Lexus LS 600h | Six Figures

The LS 600h is the most expensive car ever built by Lexus and the only SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) in the ultraluxury class. It made its green debut in 2008 and has undergone no significant changes for the 2009 model year (except for the addition of a Pebble Beach edition, of which only 50 will be built). Based on the long wheelbase version of the non-hybrid LS 460L (a.k.a. the best car CNET reviewed in 2007), the 600h adds Toyota’s famous Hybrid Synergy Drive to a 389 hp, 5.0 liter V8. The combination results in 488 horsepower, 5.5 seconds from zero to 60, 21 miles per gallon, and $105,000 plus price tag.

Car experts agree the LS 600h is a top of the line vehicle. Aside from having a comparatively small trunk, nothing to brag about gas mileage ratings, and being slower than its main competitors, most find few bad things to say about this six figure hybrid Lexus. Unfortunately, unless the main feature you’re seeking in a Lexus sedan is reduced emissions, you might be better off buying the LS 460L for about $35,000 less, or the GS 450h for about half the cost.

The people who are going to buy a car priced at over $100,000 aren’t terribly concerned about money, even during an economic recession. As one Lexus official put it for Edmunds, “These people don’t have income…they have wealth. Money isn’t the concern. Instead they’re concerned about prestige, appearance and the statement their car makes about them.” With that in mind, Lexus set out to create an incredible transportation machine.

Standard features on the LS 600h L include 19-inch alloy wheels, LED projector headlights, keyless ignition, keyless entry, power door closers, parking assist with a back-up camera, a real-time traffic based navigation system, leather-trimmed seats and interior, a heated steering wheel, a 16-way power driver seat, a 12-way power passenger seat, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a power rear sunshade, Bluetooth, a 19-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system (with six-disc CD/DVD changer and satellite radio), a music server with a 2,000-song capacity and an auxiliary input jack for your Ipod. There are also three option packages that add things like rear entertainment, pre-collision safety system, automated parallel parking system, and much more than we can fit in this abbreviated review.

While there are plenty of professional reviews on the 2008 and 2009 LS 600h, it would be nice to learn more from someone who has purchased one of these exquisite rides. For now, it doesn’t seem that owner commentary on this particular hybrid is easy to come by online. Someone actually does own one of these, right?