2019 Lexus LS 500h: A hybrid heart yields a more efficient luxury sedan

On the outside, the LS, that was all-new last year, strikes a distinctive, but polarizing pose. The majority of the front is the spindle grille with the sides dressed with wavy character lines.

The rear of the LS is filled with numerous creases to give it a distinctive look compared to its German competition.

The most important aspect of the 2019 Lexus LS 500h is the hybrid drivetrain. It combines a 3.5-liter V6 with two electric motors producing a net output of 354 horsepower.

When equipped with all-wheel drive, the LS can hit 60 mph in 5.2 seconds according to Lexus.

The LS 500h does have an EV mode that can get the car going at slower speeds when feathering the throttle pedal. However, when dipping even a little deeper into the right pedal, the gas engine quickly fires up.

The oddest aspect of the LS 500h is the transmission. It's a continuously variable transmission mashed with a four-speed automatic that together do their best to simulate a 10-speed transmission.

When the car is in Normal mode, throttle response is sluggish and it gets caught up deciding on what gear to select.

Shift performance does get better in Sport and Sport Plus modes. However, there's still some noticeable lag during gear changes.

The benefit of you getting a hybrid LS over the normal gas model is better fuel economy. With all-wheel drive, it returns an EPA-estimated 23 miles per gallon in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. That betters the gas-only LS 500's 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway figures.

The 2019 Lexus LS 500h with all-wheel drive begins at $83,180, not including $1,025 for destination.

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