LEXUS GS HYBRID | Starting Price: $47,700

Every auto manufacturer has its own high fuel economy strategy. For Ford it’s EcoBoost, which is the turbo charging of small engines to make them work like big ones. For Volkswagen it’s diesel engines. The Toyota world, which includes Lexus, prefers hybrids. Ultimately, Toyota corporate plans to provide a hybrid option for almost all models that it sells, and Lexus is not exempt. The GS450h is a Lexus interpretation of how to use hybrid technology in a luxury sport sedan.

Lexus’ studies show that in vehicles where gas and hybrid models are both available, 35 percent of buyers would consider a hybrid. Also, 25 percent of the sales of the popular RX SUVs are hybrids. That, combined with Lexus’ capability and experience in hybrid technology, provides what they believe is a strategic opportunity to be exploited.

The new GS line holds its place as the not-quite-full size and not-as-luxurious as the LS rear wheel drive sedan in the stable. Whereas the LS aims at luxury, the GS is a sportier, smaller machine.
It would line up against an E Class Mercedes, BMW 5 Series, Infiniti M, etc. Currently, buyers can have a GS with a 3.5 V6 or the hybrid 450h, which is really the 3.5 V6 in hybrid trim. The reason that Lexus named this model 450h is that the V6 plus the hybrid drive gives it the power of a 4.5 liter engine. The hybrid model accelerates to 60 miles per hour in 5.6 seconds, a bit faster than the non-hybrid. The GS is available in either rear wheel drive or all-wheel drive trim. Hybrid highway fuel economy is 34 mpg vs. 29 mpg for the non-hybrid models.

When you step on the accelerator, the gasoline engine plus the electric motor combine to provide a rush of power that directly propels the vehicle forward. There is no hesitation, no downshifting; it is literally power on demand, right now! The car’s skillful styling gives it presence. The interior is sumptuous and elegant in a Lexus kind of way. The choices of woods and interior trim colors set it apart. This is not some sloppy driving boulevardier. It’s a blend of elegance and vehicle driving performance.

At cruise, the GS is whisper quiet. We tested this by actually… whispering. It is a unique and impressive experience to be wrapped in an elegant cabin environment while hustling down winding roads in almost total silence, feeling completely in control of this dutiful and obedient machine. The GS devours miles of highway in a way that seems far ahead of almost any other vehicle on the road. It is very fast and very quiet and you have almost no sensation of speed, hence the advisability of using cruise control.

This is a very rewarding vehicle. It’s upscale, swift, efficient, controlled and really enjoyable to drive. It’s a power couple’s dream. She’ll love the elegance and styling while he’ll just love driving it.

MAZDA 3 | Starting Price: $17,000

The Mazda3 is one of the most highly regarded compact vehicles on the market. It’s fun, entertaining and both reliable and efficient. But time marches on, and the new and improved model has arrived.

Mazda actually did a very fine job with the new 3. It is still offered in either a 4-door sedan or a 5-door hatchback with five trim levels available. My test vehicle was the 5-door in the top of the line S Grand Touring trim.

Whereas previous models were decidedly boxy in form, the new model, styled by the Italian design studio Pininfarina, is a visual masterpiece. Frequently, svelte styling on an automobile equals diminished interior space, but this car delivers on both the inside and the outside. The significant accomplishment in this case is that the 5-door’s shape is so smooth that you’d never guess that a compact hatchback vehicle could look so good and have so much cargo room.

The interior is clearly front seat, driver position oriented. Up front the seating is comfortable, the ride is refined and the car is super responsive. The 3 is known for its superior handling and the new 2014 model doesn’t disappoint. With Mazda’s new Skyactiv technology, the major systems in the car are matched, coordinated and designed to function seamlessly together. The result is a vehicle that has excellent power, great handling and superb ride quality. It goes where it’s pointed, driving on a winding road is a joy and it’s a very satisfying car to spend time in.

My test vehicle came equipped with the optional 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engine and the 6 speed automatic transmission. I averaged 26.3 miles per gallon in my week of driving and that is quite respectable, but the EPA rating on the car is 28 city, 38 highway with a combined average of 32. I didn’t even get close to the 32 number but the car was such a joy to drive that it didn’t bother me.

My test car was festooned with equipment and technology. Eighteen inch alloy wheels, moon roof, keyless entry, leather seating, auto leveling bi-xenon headlights, heads-up display, 7 inch color touch-screen display, backup camera, plus SMS text delivery and reply. But wait there’s more. The car also had blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, i-Eloop regenerative braking and lane departure warning.

All of this came to just a bit under $30,000, which is a very big number for a compact car. A Mazda3 configured like this faces the same challenge that all heavily optioned compact cars face today. The fully loaded 3 is priced virtually the same as two other outstanding vehicles, the much larger Mazda6 sedan and even the compact crossover Mazda CX5.

Bottom line is that the Mazda3 buyer will choose the model that suits them and will end up falling in love with the car like virtually all 3 owners do.

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