Nissan Rogue Vs. Honda CR-V: Compare Cars
For small families, the vehicle of choice is no longer the minivan or the SUV; it's the compact... Read More
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Steering feel is comparable to an arcade video game — it just doesn't seem that connected to the front wheels.
sounds rough and nasty when you accelerate hard, which you have to do just to keep up with traffic
brakes, which feel wooden and nonlinear
the pedal feel is at best vague, more like an arcade racing game than a mechanical connection with the calipers
Floor the throttle from a stop, and it takes about 20 feet before real power arrives.
PERFORMANCE | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
Steering feel is comparable to an arcade video game — it just doesn't seem that connected to the front wheels.
Orlando Sentinel
sounds rough and nasty when you accelerate hard, which you have to do just to keep up with traffic
AutoWeek
brakes, which feel wooden and nonlinear
Motor Trend
the pedal feel is at best vague, more like an arcade racing game than a mechanical connection with the calipers
Popular Mechanics
Floor the throttle from a stop, and it takes about 20 feet before real power arrives.
Consumer Guide
The HS 250h doesn't feel like a performance car, or even particularly perky, but it's not sluggish either—especially if you select 'power' mode rather than the rubber-band-like 'eco' mode. Thanks to the gasoline engine's torquey response, coupled with the electric motor's instant torque, the HS feels reactive in the 20-to-60-mph range and cruises at higher speeds more confidently than the Prius; the dash to 60 mph takes 8.4 seconds, according to Lexus, which makes it faster than most four-cylinder compact and mid-size sedans but slower than most luxury ones.
The rest of the driving experience is safe but uninspiring. The electric-assist steering has a rather quick ratio and reasonably good weighting, but soft suspension tuning means there's plenty of lean (and nosedive when braking); overall the HS handles in an unexciting but safe way. A Touring Package includes sport suspension tuning and 18-inch alloys, firming up responses somewhat. Braking is isn't reassuring in feel, but the HS 250h stops predictably and without a hitch.
Conclusion
The 2011 Lexus HS 250h has performance that's pretty bland, but adequate and safe.
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