When you’re out there for a used hybrid, your standard suspects may be frequent, sensible, and cozy, however seemingly gained’t be thought-about emotional or good-looking. Properly, if you realize what sorts of hybrids existed prior to now, you’ll most likely notice that there’s a treasure trove of trendy hybrids on the market which can be simply flying below folks’s radar.
Heck, for lower than the worth of a brand-new 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross, whose beginning worth of $24,635 isn’t even for a hybrid model, we are able to suggest a value-packed luxurious hybrid that not solely comes with Toyota’s legendary reliability, but in addition type and efficiency besides. Seat again and calm down, women and gents, as I showcase to you one among my all-time favourite hybrids that has flown below the radar of most consumers prior to now.
With the intention to provide the most modern and correct info doable, the info used to compile this text was sourced from Toyota and Lexus, and different authoritative sources, together with Kelley Blue E book.
Luxurious And Sportiness At Much less Than $24,000
The mannequin I’m referring to is the Lexus GS 450h – a luxurious hybrid sports activities sedan that by no means fairly shook the German luxurious hierarchy, however nonetheless managed to be probably the most potent hybrid sport sedans, whether or not on the time or right now.
A 2015 Mannequin For The Value Of A New Toyota SUV
To satisfy our standards that it must be extra inexpensive than the most affordable brand-new Toyota SUV, we narrowed it all the way down to a 2015 Lexus GS 450h at most. Something greater than that, and you may anticipate a used worth that almost matches a brand-new 2026 Corolla Cross Hybrid (beginning at $24,635). Anyway, based on Kelley Blue E book, a 2015 mannequin 12 months GS 450h has a typical common listed worth of $23,030, so your GS 450h could possibly be priced greater or decrease, relying on its situation.
Stretch your price range barely, and you may get your self a 2016 mannequin 12 months, which was the start of the mid-cycle facelifted mannequin. This mannequin might be yours for not less than $25,000, as soon as once more, relying on the situation, after all. Is it well worth the upcharge? Properly, because you’re already on the $24,000 vary, what’s a thousand extra to spend on a great quantity of aesthetic and luxurious upgrades, proper?
Sadly, They’re Troublesome To Discover
With the ability to afford the GS 450h is one factor; attempting to truly get one is one other. For the reason that GS 450h wasn’t as widespread because the GS 350, which in itself was already outsold by the ES within the mid-2010s, there aren’t numerous them within the used automotive lot lately. Thus, you may also wish to contemplate an older era mannequin altogether. Admittedly, it will not be as trendy because the fourth-generation mannequin we’re recommending, however basically, it’s nonetheless a hybrid sports activities sedan with the identical 3.5-liter V-6 hybrid system that the ultimate fourth-generation mannequin had.
What A Fourth-Era Lexus GS Gives
The fourth-generation Lexus GS was bought in the US since 2012 for the 2013 mannequin 12 months. Sitting alongside one other midsize luxurious sedan, the ES, these two midsize luxurious sedans initially complemented one another, till the thinning demand for sedans meant solely the ES survived after 2020.
The Delivery Of The Spindle Grille
The GS was the primary manufacturing Lexus to put on the Spindle Grille motif. Previewed by the LF-Gh idea in 2011, the implementation within the GS was toned down from the idea. This was complemented by easy traces, a protracted hood that hinted at its rear-wheel drive (RWD) structure, and a rear finish with huge L-shaped LED taillights.
An F Sport model was additionally launched, marking the primary time that an F Sport model was made for the GS. Lastly, the GS 450h was one of many first manufacturing luxurious sedans that got here with full LED headlights. A mid-cycle facelift for the 2016 mannequin 12 months launched a bolder Spindle Grille, new alloy wheel designs, new lighting signatures, and a sportier rear bumper. This was additionally the start of the performance-oriented GS F, and this made the F Sport variant look much more sinister.
One Of The Greatest Lexus Interiors Ever
Now, as for the inside, this era of the GS had probably the greatest interiors ever in a Lexus. The fabric high quality and fit-and-finish have been now a minimize above their Toyota counterparts. A beneficiant serving of leather-based, wooden, and aluminum trims was used throughout the inside, and this was complemented by solid-feeling knobs and switches.
A part of its enchantment was having the correct stability of analog and digital, such because the tasteful analog clock. There have been loads of options, similar to a chic Mark Levinson encompass sound system, power-adjustable entrance seats with heating and cooling, simply to call a number of. Now, if solely the Lexus Distant Contact infotainment was executed effectively, as a result of the mousepad-based controller is not as intuitive because the rotary knob controls from the German manufacturers. Sadly, although it is a midsize luxurious sedan, the ES proved to be extra widespread as a result of GS having cramped rear seats.
Luxurious With A Contact Of Sportiness
Now, onto my favourite half, the driving expertise. The GS 450h was famous and praised for its consolation ranges, which have been signature Lexus, however with a contact of sportiness.
Sportiness The Lexus Means
The factor with the GS is that, once I received to drive a GS 350 that the household of a school buddy purchased, I’m blissful to say that my excessive expectations have been met. The GS was my dream automotive the second it got here out, and rightfully so, as a result of if the BMW 5 Collection, notably the E60 and older generations, have been conceived first to be sporty, Lexus engineers approached sportiness to be a second precedence for the GS. With that, the 5 Collection was positively the sportier midsize luxurious sedan, but when Lexus went that route, they might have alienated its previous customers–those who received a Lexus for his or her consolation.
By doing so, what you ended up with was a midsize luxurious sedan that did the consolation side proper, while including a dose of sportiness. It wasn’t as agency as what I am used to with an E60 or an F10. The truth is, the GS was supple, however toss it right into a nook, and you would be shocked how a lot better the GS handled physique roll versus previous fashions on the time. This wasn’t your grandpa’s Lexus anymore, but even when he drove the GS, he would nonetheless be happy with the consolation and refinement it supplied.
A Potent But Easy Hybrid To Match
Lastly, its pièce de résistance was its 3.5-liter Lexus Hybrid Drive, which used a second-generation hybrid system from Toyota that was meant for sporty rear-wheel drive (RWD) functions. Look, with a planetary gear-type e-CVT, it will not match the finesse and direct really feel of the ZF eight-speed computerized fitted to the Germans. Nonetheless, whereas the revs of that 3.5-liter V-6 did flare up while you speed up arduous, the V-6 observe is nice, and with the paddle shifters, you might have a level of “handbook management” while you make it simulate a multi-speed computerized. And with a 338-horsepower complete system output, you would not have to bury your foot anyway, because it produced a lot energy outright.
Lastly, this hybrid system can also be strong and dependable. It is also one which sorely must be in additional Lexus fashions in 2025, since most of their hybrids lately are mated to four-cylinder engines. The one V-6 hybrid you might purchase from Lexus right now is the TX 550h+, which is a three-row plug-in hybrid crossover SUV that has a 3.5-liter V-6. Maybe a V-6 hybrid with out a plug would really do wonders for the RX’s refinement, prefer it did with the earlier RX 450h? Oh, what a silky clean but highly effective midsize luxurious SUV the RX 450h was.
