At a Glance - Lexus IS 300h

So, what is it?

The IS 300h - blue tinting on the badge hints at the hybrid heart

This is Lexus' mid-size executive saloon, their answer to the might of the likes of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Jaguar. As you can see, it's quite a sharp looking thing, the split LED-running lights and xenon headlamps an interesting detail that helps it stand out from it's German rivals. It's got a 2.5 litre petrol engine driving the rear wheels, aided by - get this - an electric motor,

It's a hybrid?

It certainly is. That little 'h' on the boot lid isn't silent, though the drivetrain it signifies can be at town speeds.

But I thought hybrids were stuffy, slow things? This Lexus sounds alright.

That's where you're wrong. A number of manufacturers are now experimenting with hybrid tech across their range, but Lexus' parent company, Toyota, has been honing their Hybrid Drive for years. The system in the IS is a development of the thinking first seen in the Prius. This iteration is somewhat more powerful than the Prius motor though, the engines combining to push out 220bhp and 221 ft-lbs of torque through the rear wheels.

A RWD 200bhp+ Japanese sports saloon? OK, I'm listening. What's it like to drive?

It's fast, but not in any kind of aggressive way. Smoothness is a byproduct of the hybrid drive and this car has that in creamy bundles. The hybrid IS makes short work of the straights, and it's well-behaved and dignified in the corners, not full-on tail-out dorifutu-style.

The well-appointed interior is clad in fine leather, and the satisfying appearance of a central analogue clock in the dash - refreshing in an age where even watches are touch-screen - goes well with the encouraging steering feel.

A good cruiser, then? 

Absolutely. Lexus know their market, and if it's silly slidey fun you're after, Toyota can sell you a GT86. With the duo of motors combining with advanced aero technology, the IS 300h has a claimed range of over 900 miles, which is impressive for a car that feels so reassuringly hefty behind the wheel, and ideal for long cross-continent schleps - the car likely outlasting most humans in between fuel and comfort breaks.

What's wrong with a diesel? I hear they get great fuel economy.

Well for one thing, the amount of harmful gases diesels emit are not renowned for being insignificant - you may have heard about the current emissions scandal surrounding fiddled engine maps that run differently in test scenarios than in real-life motoring. The scandal involves 'cheat devices' manufacturers like VW and Mitsubishi have been caught fitting to their diesel cars in an effort to make them appear more friendly to the environment, but recent figures suggest the problem could be more widespread. In independent tests, as many as the top 37 selling cars in the UK could be emitting much higher levels of these dangerous chemicals in real-world driving than the official tests have shown.

Plus, diesels aren't typically as smooth as petrol engines, or, indeed petrol-electric hybrids, and in a car that can take you from Lands End to John O' Groats and still have enough range to see most of the Shetlands (once you've crossed on the ferry).

These are both reasons for Toyota's decision to move away from diesel engines in favour of cleaner-burning petrols and hybrids. But there's another, bigger H approaching - Hydrogen.

I thought hydrogen power was years away though?

Perhaps not as far away as you think. Toyota are looking to get in early with hydrogen technology in their cars, much like they did with hybrids like the Prius, back in 1997. A few weeks ago, at EVOLUTION Motor Show, I had my first look at Toyota's Miraii concept. Without a second glance it could easily be mistaken for a Prius or an Auris, demonstrating that fuel cell cars need not be a complete transformation of the car as an entity.

Toyota's Miraii concept. How long til the big H makes it onto the back of a Lexus?