Lexus Discontinues the HS 250h


By way of Inside Line, Lexus has confirmed that the HS 250h has been discontinued:

In an e-mail response to an Inside Line query, Toyota said: “Production of the HS 250h ceased in January, 2012. Lexus continues to monitor sales for each product and we make adjustments to make sure that we meet market demand, and the discontinuation of HS was part of that adjustment. The ES 300h is not replacing HS in our lineup. It’s merely part of the hybridization of many of our existing vehicles in the Toyota and Lexus lineups.”

Lexus makes an interesting distinction in their annoucement, stating that the ES 300h “is not replacing HS” — and yet, the HS 250h always felt like a placeholder, occupying a small corner of the market while Lexus prepared the CT and now the ES hybrid.

Despite any other issues that existed with the HS, there’s no question that it was squeezed out of the lineup — a sad end to an unfortunate vehicle.

[Source: Inside Line]

JapanLexus HSh: First GenerationManufacturingUSA
Comments
Y
Might be a good thing too , because it's ... not really having market on any place on earth .
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  • W
    Wooski
  • May 18, 2012
Surely next year's IS300h will replace the HS250h?
    J
    • J
      Jake
    • May 21, 2012
    Since they said that the ES300h is not the replacement for the HS250h, I believe the IS300h will be the one.
    A
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      anonymous
    • March 5, 2013
    Please don't ever say V4 again. :)
    J
    • J
      Jake
    • March 5, 2013
    Yeah, it was L4, but still a 4 cylinders.
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    Erich Kerner
  • May 18, 2012
I guess the better "decision" for the "Toyota SAI" would have been to bring it as an "Prius sedan" to the North American market.
    R
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      Random
    • October 17, 2014
    I have one now and I disagree! It's all in what you add to it. Got to make a car a car
B
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    brian jou
  • May 18, 2012
Yes the HS250H wasn't an eye pleaser to be honest
    D
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      Daniel
    • May 18, 2012
    I agree.
    B
    I'm starting to think if they stretched out the wheel base a bit more with less prius look it probably would have been a better seller IMO
    Y
    I've to agree on that too .
    B
    • B
      brian jou
    • May 21, 2012
    maybe have the car compete against the mercedes cls class just stretch the car out add some spindle and bam. CLS competitor
    М
    but if it will be sell under prius umbrella as PRIUS - S with price same as regular prius with the same 1.8 L from the CT & regular prius i think it will a hit+ the SAI is much more better looking in photos than the HS and i guess will look better also in real 
    J
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      Jake
    • May 21, 2012
    Exterior design was so different than the previous Lexus lineup that it's hard to believe that it resisted for so much time.
K
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    Kwoodruff
  • May 18, 2012
An ugly little spud of a car that was a black mark on Lexus as far as I'm concerned.  I'm glad it was put out of it's misery.
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    Lexus LFA
  • May 18, 2012
I thought it was going to be a major face lift and they would redo everything like the GS(i know for the GS it wasn't a face lift!)
    J
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      Jake
    • May 21, 2012
    HS didn't really have a future. Lexus kind of screwed it when they tried to introduce in the US market a hybrid mid-size sedan one step under the GS450h. 
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    ThaDRD
  • May 18, 2012
This will car will be forgotten, never to be spoken of again, much like the old ES250.
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    LexusGSF
  • May 18, 2012
THANK GOD! This car gave Lexus a bad rep. Sorry HS, you're ugly and you look less luxurious than a Kia. Sorry true statement.
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    Truth
  • May 19, 2012
This car was a corolla with a lexus badge. Its gone and no one cares. Moving right along to better things...
    L
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      Lexi
    • May 19, 2012
    Toyota SAI rebadge as Lexus HS250, totaly FAILED...
    R
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      Random
    • October 17, 2014
    Wrong!! The camery is trying to copy it now but can't! It just doesn't have all the bells and whistles! Often imitated but never duplicated
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    ndk83
  • May 19, 2012
I forgot this car even existed, good riddance
F
