rd Gen Prius
Split 5 spoke 17" wheels and V Rated Michelin tires!
HS - A West Coast Novelty?
San Francisco in the background.
Sutro Tower surrounded by fog
Visiting history. The former Naval Air Station Alameda
All Electric meets Hybrid
Visiting the former NAS Treasure Island & the Oakland Span - Bay Bridge
The cockpit of the HS250h -Non Nav
About to head into The City
Ready to put the pedal to the metal!
This Silver Opal Mica HS has plenty to offer. This car had the black leather interior with charcoal gray accents. It also has the usual standard features like theLexus 10-speaker Premium Sound System with 6 disc in-dash CD/MP3,XM Radio and USB/AUX inputs. You can even work your iPod through the steering wheel controls. All the usual standard Lexus power features are there including a moonroof, push button start and smart key remote access are standard. It also has a split 5 spoke 17" wheel package with Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus tires which are V rated!
Despite having a combined 187hp from a 2.4L 4cyl w/Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain, this car is no slouch. There is plenty of torque going up long grades and driving up the steepest hills of San Francisco. It is a fantastic highway cruiser. It's stable, smooth and in the cross winds, it feels very planted. Thanks to it's low 0.27 Cd, the HS cuts through the wind without effort or excessive wind noise. If you're going 20mph or below, you can run the car in full Electric (EV Mode) for a few minutes. The HS is a great city car. It's very easy to zig zag through traffic and a breeze to park in tight spaces. On the highways the HS is quiet and as smooth as a car twice it's size. Steering and suspension feel are very stable. Despite carrying a load of batteries, the HS can handle well in the twisties and those fast circular on and offramps of freeways. Body roll is very minimal thanks to the front and rear sway bars and V rated tires. Around town, the car seamlessly switches from gas to electric without noise.
The HS is all about efficiency and great fuel economy. The HS is EPA rated at 35 city/34 hwy and 35 combined. The worst mileage I experienced was 32.1mpg riding the car mostly in PWR mode and the drive selector in B. The best mileage I was able to achieve was 40.1 mpg mainly on the freeway. In mixed city/hwy driving averaged 34-35mpg consistently of course this is with the use of regular 87 unleaded gasoline. Being that this did not have all the bells and whistles, I was more focused on obtaining the best MPGs. I mostly drove in ECO and NORMAL drive modes if you can believe that!
So what's not to like? The HS250h would make a great commuter car as well as a traveling companion. Most importantly it only needs 87 octane gas. If you haven't driven one, try it out, you will be surprised. Below are a few pics of my experience with the HS250h.
July 2009 - Silver Opal Mica - HS250h Base w/no Navigaton - MSRP $34,200
HS meets Wald ISF
Yes they are related in someway...L-Finesse.
RX's, ISc's and more...
Gauge cluster of the HS250h
HS with the 2IS and 1IS
HS and a Corolla. Same size? NOT.
Bamboo Pearl & Silver Opal Mica. BP is darker and greener.
HS meets M3
HS meets it's cousin 3rd Gen Prius
Split 5 spoke 17" wheels and V Rated Michelin tires!
HS - A West Coast Novelty?
San Francisco in the background.
Sutro Tower surrounded by fog
Visiting history. The former Naval Air Station Alameda
All Electric meets Hybrid
Visiting the former NAS Treasure Island & the Oakland Span - Bay Bridge
The cockpit of the HS250h -Non Nav
About to head into The City
Ready to put the pedal to the metal!
Last edited by flipside909; 01-22-10 at 10:38 PM.
#2
Lexus Connoisseur
Thread Starter
Cruisin' the Mission and the 1st Gen Prius meets the 1st Gen HS250h.
In the city, on "Hill St." no joke!
It's not SF without the fog.
Check your mirror!
Cruisin' the alleyways of The Mission
Not an HS, but it's distant relative, a 1987 Toyota 1 Ton Dually Odyssey RV
On top of the world!
On top, and in between.....the actual peaks of Twin Peaks SF!
This needs a decklid lip spoiler badly!
A walk in the park...ummm drive in the park....Golden Gate Park.
Hello Golden Gate....covered by fog
Under the Golden Gate and guarded by historic Ft. Point
I think it's a Hybrid?!
It's not a Fusion! Lexus had this grille style first!
Chrome accents of the grille.
Leaving Ft. Point. I need HIDs!
The Palace of Fine Arts
HS meet's its cousin Prius again!
At the apex of Market St and the Ferry Building.
Trying to get on TV!
Pit stop in Berkeley @ TNF Outlet and coincidentally parked behind an RX400h in Bamboo Pearl LOL!
A pit stop after averaging 35.1 mpg mixed city/hwy driving
14.5 Gallons of 87 octane is a lot easier on the wallet!
In the city, on "Hill St." no joke!
It's not SF without the fog.
Check your mirror!
Cruisin' the alleyways of The Mission
Not an HS, but it's distant relative, a 1987 Toyota 1 Ton Dually Odyssey RV
On top of the world!
On top, and in between.....the actual peaks of Twin Peaks SF!
This needs a decklid lip spoiler badly!
A walk in the park...ummm drive in the park....Golden Gate Park.
Hello Golden Gate....covered by fog
Under the Golden Gate and guarded by historic Ft. Point
I think it's a Hybrid?!
It's not a Fusion! Lexus had this grille style first!
Chrome accents of the grille.
Leaving Ft. Point. I need HIDs!
The Palace of Fine Arts
HS meet's its cousin Prius again!
At the apex of Market St and the Ferry Building.
Trying to get on TV!
Pit stop in Berkeley @ TNF Outlet and coincidentally parked behind an RX400h in Bamboo Pearl LOL!
A pit stop after averaging 35.1 mpg mixed city/hwy driving
14.5 Gallons of 87 octane is a lot easier on the wallet!
Last edited by flipside909; 01-21-10 at 11:42 PM.
#3
Lexus Connoisseur
Thread Starter
HS250h w/the RX450h
Similar or not? Taillamps that is.
The HS is bigger than my ISF!
Even the inside is bigger.
It's taller and roomier.
Opposite ends of the Lexus spectrum. h meets F.
Similar or not? Taillamps that is.
The HS is bigger than my ISF!
Even the inside is bigger.
It's taller and roomier.
Opposite ends of the Lexus spectrum. h meets F.
Last edited by flipside909; 01-21-10 at 11:03 PM.
#6
Lexus Connoisseur
Thread Starter
17" - Painted Silver Finsh:
18" w/Painted Silver Finish:
18" w/Liquid Graphite Finish:
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#8
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very hillarious captions. When were you in SF?
the "Pedal to the metal" picture: that is a really short merge, seriously gotta gas it when you drive from there to not annoying cars coming at you from behind at like 60.
The friendly HS meets a lot of people
the "Pedal to the metal" picture: that is a really short merge, seriously gotta gas it when you drive from there to not annoying cars coming at you from behind at like 60.
The friendly HS meets a lot of people
#9
Lexus Connoisseur
Thread Starter
The HS is a friendly car. It smiles at you when it arrives.
#11
Lexus Connoisseur
Thread Starter
Yeah i'm not too crazy about the 17's either, but they're so easy to clean! LOL.
#13
#14
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