Hybrid Car: Lexus HS 250H

A car with a “green” powertrain arguably should come with an eco-friendly interior as well. The Lexus HS 250h fits the bill.

It features what Lexus calls a “proactive adoption” of plant-based, carbon-neutral “ecological plastics” in about 30% of the interior trim and luggage area.

That includes cowl-side accents, door scuff plates and a package tray behind the rear seats. The bioplastics emit about 20% less carbon dioxide than petroleum-based plastics.

That may endear upscale environmentalists who can afford to spend $46,547 on the market's first dedicated luxury hybrid car.

But it is the HS 250h's craftsmanship and use of conventional materials — leather and wood among them — that help make this stylish interior a standout.

It's easy to get comfortable in this car's laid-back 10-way power front seats with two lumbar settings. Cold? Flick on the seat heaters. Hot? Turn on the seat ventilators.

The cockpit's center stack gently slopes up and away from sound-system controls at the bottom, to climate controls in the midsection, to the top-mounted navigation-information screen. It is positioned for improved visibility and reduced back-and-forth driver eye movement.

Judges like the nav/info-system's controller, at the base of the center stack. It resembles a stationary computer mouse.

The test vehicle contains assorted premium touches, such as power-window speed controllers that offer a slower, softer closing.

Bioplastics aside, the interior features genuine walnut wood trim and a leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel. The HS scores high on safety, too, with a 5-star government crash rating and a class-leading 10 airbags.