MDLexus

You should try driving the HS :( Better still, let someone else drive it and TRY to sit in the middle of the rear seat. Maybe the high road noise will take your mind of the back pain.

Your assumption about better and quieter ride is very much on target, except for the HS. They did do more for the handling than the Prius, but missed the boat completely when it came to insulating the cabin from road noise. Oh yes, did I mention the sub-Lexus interior comfort? Are you comparing the HS to the Prius V (which comes with the bigger wheels and better handling... It is supposed to have really good handling)? I think they did miss the boat on the interior... they could have still offered a wood trim (especially on the "premium" trim) and still been "green". Bamboo is considered a green building material and looks great (I have bamboo flooring). I also think that maybe... just maybe they could have thrown in AWD and not hurt fuel economy (have the electric motors drive the rear wheels when needed like in the RX450H). That would have made the HS the FIRST hybrid car (under 100k) with awd "safety". Taking a look at the whole package, it seems to me that the HS is rushed (for whatever reason) to market. Maybe to beat the other Luxury brands that are going to intro cheaper diesels to market. Yes, I also drove a Prius V.

Your assumption about better and quieter ride is very much on target, except for the HS. They did do more for the handling than the Prius, but missed the boat completely when it came to insulating the cabin from road noise. Oh yes, did I mention the sub-Lexus interior comfort?

I know I'm a newbie here, but I wanted to share the experience. I have done a lot of research on the HS250h and had intended to try and get some information from owners on this forum before getting serious about it. That WAS my original motivation; however, things have changed. Last night, I had a chance to drive a new Premium model HS250h in Maryland. It was a non-NAV system with few of the real high tech toys on it. I would have preferred to see one with the Tech Package. BOTTOM LINE: Very unimpressive ride, limited trunk space and a real disappointing rear seat. Yes, despite how great this car looked on paper, the real thing was underwhelming. For starters, I had also driven a 2010 Prius and had something to compare it to. Of course, having driven an RX300 for many years, it was a bit of a "Come Down" in luxury and ride. The rear seat is only adequate for 4 people. Sitting in the center of the rear seat (e.g. as a 5th person) meant that your back was flush against the raised armrest -- and it is extremely HARD and uncomfortable. You would not want to take this car for a long trip and try to be the 5th person, child or adult. The road noise was very much higher than an RX and the noise was noticeable. Such a shame in a car that had so much promise. It's more than just tire noise, the car needs insulation. The trunk, while advertised to be pretty large and able to hold two sets of golf clubs or more, isn't all that large. Unless you have suitcases that are long and slender like golf bags, you're going to notice htis trunk isn't as big as you may need. It's a beautiful piece of technology, but just falls short of the Lexus standard IMHO. Now it's time to rethink. Decided not to purchase one. Just want to share this with you all so you make sure to test drive before placing a deposit. Caveat Emptor from a disappointed Lexus Owner.