2011 Lexus HS 250h

2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

The 2011 Lexus HS and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid are the only two hybrid luxury options in the mid-size car category. Choices for hybrid buyers have been limited to paying a large premium for basic sedans like the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry or buying a hybrid version of a high-end luxury car like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. With the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid and Lexus HS 250h, buyers get something beside the gas mileage for their extra cash, without having to buy a car that costs as much as a small house.

The 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid costs $35,455 and the 2011 Lexus HS 250h Hybrid starts at $35,525. For that price, both give you a four-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor for gas mileage above 30 mpg for both city and highway ratings. The 2011 MKZ Hybrid is more efficient with 41 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. The 2011 HS is rated at 35 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. The Lincoln is also more powerful than the Lexus with 191-hp to the HS’ 147.

Both the Lexus HS and the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid have comfortable interiors with leather seats, available navigation and DVD player and power adjustable seats.

Inside, the luxury hybrids are very close in size, but the Lincoln MKZ is larger than the HS 250h. The MKZ Hybrid has 38.7 inches of front headroom and 37.8 inches of legroom. The Lexus HS has 38.0 inches of headroom and 36.8 inches of legroom. The Lexus does have a larger trunk than the MKZ Hybrid. The Lexus’ trunk is 12.1 cubic feet to the MKZ’s 11.8 cubic feet.