Luxury Hybrid Vehicles
Hybrid technology breaks the link between great fuel efficiency and the stripped-down econobox of the 1970s. Thanks to hybrids, and plug-in models rolling out in the next year or two, car buyers with deep pockets no longer need to compromise on ride quality or luxury features in order to save fuel and protect the planet.
On the other hand, hybrid and electric car makers have a habit of emphasizing large engines and raw speed when thinking about luxury buyers. We've yet to see a hybrid or clean diesel car with great luxury features, but with a right-sized four-cylinder engine that could send fuel efficiency into the 40-mpg range. If it comes out, we'll add it to our luxury hybrid list.
The Lexus LS600hL marries a hybrid powertrain with a 5-liter V8 engine to grant 430 horsepower performance and mileage in the low 20s—all for the bargain price of $104,000.
List of Luxury Hybrids
| Sort by: | Name | Combined MPG  | Technology | MSRP | Available | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Lexus CT 200h | 42 MPG | Hybrid | $29,100 | Now | The 2012 Lexux CT 200h is the only vehicle in the luxury segment to top 40 mpg. |
 | Lincoln MKZ Hybrid | 39 MPG | Hybrid | $34,700 | Now | A luxury sedan with the technology underpinnings of the 41-mpg Fusion Hybrid. |
 | Lexus HS 250h | 35 MPG | Hybrid | $36,300 | Now | Think of it as a luxury Prius with a trunk. |
 | BMW 335d | 29 MPG | Diesel | $44,700 | Now | The 3-series with a 3.0-liter biturbo inline-six diesel powerplant. |
 | Infiniti M35h Hybrid | 29 MPG | Hybrid | $53,700 | Now | Infiniti's first hybrid offers a compelling combo of luxury, performance and fuel efficiency. |
 | Lexus RX 450h | 28 MPG | Hybrid | $42,700 | Now | Updated version of the luxury SUV with green stripes. |
 | Mercedes E320 Bluetec | 27 MPG | Diesel | $52,300 | Now | The E320 Bluetec luxury sedan uses a modern diesel system to deliver efficiency and eco-friendliness. |
 | Lexus GS 450h | 23 MPG | Hybrid | $54,900 | Now | Race-car-like acceleration, luxurious appointments, and half-way decent fuel efficiency. |
 | Mercedes ML 450 Hybrid | 22 MPG | Hybrid | $55,000 | Now | The Mercedes-Benz version of the Two-Mode system combines a 275-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine and two electric motors. |
 | Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid | 22 MPG | Hybrid | $91,000 | Now | This eco-chic luxury sedan could be the first production vehicle with a lithium ion battery. |
 | Lexus LS 600h L | 21 MPG | Hybrid | $104,000 | Now | Lexus's 5-liter, V8, 430-horsepower luxury sedan hybrid. |
 | Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid | 21 MPG | Hybrid | $69,000 | Now | The Porsche Cayenne Hybrid achieves better than 24 miles per gallon compared with less than 18 mpg for the conventional model. |
 | Mercedes ML 320 Bluetec | 21 MPG | Diesel | $48,600 | Now | The most popular Mercedes SUV, available in fuel-efficient clean diesel version. |
 | Volkswagen Touareg TDI | 21 MPG | Diesel | $42,800 | Now | VW ditched V10. Now, the Touareg TDI comes reasonably priced and reasonably powered by a 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel engine. |
 | Cadillac Escalade Hybrid | 21 MPG | Hybrid | $73,000 | Now | Launched in August 2008, the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid sport-utility vehicle is unquestionably the world’s blingiest hybrid. |
 | Audi Q7 TDI | 21 MPG | Diesel | $50,900 | Now | Luxury seven-passenger clean diesel SUV with ultra-low emissions. |
 | Mercedes GL320 Bluetec | 20 MPG | Diesel | $59,200 | Now | The biggest, bluntest, and heaviest clean diesel SUV from Mercedes-Benz. |
 | BMW ActiveHybrid 7 | 20 MPG | Hybrid | $102,000 | Now | The fastest-accelerating hybrid sedan in the world |
 | BMW X6 Hybrid | 18 MPG | Hybrid | $90,000 | Now | An SUV that has crossed over into sports car territory. |
 | Fisker Karma | 100 MPG | Plug-in Hybrid | $96,000 | 2011 | The rear-wheel drive sporty plug-in hybrid from designer Henrik Fisker. |
 | Tesla Model S | n/a | Electric | $57,900 | 2011 | A bright vision of what a practical and desirable all-electric sedan could be. |
 | Audi Q5 Hybrid | n/a | Hybrid | n/a | 2011 | In addition to saving fuel—the Q5’s combined EPA fuel economy could approach 26-27 mpg versus the gasoline model’s 22 mpg—the Q5 Hybrid teems with engineering, technology and performance. |
 | Porsche Panamera S Hybrid | n/a | Hybrid | $95,000 | 2011 | Porsche performance in a luxury hybrid. |
 | BMW Hydrogen 7 | n/a | Hydrogen | n/a | Concept | The BMW Hydrogen 7— essentially a 7 Series sedan—burns sub-zero liquid hydrogen in its conventional V-12 engine. |
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