MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

I don't have a ton of time but I'll sum it up like this

Pros:
-Headlights
-Beautiful Interior
-Nice wheels
-Cornering ability

Cons:
-Hybrid power delivery leaves the driver completely detatched from the experience
-Not faster than the LS 460L
-So/so gas mileage

The power delivery on this car is just very strange. It's obviously whisper quiet but when you add in 700lbs of weight, an ECVT and the hybrid powertrain the driving experience is certainly very different from that of the LS 460L. The 460 is faster, and has a more performance oriented power delivery mainly because of the fact that it uses a traditional transmission and shifts. With the hl, you just look down and you're already doing 80- no shifts, no noise, the speedo just keeps rising quickly. That said, the hL does corner beautifully and on the road feels very flat and taut...minimal body roll.

Verdict: The ultimate saloon for those who can afford it and care for anything but excitement.

Overall, I'm going to have to agree with most of the reviews. This car is all about excess and is not really worth the premium over the "L" unless you want to buy it for status reasons. The LS 460L is lighter, faster, and more fun to drive but...lacks those killer LED headlights . This is a wonderful car but it is not my style, at all.

DrComputer

I'l leaving for Longo right now to pick mine up! I'll let you know if I agree with your evaluation in a few hours. That's why I have a Mercedes SLK55 AMG. It's the "fun" car while the LS600hL is the "stuck in traffic for hours and don't want to hear the world" car.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

thanks for the insight! any comments on handling compared to say the 450h or the touring?

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

I have not driven a Touring model so I can't comment, but the GS 450h is much quicker and more lively from my experiences.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

thanks for your comments, definitely interesting to see that the 600hl doesn't seem to drive as "freely" as the 450h. can't wait to drive the car next weekend.

do you know if the 600hl you drove has the ****? maybe that's part of the key to handling.

and for acceleration i guess it's probably due to the weight huh

vraa

iTrader: (2)

Yes, can you tell us what options you had?
Does the front seem too spacious like the LS460 (with no packages) (and with the large slabbed leather glove box which gets scruffed by knees)?

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

These are the cars that are being used for Taste of Lexus Hybrid Tour, so they didn't have any stickers or I would have looked. Sorry gentlemen! I don't know about **** but it handled and cornered beautifully, the acceleration was just.....strange because the car 1) is so heavy but will move quickly 2) has a ECVT and 3) (same as two) doesn't upshift.

encore888

Looking forward to testing this vehicle at ToL!

Nospinzone

I've driven a vehicle with CVT and I did not like it at all. Unfortunately some day unless you get a manual transmission, a CVT will be the only thing offered in most cars.

The so so gas mileage wouldn't be a con to me. If you can afford that car, the price of gas isn't even on your list of concerns.

I think the big pro, especially for people in the snow belt like Helmar, is the AWD.

Gojirra99

LS600hL 50-70 mph acceleration is within 0.2 second of the twin turbo S600 & better than the 760Li & A8 W12, according to the current Sports Car International magazine on the news stand.

JPI Racing

Have you had a chance to get the gas mileage? Any additional info would be great. Thankz
JPI

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

Over our 30 minute test drive of highway, city, and hard acceleration the car was averaging 13.75MPG.

XeroK00L

Thanks for the nice little review. But how do you know the LS600hL isn't faster than the LS460L? With your butt-o-meter? That can be very deceiving and inaccurate. From what I read the LS600hL should easily beat the LS460L on a roll.

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

I suppose you could call it the "butt-o-meter" but yes, the 460L certainly seems a bit quicker and even many of the magazine times seem to coincide with that notion. We drove LS 600hLs and LS 460L's both back to back to get a feel for the differences, and while we didn't necessarily line them up for a drag race, the 460 certainly feels faster off the line. The problem with the 600hL is that it's so deceptively quiet that you don't have any idea of how fast you are going. Again though, looking at the speedometer I am going to say that I think the 460 is faster indeed.

For what it's worth, the 460 L has a power to weight ratio of 11.4 lbs per horsepower and the 600hL is 11.5 lbs per horsepower, certainly not a huge difference, but the 460L does have a slight edge. And the advantage of a quick shifting automatic transmission probably doesn't hurt either.

LexFather

CVT does take some used too. It took me about 3 days to get somewhat used to the CVT in the RX 400h. Its just weird it never shifts and you are always technically in the correct gear.

Overtime, I am sure one would adjust and probably like it. Our whole lives we have driven Manuals or Automatics. Going to CVT truly is a weird experience at first.