True but as I found out, the GS450h actually has just 7.5cu. ft. which is really lame.

 

i was about to correct you on that, paul!!!! and for the record, my sc430 has a whopping 8.8 cu ft. i feel so lucky i can actually fit a full size spare in the trunk no problem. that's one resaon why i think the gs450h is ridiculous for its size and lack of trunk space

no doubt it will improve, mike. and actually seeing the ls600hl (it will have spare tire btw), i think the batteries will get smaller already. but before it actually fine tunes everything, the gs450h still has all the "flaws" the way i put it

 

Wow, I have never seen so much discussion about trunk size in this class and type of car. I have yet to have a problem with the size of the 450h trunk and have made two trips to Costco with it, for personal items and not for family size purchases. I did the same with my prior 03 530 and it had a bit bigger trunk but similarly accomodated my personal shopping at Costco or wherever.

I didn't buy the 530 for the trunk nor the 450h for the trunk. I bought both for the relative performance that each brought to the table. I suspect a single person with only one car may have trunk size as a purchase factor and might shy away from the 450h towards a larger car/suv with a larger trunk. Others interested more in a performance sedan with considerable luxury should have the 450h near the top of their shopping list for consideration, if they can find one.

 

Heeheh.. i was thinking about the same thing... next, we are going to start counting cup holders..

 

You are correct sir.

 

thats the issue my 4 month old kid has with pretty much every 4 door sedan, which is why I drive SUV right now....

 

What? Are you putting your kid in the trunk? See, we don't do that here in the US.....

Yep Bit, they fold down - but you have to pay for the option. Still really nice.

 

that too. but the volume is still a big problem. when i can't fit two large luggages in the trunk of a car of this size, that's an issue, no matter what car it is. my gs400, i could put two large luggages, one carry-on, plus couple more bags

 

plus the trunk is T-shaped too I think . . .

 

As a follow up to this comparo article in the July R&T mag, the September R&T magazine includes a response to a letter to the editor about how the BMW 550 and 450h would compare with automatic transmissions in both cars. The R&T response was that they expected the two cars with auto would be very similar from 0 to 60, but thereafter the 450h would be faster through the quarter mile and at faster speeds the 450h would continue to pull away from the 550.

In the three months I have had mine, I would have to agree the 450h is indeed very fast, smooth and quiet at the same time which is quite a feat.

Too bad the R&T comparo did not include a 450h with the active stabilizer option so there would be more of an apples/apples comparison since the 550 had the sport suspension option as I recall. I would still expect the 550 to have the edge in the skidpad test but expect the results to be closer.