Luxury Hybrid Shootout: Mercedes S400 Hybrid vs. Lexus LS600h L The Winner Might Surprise You

I was expecting the answer to be the Hyundai Equus ...

Lexus will have a hybrid for every car they sell next year + a slew of new performance oriented models, can't wait to see the redesign of more affordable models like the ES and IS

Considering they referenced the 7-Series several times I'm surprised they didn't include the 7-Series hybrid. Using the parameters they judged these two on it offers the same fuel economy, newer tech inside, all the gadgets and then some, and outruns both by a mile, for the same or less money, even fully loaded.

Lexus leading the way as usual.

This must be the first decent review I have ever read from TTAC. With that said, I do not really see how these two cars compete, except that they are in the same class size and are hybrids. They are targeted towards different buyers. A top of the line Lexus LS vs. lowest end S-Class (In the US anyway) is a silly comparison, IMO.

In any case, I'm not in the market for neither of these cars, so it doesnt really interest me much.

Who's Zooming Who??
The new Audi A8L has Quattro all-wheel drive, is made of aircraft grade aluninum,has a 4.2 V-8, weighs over 4500 pounds and still has better EPA estimated fuel economy than either of these two over rated Turkeys!

The Audi is 17 city / 27 hwy, the m-b is 19/25 and the poor Luckless is 19/23. The A8L consistently is getting over 30 mpg on road trips.

Oh by the way, the Audi base price is $84,000, the m-b is $91,000 and the LS is $111,350.

Audi technology tops the field again.

But the Audi doesn't have the name "Hybrid", so therefore actual MPG doesn't matter. Some cars that carry the name "Hybrid" are just fashion statements. I guess the name "Hybrid" doesn't always mean great fuel mileage?

Audi is the most un-realistically MPG rated car out there, trust me I dare you to ask ANY Audi driver if he gets good mileage.

"Thank you, resident Audi salesman
But this was a hybrid test
BD"

If the "hybrid" doesn't offer any better fuel mileage, then what is the purpose of it?

Actually, I'm not too high on hybrids even though Audi is bringing hybrids in the 2012 Q5 and new A6.Somebody, someday is going to have to pay for a new battery.
I think diesel is the most logical interim bridge to electric vehicles.The new clean diesel engines are great and improving every year. American consumers are being pounded with hybrid marketing and green guilt so that those that actually give a dang are following the hyprid Piper.
Then, of course the oil companies have too much invested in gasoline and are resisting pushing for diesel refineries and thus keeping the cost of diesel artificially high.

Yo, Hoorayfor...I know quite a few Audi drivers who are getting great fuel mileage especially with the 2.0T with the 8 speed transmission.
Just curious, but why do you write peepee in small letters?

Modern diesels are too complicated and more prone to failure than well designed and executed (Toyota/Lexus) hybrids. Think of ultra high pressure fuel delivery systems - fuel pumps, piezo injectors, particulate filters, exhaust gas recurculation valves, more expensive catalythic converters, overheating turbos, etc. and at the end you still have much higher pollution emitting diesel than a comparable hybrid.
Diesels live in Europe because the legislation tolerates it - lower emission standards and lower taxes on diesel.
And no, the battery in a Toyota/Lexus hybrid doesn't need to be replaced - it is designed to outlive the vehicle and it does it.

"Modern diesels are too complicated and more prone to failure than well designed and executed (Toyota/Lexus) hybrids."

Wow. What crack are you smoking? Modern diesels have become more complex, true, but what the hell is a hybrid system? Simplicity?



"Diesels live in Europe because the legislation tolerates it - lower emission standards and lower taxes on diesel."

Um, no. The taxes on diesel-powered cars are HIGHER in Europe than on a gasoline-powered car. FACT. Europeans, especially those who travel a lot go for diesels because of the gas mileage and because the fuel costs and savings work out in the long run.

Do some research before you post that Toyota fanboy crap.


"And no, the battery in a Toyota/Lexus hybrid doesn't need to be replaced - it is designed to outlive the vehicle and it does it."

Again, pure Toyota fanboyism BS. Batteries get run down over time. No current automotive hybrid battery will outlast the vehicle it is operating in.

How about some evidence? And please, none of that BS Toyota marketing crap. Toyota/Lexus have some of the best brainwashers in the business.

"Modern diesels have become more complex, true, but what the hell is a hybrid system? Simplicity?"

Yes, mechanically-wise - the HSD hybrids are simpler. They dont need high pressure fuel systems to be efficient, no clutches, no gearbox, no belts on the engine, no starter, no alternator, etc.
As for the reliability of each technology, you may compare the reliability index of a Prius vs Jetta TDI.


"The taxes on diesel-powered cars are HIGHER in Europe than on a gasoline-powered car. FACT."

No, this is not a fact, this is more a wrong interpretation of a fact. The fact is in some countries the vehicle taxation is proportional to the engine displacement. Diesel vehicles simply tend to have higher displacement.


"No current automotive hybrid battery will outlast the vehicle it is operating in."

And that is another of those "facts", right?
Well, truth is we don't yet know how long the batteries will last. All we know is that very big part (I'm guessing more than 99%?) of the '97 Priuses are still on their original batteries.

Why O Why can these reviewers claim the interior of the LS is on Par with the S ?

Click on the pictures of the Dash and Center Stack of both vehicles, zoom in and look at the Dash of the MB, notice how the buttons are made of Aluminium ?
Notice how those not made of Aluminium is made of High Quality Gloss Plastic {I Know its HQ because i've driven one for months},
Notice how the Wood Accents are framed with Aluminium ?

Now look at the LS Dash.
Notice how it is just straight strips of Wood ?
Notice how the wood is not framed but just ends
Notice how the buttons are Bog Standard Dark Grey plastic that you also get in Landcruisers and other Toyotas ?

I have driven both vehicles and while it is true that the LS600 wins the Dynamic tests and the Acoustic Isolation Tests i would seriously challenge the findings as to the interior aesthetics superiority of the LS.

Funny thing is they claim the " LS 600h L delivers an interior put together with more sumptuous feel and precision than the Germans could hope for" yet claim the MB wins on "uniqueness"

That has got to be the most stupid and intellectually challenged way of rating interior quality, so the unique interior of the TVR is somehow better than that of an S5 because it is unique ?

So we have a comparison between the top-of-the-line Lexus vs the entry-level S-Class in the US and they seriously wanted to include the criteria of performance?

Audi should release their super secret hybrid diesel project next year!

Audi = Booorrrrriiiinggg

according to lexus, the LS600hl should be compared with the top-flight S600 NOT the entry-level S400. remember, they say it's "V12 performance."

sadly, bd, it does not. the 0-60 time is identical to the LS460 at 5.4. and nowhere near the power of the S600's 604hp and 738lb-ft and 0-60 in the low 4s.

How much is the MB S600 way too much...

I'm sorry but 100K luxury hybrid are just silly.

You are just showing your lack of knowledge.....

Explain to me my "lack of knowledge" why somebody would spend an extra 10-30k for a few mpg. The environmental impact of these car is not low impact.

REFINEMENT YOU DUMMY.....