Limited Edition Executive

Refined Reliable Flexible Faily Car

The short review:
We bought this car to replace an Audi estate, as the main family car. In three years and nearly 35k miles (total mileage is over 140k), it has been superb, and we have no plans to change it. The car is equally at home as a daily driver for school runs, and longer holiday journeys. It starts first time every time, and with all-season tyres (Michelin CrossClimate), it copes with everything British weather throws at it. Find one well taken care of with regular servicing, and it is fantastic value, equalling or bettering modern SUVs. There are some niggles, but all in all, it's excellent to live with. This is a car with that rare mixture of power, performance, and elegance, which set a trend that other manufacturers are still emulating more than a decade later.

The longer review:
The Limited Edition Executive model was the last of the range, with pretty much every single option, except for the rear DVD screens - which is no real loss. The kit list is too extensive, but it's safe to say it matches almost anything on the market now. One stand out item is the Mark Levinson audio/speaker system which is sublime.

First things first, the car is a petrol electric hybrid with an "eCVT", driving FWD most of the time, with the ability to drive AWD when the car thinks more grip is needed. Mechanically, this makes the car much simpler (and reliable) than a petrol/diesel equivalent, and more fuel efficient. The car swaps between petrol and electric (or both) depending on the power needed, and how fuel efficient it can be. The change between petrol and electric is seamless, with no interruption.

Driving a hybrid with eCVT is effortless, with plenty of power available. However, it does require a change in driving style from petrol/diesel. Simply put, it's not necessary (or desirable) to have your foot on the accelerator all the time. Contrary to what you learned from your driving instructor, you should coast as much as possible, or use cruise control. It takes a bit of getting used to, but soon is second nature. It's not uncommon to read motoring journalists complain of a slight lag, or that the engine revs. It's not a flaw, it's by design. If you need urgent acceleration, you simply need to put your foot further to the floor, the battery will provide instant torque (acceleration) and the engine kicks in shortly after. The engine rev is only so apparent because for the other 95% of the time when you are not accelerating, you simply can't hear it.

Otherwise the driving experience is very relaxed. It has a high centre of gravity, so you won't be cornering like a McLaren. On the other hand you can reach high speed quickly, and maintain it in comfort and safety.

The car holds four adults easily. The rear two seats can slide back to provide more leg space, or forward for more storage space. Front and rear seats have fold down arm rests. Storage space in the rear is good for the size, the rear seats fold flat in a 60/40 split. the space is better than a saloon, but can't equal the caves you find in German estates.

Maintenance is typical for a Japanese car - every 10k miles, alternating minor (oil and filters) and major (check/replace components). The only real big bills are every 60k, when the spark plugs need to be replaced - requiring most of the engine bay to come out. The hybrid battery pack is the same used in the prius. As the first generation, Lexus/Toyota were very conservative in the design. Consequently, these packs are regularly reaching well over 300k miles without issue.

So the car is perfect? Not quite. There are niggles, but none is really a deal breaker. The reversing light is far too dim (as are all the interior lights) but this can be remedied with a LED replacement. The starter (non hybrid) battery is too low capacity, and may drain if the car is left unused. A high capacity battery or a trickle charger sorts it out. There is no range indicator, so you have to keep an eye on the gauge (range is c. 350 miles if you were wondering). The MPG is better than the petrol-only model (30 vs 25), but it still is a thirsty car, and the tank is only 50L instead of the usual 60-65. Finally, there's a negative camber on the wheels (to help cornering), which can lead to uneven wear. It's a bit sensitive to tyre choice too - we went through a set of Avon ZX7-SUVs in less than 15k miles with alot of noise, but have found Michelin CrossClimate to be both quieter and better wearing.

Last but not least, the styling, although coming from a design first seen in the early 00s with the RX300, still looks good today. Sure it's not as sharply defined as latest models, but it has a quiet elegance, and you wouldn't be embarrassed driving up to either the country club or the farmers' market.

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