Mother Proof's view

The future is now. Think about it; all of these cool things that we dreamed about as kids exist now. I’m not just talking about remote controls. I have a phone that I carry in my pocket and can use to program my DVR at home. For that matter, I have a thing called a DVR that can record stuff on TV. The 2010 Lexus HS 250h is the embodiment of the future-is-now awareness I have. I love it because it does everything futuristic but fly. However, it also makes me feel kind of like a curmudgeon.

The HS 250h is Lexus’ newest dedicated hybrid, meaning there’s no gas-only equivalent to the HS 250h. The HS 250h is loaded with so much technology, features and buttons that I felt overwhelmed and frustrated. I even Tweeted from my aforementioned DVR-programming phone during my test drive that a week wasn’t long enough in the HS 250h and I was sure I hadn’t pushed all the buttons. I respect the technology in the HS 250h, but I’m just not going to use all of it.

It should be no surprise that the HS 250h spares nothing in the luxury department. Although I didn’t manage to take advantage of all of the newfangled techie features, I did revel in its heated and ventilated seats, beautiful leather and attractive interior.

The HS 250h is an attractive small sedan that looks sporty and isn’t as blatantly hybrid-y as its Toyota Prius cousin. It’s definitely fun to drive, with a four-cylinder engine that’s teamed to an electric motor to make 187 horsepower. Even though it’s not designed to achieve racecar speeds, it was nimble enough for this mom and kept pace with the traffic around me.

When you’re driving a hybrid, you’ve got to be thinking about fuel economy. The HS 250h doesn’t achieve Prius-type numbers, but it gets an EPA-estimated 35/34 mpg city/highway, which is right around what I logged.

Exterior

The HS 250h isn’t a hatchback; it’s a bona fide sedan. It looks modern, but I can’t help but think it also looks a little commuter car-ish. That’s OK because it’s still prettier than any other commuter car out there. I loved the sculpted taillights and aggressive front end. While it’s not a major looker, the HS 250h definitely has plenty of curves. It’s not overly bubbly or blatantly futuristic, just clean and neat.

I also liked the badging. The HS 250h will let anyone know it’s a hybrid, but only if they’re up close. Its hybrid labels, which are on the trunk and thresholds, are subtle.

Because it’s a sedan, my kids didn’t have any problems getting in and out of the HS 250h or opening and closing its doors, which weren’t heavy and didn’t open so wide that they bonked every car we parked next to.

My test car came with not just a rearview camera but a front-view camera ($700), as well. That’s right. Press a little button to the left of the steering wheel and you get a view of what’s in front of you. While many non-traffic-related incidents are backovers (pulling out of a driveway, for instance), frontovers happen, too. With a front camera, there’d be less of a chance of running over parking blocks or stuff in the driveway. Because the HS 250h is so quiet, it’s nice to have these tools in case those pesky pedestrians don’t hear you coming.

Trunk space is usually at a premium in hybrids because the battery pack takes up some of the real estate. If you like to keep a double stroller in the trunk, you might want to bring it along for the test drive and be prepared to downsize if you buy this car. However, there’s easily enough room to handle your family’s weekly grocery run.

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair

Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair (ample by hybrid standards)

Interior

In a car filled with buttons, it’s the multimedia system’s mouse that stands out the most. It’s actually called the Remote Touch controller, and it combines characteristics of a computer mouse with a multifunction knob. It lives on the lower half of the center stack and juts out into the space usually reserved for the stick shift; the HS 250h has its stick shift on the dash. You use it a lot like a computer mouse, moving the cursor around the multimedia screen and clicking on a button to make selections.

My husband thought it was incredibly cool, calling it the “best non-traditional navigation system you’ve ever had.” Yes, it was cool; the mouse would snap into place when you hovered over an icon. It’s user friendly and probably the most intuitive system I’ve experienced.

However, I’m not a huge fan of these systems in the first place. Even though this system is user-friendly, I still couldn’t get the hang of it very easily. I felt like that kind of system works well on my desktop, but not in my car. One thing I did love is the multimedia screen folded into the dash with a push of a button.

The rest of the interior is rife with deliciousness. Lexus spoiled me with a beautiful black leather that is not only heated but ventilated, too. You thought you’d never get black leather again because your legs stick to it in the summer? No more, my friends. Just turn a happy little dial to the ventilation setting and cool air is blown through the perforated leather in the front seats. All your worries (and sweat) vanish into thin air.

My other worry when I first saw this car was that it’d be a tight fit for my family. Recently, my kids have discovered that they can kick the back of my seat. It can get ugly quickly, people. So I was nervous that Lexus would never let me touch another of their cars after this test drive. Black leather is the worst because it scuffs easily. However, my concerns about the interior vanished quickly, as the kids had legroom to spare in the HS 250h.

Speaking of my kids, the whining was kept to a minimum because they had no problems buckling up by themselves or reaching the cupholders, which are in the fold-down armrest.

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Great

Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Good Times

Safety

Are you assuming that because the HS 250h is futuristic it must have some fancy safety features? You’re right, my friend. The HS 250h comes standard with 10 airbags, antilock brakes, traction control and an electronic stability system, but it’s the optional safety features that will wow you.

A $3,900 Technology Package includes Lane-Keep Assist. When activated, it sounds an alarm to let you know that your car is drifting out of its lane. If the cruise control is on and the driver fails to correct the drifting, the car will correct it on its own. The HS 250h will actually turn the wheels and center the car back into the lane. Big brother? Maybe, but it’s futuristic and cool nonetheless.

The package also includes a head-up display, a lane departure warning system and a Pre-Collision System, which maintains a following distance behind the car ahead and uses its radar to alert the driver if they’re closing too quickly on an obstacle.

I loved the head-up display. It showed my speed and navigation directions directly in front of me on the windshield. When I ran my finger over the audio controls on the steering wheel, the display changed to an exact copy of those controls and highlighted whatever I was touching. Brilliant.

The Latch connectors are easy to find. While there’s plenty of legroom in the second row, fitting a rear-facing infant-safety seat back there might be a little tight, especially if your front seat passenger is tall.

The HS 250h has Lexus’ Safety Connect, which is similar to OnStar, and will notify a response center agent if the car’s airbags are deployed. It also comes with stolen vehicle locator and an emergency assist button, which uses GPS technology to find you and help you if you’ve run out of gas, need a jump-start or desire a grande mocha. OK, just kidding about the mocha.

FAMILY LIFESTAGE

In Diapers: While a double stroller won’t fit in the trunk, smaller strollers shouldn’t be a problem.

In School: There’s plenty of legroom for all kids (just don’t get your muddy shoes on my nice leather!).

Teens: There’s a ton of safety features to keep a new driver safe if he or she should be lucky enough to get behind the wheel.