I'm curious how many people on this forum would consider an IS 300h if they offered a US model. I realize it is available in other countries but I'd certainly consider it if they had a model in the USA.

 

Having owned two Lexus hybrids, hands down the IS300h would have been my purchase if it were available in N.A. since fuel cost and drivetrain smoothness and quietness are more important to me in today's day and age than powerful acceleration.

 

i'd pass. i do not drive enough to justify the extra cost for the hybrid.

 

Interesting point. In the US the 300h ES is only $2000 more than then non hybrid version.

 

it's about $3,000 more, and it goes from a 3.5 V6 to a 2.5 i4 hybrid. i'd personally go for the V6 despite the gas savings of the hybrid. It would take me YEARS to save the $3,000

 

^^^ From a pure financial sense, ROI for me is also poor going for a hybrid. Instead, the value proposition is the luxury smooth and quiet powertrain befitting of a Lexus which is worth a moderate premium (for me),

 

If they could make it compete with the Infiniti Q50S Hybrid in terms of performance & mpg rating, yes I would consider a IS300h model for the NA market.

Otherwise if I wanted to go for a performance hybrid, I would just save up for the GS450h (which is a car in a different class though).

~ Im2bz2p345

 

i think you ment Model

 

That I can understand, but is it really that much smoother than a regular 250 or 350?

 

Yeah - no editing polls.

 

For me one of the biggest benefits is less visits to the gas station - I hate wasting time going to the gas station.

 

Don't live in the US, but do own the IS hybrid.
However, we do not have the ES hybrid, or the camry hybrid here... So it does not really have any competion. The bmw 3 series hybrid costs twice the price of the lexus is300h.
And we don't have the IS350 either. So choosing between the IS250 and IS300h is a no brainer for most people in europe, when the 250 uses twice the amount of fuel compared to the IS300h.

 

Would walk into the dealership tomorrow if they sold the IS300h here in Canada.

 

Yes, it is. And it's also much more quiet. In usual driving you cannot hear the engine.
If you have the NX 300h model to test you can compare but you should know that IS 300h is quieter than NX and moreover it's more powerful. The NX and IS 300h engines are not exactly the same.

 

Only if it had the same or better performance than the IS350...and didn't cost more(unless it performed significantly better).