Sound a little like splitting hairs, but the new Lexus HS250h is, says Toyota Canada’s managing director, Stephen Beatty, "the world’s first hybrid-only luxury vehicle."

It’s also part of his company’s push to get more Lexus hybrid vehicles onto the roads of North America. Thanks in large part to the success of the Prius, Toyota has sold almost two million hybrids worldwide so far, with its luxury division accounting for about 184,000 of those. At this point, Lexus sells one hybrid vehicle for every five of its other models, which comes to about 10 per cent of its’ total sales. Toyota/Lexus thinks that Canadian consumers need more upscale hybrid vehicles, and in keeping with a depressed market and all-time low automobile sales, the new HS250h is the company’s first four cylinder version. "It’s a luxury car with a conscience," claims Stephen Beatty.

Dedicated it may be, but the HS250h is still built on an existing platform. In this case, it’s the Avensis sedan, which is manufactured in the U.K. and sold throughout Europe. It has a 2.4 litre four cylinder gas engine, also based on the powerplant of an existing model - the Venza - mated to an electric motor, with a nickel metal hydride battery pack made by Panasonic, and a Constantly Variable Transmission, for a total power output about of 187 horsepower and about 138 foot-pounds of torque. "About" because these numbers can fluctuate, especially torque output, due to the fact that the drivetrain’s efficiency depends in large part on the state of the battery pack’s charge, engine load, and driving mode. While driving, you can choose between "Power" and "Eco" mode, and the performance difference is dramatic.

Either way, Lexus is claiming impressive fuel consumption figures for the HS250h: some 5.7 L/100 km combined rating, which puts it leagues ahead of anything else in this class. In fact, there really isn’t anything else quite like it at this stage of the game, and it is indeed the only four cylinder/hybrid luxury car on the market. Lexus is pitting it against the likes of the Acura TSX, BMW335d, and Mercedes C300.

Unsurprisingly, the HS250h has a plethora of intriguing engineering features, not the least of which is a unique heat recovery system which takes heat from the exhaust system and utilizes it to warm up the engine’s coolant more quickly. This in turn allows the hybrid drive system to revert to battery power and shut off the gas engine more readily when it’s not needed and in the process, improve fuel economy....by over seven per cent, according to Lexus’ manager of advanced technology and powertrain, Mark Stuyver. Lexus held the Canadian launch of the HS250h in Winnipeg, and this particular feature is bound to be welcomed by drivers come winter-time. As well as upping fuel economy, it means a warmer cab, faster, when the mercury starts to drop.

Lexus has also made fairly extensive use of ecologically-friendly material in the construction of the HS250h. Things like seat cushions, luggage trim, and various upholstery parts are made from non-recycled plant matter such as castor beans, and the volume of recycled material used throughout the car is claimed to be some 50 per cent more than that of most other conventional models. Lexus introduced its life cycle vehicle assessment system in 2005, and in a nutshell, this measures each car’s environmental impact, taking into account things like emissions produced during its construction, carbon dioxide created during the disposal of the car at the end of its life, and emissions produced during its operation. Apparently, the HS250h emits 33 per cent fewer emissions overall during its life cycle than a non-hybrid vehicle in the same market segment.

For all its technological sophistication and environmental responsibility, the HS250h feels very much like a Camry or Prius behind the wheel. There are differences, of course, but assembly quality is as tight as a drum, and performance is comparable to a four cylinder version of Toyota’s best selling sedan. A couple of small things, however: the back seat does not fold down or have a pass-through, because that’s where many of the hybrid drivetrain components are located, and you can order Lexus’ centre console-located Remote Touch System, which is essentially a mouse that lets you access things like the sound system, climate control, GPS and so on. Virtually identical to the same feature found in Lexus’ RX350 SUV, it works a treat and is very easy to get along with. I figured it out almost right away and it’s quite user-friendly. Still, the overall driving experience of the HS250h would have to be rated as reassuring and placid, rather than spirited or exciting.

Which will likely suit prospective buyers down to the ground. "First and foremost," explains Stephen Beatty, "customers are looking for the luxury car experience. We like to think of the HS250h as purposeful technology wrapped up in a thoughtful design."

AT A GLANCE

Type: Five-passenger luxury hybrid sedan

Price Range: $39,900 - $48,750

Engine: 2.4 litre four cylinder/ electric motor

Horsepower/Torque: 187 hp @ 4400 rpm / 138 ft. lb. @ 4400 rpm

Transmission: CVT

Drive: Front-wheel-drive

Fuel Economy (litres/100 km): 5.6 city/5.9 highway; regular gas

Alternatives: Acura TSX, BMW 335d, BMW 328i, Mercedes-Benz C300.

Like: Unassailable fuel economy, sensible ergonomics/switchgear, tight assembly quality

Don't like: Drivetrain tends to "hunt" during highway driving, not the most exciting car out there.