While the base LS may be a brilliant car, the 2021 Lexus LS Hybrid isn’t. It’s fundamentally flawed, with a lot of drawbacks we experienced on first- and second-generation hybrid vehicles: an unrefined driving experience, and fuel consumption figures that aren’t that much better than the standard car. The new norm is a plug-in with at least 30 miles of all-electric range, but Lexus doesn’t offer that. Modern plug-in hybrids are also designed from the ground up to form part of a range, which means they don’t impact cargo capacity – and this car still does.
The LS 500 is a much better proposition with a twin-turbo V6. In fact, in that guise, it’s a hard car to fault. It might even be class-leading, but we won’t know until we drive the all-new Merc S-Class. Considering the fuel consumption is only moderately better, there’s no real reason to purchase the Lexus LS Hybrid sedan unless you want to brag about having a hybrid. Even then, there are much better, greener cars you could instead spend your money on.