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Electronic brakes are similar to Mercedes' SBC system
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| RUNNING COSTS RATING: |
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A car of this type will never achieve supermini-like running costs, and there's no diesel version to cut fuel bills for high-mileage drivers, but the hybrid could be an unlikely budget alternative: full details haven't been released yet, but besides fuel economy claimed to be similar to that of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine (despite performance equivalent to a 4.5 V8), the GS450h is likely to be in very low categories for excise duty and company car tax, with significant BIK tax advantages. It could also be exempt from, for example, the London congestion charge, like the Prius, though the RX400h doesn't qualify so this shouldn't be assumed as yet. The 'normal' GS300 returns 28.8mpg and 232 g/km of carbon dioxide, and the GS430 does 24.8mpg and 269 g/km, both creditable for cars of this size, weight and type. Usefully, Lexus has reduced costs for servicing, with a minor annual 'health check' between more extensive bi-annual overhauls, and reduced the cost of repairs to accident damage, with lower parts prices and shorter labour times; this has also had the effect of lowering insurance groupings, now down to 16E (GS300/GS300 SE), 17E (GS300 SE-L) and 18E (GS430). Residual (resale) values should also be strong, if not quite at BMW/Mercedes levels.
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