I think the HS will be a sleeper. I understand the flaws of the car and why it isn't selling, but it's not as bad as people make it out to be. It's well made, it has a very nice interior, it's the only vehicle in a segment it created, and it's just all around unique. The price is what really killed this car. Why spend $40k when the car next to it is prettier, cheaper, and more powerful?
    M
    You're right. I bought an IS 250 AWD full equipped in 2008 and replaced it with the HS in 2010 just for the fun of having an hybrid. Thankfully for me I leased it and in March I will run away from it even dough I have no real complaint about the car outside of his bulkier look outside. I don't know if I will buy another Lexus because there no coupe in any model except the convertible and I'm tired to pay over 2000$ fot transport and prep in Canada...
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    Ladyboy
  • May 19, 2012
Make a front like the ct and call it ct sedan with prices round 30 - 35 grands.  
    J
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      Jake
    • May 21, 2012
    Lexus already has four sedans in their lineup. No other luxury car brand has that, not taking into consideration the "coupe sedans" like the CLS, A7 and Grand Coupe. They should stick with the IS, ES, GS and LS. They need another entry-level CUV for their SUV market since there's just three models, the RX, GX and LX and the GX and LX are not truly Lexus cars.
    L
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      LexusLVR
    • May 21, 2012
    The A7, CLS and Gran Coupe are SEDANS. The respective marketing of these companies tries to pass them off as "four-door-sedans" for just that: marketing reasons.
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    Eleeflyguy43
  • May 19, 2012
sure it replaces the HS 250. price point and same target customer equates to replacement.
K
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    Keeskun
  • May 19, 2012
Has anhy of you seen the car for real? I have in Japan and depending the color it looks, well... not bad and because it is a Lexus, it is very refined and put together and drives very smoothly, quietly.
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    Osu
  • May 20, 2012
 I never liked this model. Some what surprised that it even existed
I
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    IS350
  • May 20, 2012
Yes, I have seen this (unfortunate looking) things driving around CA and its a damn shame that Lexus rebadged this Toyota Sai and attempted to sell it for 5k more here in the states.  Lexus isn't going to "distance itsself" as a brand from Toyota by pulling crap like that...
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    leozno1
  • May 20, 2012
Its about time. A person would have to be an idiot to buy that car. It was overpriced and had worse fuel economy than cars out there that aren't even hybrids
    J
    • J
      Jake
    • May 21, 2012
    Not true, not even a single word.
    L
    • L
      leozno1
    • May 21, 2012
    $37k for 35/34 mpg. No thanks
    K
    • K
    • May 23, 2012
    The thing that let the HS down was the exterior styling -- if we're taking about less expensive cars with better gas mileage as the guiding principle, why wouldn't everyone just drive a Prius C?
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    Travis
  • May 21, 2012
Unlike like people here Ive been inside the HS and drove it. Its very smooth and the interior is really nice.  In that Lexus red and the bigger optioned wheels it not bad looking to be honest people need to relax
    K
    • K
    • May 23, 2012
    I never actively disliked the HS, I never really liked it either. Definitely not a bad car, but just too middle-of-the-road to fit in the Lexus lineup. Should have been a Toyota in North America.
K
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    KiwiLexus
  • May 21, 2012
The HS was too awkward looking for people to spend ES350 amounts of money on, regardless of fuel economy or not. Glad it didn't make it down under. The optional 18 inch wheels looked good though - Lexus should make it optional on the CT200h - be a real looker!
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    V12mind
  • May 23, 2012
The badge alone is not enough to warrant the premium price over the a Prius or Corolla hybrid.  It's a good thing to see it go.  
M
I really don't like the huge plastic front of the car but I REALLY LIKE IS THE BLUEISH WHITE WHEN the snow fell on it...
D
Most of the criticism here is just so wrong. If you didn't like the looks of the HS that is your business, but the car itself is very comfortable and efficient. It has more power than expected and has proven to be as reliable as any Toyota or Lexus ever produced. 
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    angry guyy
  • August 1, 2013
so lexus couldn't build me an isf coupe or one with an 6 speed manual so instead they built this thing, a disgrace to the lexus brand, it wont be missed
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    Random
  • October 17, 2014
I own a 2010 hs250h for the past year and I love it!! It just needs to be a little longer for more leg room but other wise I would get another one

R