Top 5 Most Luxurious Hybrid New Cars for 2010

As the global conscious for eco-friendly vehicles continues to trend skyward, luxury automakers have begun to introduce posh new cars that boast hybrid badging. While these upper-crust hybrids don't come close to matching the mileage of more affordable models, they do offer an improvement over other high-cost cars and SUVs. If you've got money to burn, and are looking to burn less gas, then take a look at these top 5 most luxurious hybrid new cars for 2010:

The Lexus GS 450h is a mid-size luxury sedan that earns 22 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. Considering the vehicle's 340 horses under the hood, the GS Hybrid offers V8 power with a V-6 engine. Thanks to the smaller engine, that translates to about a 30-percent fuel savings. The hybrid lives up to the Lexus name with an exceptionally good build quality and long list of standard features. Notable base features include automatic wipers and headlights, automatic parking assist, keyless ignition, leather seats with heating and cooling, premium stereo and a pleasant peppering of wood and leather trim. If you're looking for a more efficient alternative to a sport sedan, then this may be the model for you.

The Cadillac Escalade has long been a poster child for opulence. For 2010, the Escalade Hybrid offers one of the most luxurious interiors of any SUV. Standard features are lengthy, and include heated leather seats, front passenger seat memory settings, rearview camera, 10-speaker premium stereo, DVD entertainment, OnStar and triple-zone automatic climate control. The 322-hp V8 engine is similarly accommodating, and offers a smooth ride with plenty of acceleration when needed. The Hybrid Escalade earns 21 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. As a comparison, the non-hybrid model earns as much as 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.

The 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6 is an all-new vehicle, and promises 17 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. Those numbers aren't a big improvement over the non-hybrid model. However, with a combined output of 480 horsepower and 575 lb-ft. of torque, this is easily one of the most powerful hybrids on the market. Interior comfort mirrors the rest of the BMW lineup, with standard features that include four-zone automatic climate control, 16-way power-adjustable leather front seats, Bluetooth, rearview camera, DVD player and soft-close automatic doors.

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid takes pricing into the super luxury segment. Amenities match the near-six-figure price tag with an exhaustive panoply of cushy standard features. Pamper yourself with quilted leather seats, next-generation GPS navigation, burled walnut accents, 15-speaker stereo system, automatic headlights and power-folding heated mirrors. With 295-horsepower, the S-Class Hybrid isn't as powerful as most of the other vehicles in its class. However, with an estimated 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, it earns the title of most fuel-efficient super luxury vehicle for the year.

The Lexus LS 600h L returns to the thrown as the most expensive and luxurious hybrid vehicle for the year. With a V8 engine and combined 438 horsepower, the LS hybrid is a more aggressive luxury vehicle than the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid. However, available high-tech features and comfort amenities are similarly impressive. Base features include extra-soft leather seats, voice-activated GPS system, parallel parking assist, 16-way power passenger seat with memory settings, and perhaps the best factory stereo system available on any vehicle - a 19-speaker Mark Levinson Surround Sound system. Fuel ratings for the Lexus LS Hybrid come in at 20 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.