2012 Lexus HS vs 2012 Lincoln MKZ vs 2012 Toyota Prius

2012 Lexus HS

2012 Lincoln MKZ

2012 Toyota Prius

Select style

4-Door Sedan Hybrid

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
HS 250h 4-Door Sedan Hybrid	35	34	$33,698	$37,030
HS 250h 4-Door Sedan Hybrid Premium	35	34	$36,218	$39,800

Select style

4-Door Sedan AWD

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
MKZ 4-Door Sedan AWD	17	25	$34,435	$36,645
MKZ 4-Door Sedan FWD	18	27	$32,677	$34,755
MKZ 4-Door Sedan Hybrid FWD	41	36	$32,677	$34,755

Select style

5-Door HB Five

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Prius 5-Door HB Five	51	48	$27,744	$29,805
Prius 5-Door HB Four	51	48	$26,284	$28,235
Prius 5-Door HB One	51	48	$21,864	$23,015
Prius 5-Door HB Three	51	48	$23,799	$25,265
Prius 5-Door HB Two	51	48	$22,560	$24,000
Prius Plug-In 5-Door HB	51	49	$30,721	$32,000
Prius Plug-In 5-Door HB Advanced	51	49	$37,945	$39,525

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$33,698

$34,435

$27,744

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$37,030

$36,645

$29,805

Monthly Payment Estimate

$617 / month

$611 / month

$497 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

7.6

Read Our Full Review

8.0

Read Our Full Review

7.6

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The 2012 Lexus HS 250h offers lots of technology along with its high gas mileage, but it's not engaging to drive, nor is its level of luxury particularly spectacular.

The 2012 Lincoln MKZ has supple leather and wood trim for luxury-car street cred, and hybrid flower power to appeal to greens.

The 2012 Toyota Prius remains the highest-mileage car offered in the U.S., and it's a practical and capacious mid-size hatchback with room for five

TCC Likes

Good gas mileage given its features
Long list of electronic features
Easy to maneuver

V-6 or Hybrid--same price
Very cozy front seats
The Hybrid's 41-mpg city EPA rating

Best gas mileage of any car
Capacious cabin
Useful hatchback utility

TCC Dislikes

Engine note harsh and obtrusive
Handling soft and uninspiring
Control interface requires attention

Controversial front-end styling
Rear seat isn't all that large
Close kin to Ford Fusion, from the side

Lifeless driving experience
Flying-buttress console limits knee room
Hard plastics hardly luxurious

Fuel Economy

City

35 mpg

17 mpg

51 mpg

Highway

34 mpg

25 mpg

48 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Mid-Size

Midsize Cars

Interior Dimensions

Front Hip Room (in)

52.8

54.0

52.7

Second Leg Room (in)

34.5

36.7

36.0

Front Head Room (in)

38.0

38.7

38.6

Second Hip Room (in)

51.2

53.5

51.2

Front Shoulder Room (in)

53.8

57.2

54.9

Passenger Volume (ft³)

90.2

96.6

93.7

Second Head Room (in)

36.8

37.8

37.6

Second Shoulder Room (in)

54.2

55.8

53.1

Front Leg Room (in)

42.6

42.3

42.5

Passenger Capacity

Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase (in)

106.3

107.4

106.3

Liftover Height (in)

- TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

70.3

72.2

68.7

Track Width, Front (in)

60.4

61.3

59.6

Min Ground Clearance (in)

6.1

- TBD -

5.5

Length, Overall (in)

184.8

189.8

175.6

Height, Overall (in)

59.3

56.9

58.7

Track Width, Rear (in)

60.2

61.0

59.4

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)

12.1

16.5

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down (ft³)

67.3

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up (ft³)

21.6

Brakes

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

10.8 x - TBD -

11.8 x 1.0

10.0 x - TBD -

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

11.1 x - TBD -

11.0 x 0.4

10.2 x - TBD -

Brake Type

Pwr

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

14.5

16.5

11.9

Steering

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

2.8

- TBD -

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

39.4

N/A

- TBD -

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

50.0

16.0

34.2

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

37.4

37.7

- TBD -

Steering Type

Pwr Rack & Pinion

Electric Rack & Pinion

Tires

Spare Tire Order Code

N/A

Rear Tire Size

P215/55VR17

P225/50VR17

P215/45R17

Rear Tire Order Code

T7C

Front Tire Size

P215/55VR17

P225/50VR17

P215/45R17

Spare Tire Size

T145/70D17

Compact

T135/80D16

Front Tire Order Code

T7C

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

3682

3796

3042

Wheels

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)

17 x 7.0

17 X 7.5

17 x 7.0

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Compact

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)

17 x 7.0

17 X 7.5

17 x 7.0

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

- TBD -

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

- TBD -

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

- TBD -

150

- TBD -

Engine

Engine Type

Gas/Electric I4

Gas V6

Gas/Electric I4

Fuel System

Electronic Fuel Injection

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

- TBD -

249 @ 4500

105 @ 4000

Engine Order Code

99C

Displacement

2.4L/144

3.5L/213

1.8L/110

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

187 combined

263 @ 6250

98 @ 5200

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Transmission

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

- TBD -

3.33

- TBD -

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.15

Trans Description Cont.

Continuously variable ratio

Automatic w/manual shift

Continuously Variable Ratio

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.68

First Gear Ratio (:1)

- TBD -

4.15

- TBD -

Clutch Size (in)

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.56

Trans Type

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

All-Wheel Drive

Front Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.86

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

- TBD -

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.37

Trans Order Code

44B

Summary

Body Style

4 Door Sedan

Sedan

Hatchback

Vehicle Name

Lexus HS 250h

Lincoln MKZ

Toyota Prius

Suspension

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front

MacPherson Strut

Short/Long Arm

MacPherson Strut

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)

- TBD -

0.7

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)

- TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)

- TBD -

0.9

Suspension Type - Rear

Double Wishbone

Multi-Link

Torsion Beam

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

5.2

9.6

3.8

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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