The Lexus GS is smooth and responsive, a nice luxury sedan for commuting. It’s easy to drive and delivers strong performance. Luxurious appointments, convenience and comfortable seats make for relaxing travel. The Lexus GS does everything you ask, and yet it always feels effortless. The 2010 GS offers a choice of powertrains.
The Lexus GS 350 features a 303-hp, 3.5-liter V6 and six-speed automatic with manual shift gate. All-wheel drive is available. We found the GS 350 thoroughly enjoyable to drive. The V6 is quite responsive, propelling the GS 350 from 0 to 60 mph in an impressive 5.7 seconds and it gets an EPA-estimated 19/26 mpg.
The Lexus GS 450h combines a 3. 5-liter V6 hybrid with two electric motors for increased power and fuel economy. The GS 450h Hybrid is the fastest GS sedan, going from 0 to 60 mph in 5. 2 seconds. The GS 450h is rated at 22/25 mpg city/highway as per the government EPA cycle. For 2010, the GS 450h sports a more upscale look, with a new grille, clear taillight lenses and 18-inch wheels.
The Lexus GS 460 is powered by a 342-horsepower 4. 6-liter V8 and comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission. For added performance, the eight-speed transmission includes a Sport mode that allows you to manually make sequential gear adjustments with the console-mounted shifter. The GS 460 is the fastest of the models, with a top speed of 240 km/h and 0-60 in 5. 4 seconds.
The GS 350 AWD features all-wheel drive with a fast-acting mid-clutch differential that sends 70% of the force to the rear wheels in general cases to advertise the sportier dynamics of a rear-wheel-drive car. When wheel sensors fail on slippery roads, up to 50% of the engine’s power is diverted to the front wheels to increase the vehicle’s overall traction on the road.
For 2010, the standard sound system has been upgraded with iPod and USB connectivity, streaming audio via Bluetooth, and an integrated XM satellite radio receiver. The navigation option is now a hard disc drive (HDD) system that retains Voice Command casual-language voice recognition and Bluetooth connectivity, but adds Bluetooth phonebook download capability as well. The new navigation system also comes with integrated XM NavTraffic/Weather capability and includes a complimentary 90-day trial subscription.
For added safety, all 2010 Lexus GS models are supplied with active headrests. The 2010 Lexus GS also leads the way with two new telematics products. Models without a navigation formula come with Safety Connect, which provides automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle location and emergency assistance (SOS) button, and enhanced roadside assistance (which adds GPS awareness to the already included Lexus warranty-based roadside service).
HDD navigation comes with Lexus Enform, which includes all Safety Connect features, as well as Destination Assist and eDestination. Destination Assist agents are available via an in-car cell phone and can help drivers locate an express address, a company by name, a company. type (e. g. , gas station, movie theater, etc. ) and even Zagat-rated restaurants; Then send the coordinates to the navigation formula for the route. With eDestination, drivers can go online via LexusDrivers. com to save and sort destinations in up to 20 folders, each containing up to 10 destinations. Both products are available with a one-year free trial subscription.
The 2010 Lexus GS is available in four models. The GS 350 ($45,600) sports a 303-hp 3.5-liter V6. The GS 350 AWD ($47,550) adds all-wheel drive. Both GS 350 models have a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shiftgate.
The GS 460 ($54,070) is supplied with a 342-horsepower V8 and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The GS 450h ($57,450) features a hybrid powertrain that combines the 3. 5-liter V6 with two electric motors. It has a frequently variable automatic transmission with six preset gear ratios for the manual shifter.
Standard equipment on the GS 350 includes Regency leather upholstery and color-coordinated wood trim (gold or gray birdseye maple or red walnut); dual-zone automatic climate control; interior air filter; forced tilt/telescopic guide wheel with audio controls; speed regulator; Heated front seats with 10-way force adjustment; memory for the driver’s seat, mirrors and steering wheel; trunk passage; forced-heated, auto-dimming outside mirrors with tilt and reverse assist; Electric windows; electric locks; SmartAccess keyless entry and starting; sliding roof; 10-speaker AM/FM/XM stereo with six-CD changer; WMA/MP3 playback, auxiliary input jacks and iPod/USB; vehicle data formula with seven-inch touch screen; Bluetooth mobile phone wireless link; auto-dimming rearview mirror; universal garage door opener; electric trunk closure; automatic HID headlights; anti-theft formula; and fog lights. The GS 350 comes with P225/50WR17 summer tires on alloy wheels; 18-inch summer tires ($870) or all-season run-flat tires ($1,190) are optional. The GS 350 AWD comes with P225/50R17 all-season run-flat tires.
The GS 460 adds heated and ventilated front seats, a wood and leather steering wheel and shifter, adaptive headlights, adaptive variable suspension with general and game modes, a faster (and variable) guidance ratio, more complicated stability and braking electronics, and a rain system. windscreen wipers with sensors, headlight washers and summer tyres P245/40ZR18. All-season puncture tires are optional ($320).
The GS450h is supplied in the same way as the GS 460, plus front and rear parking assist, a reversing camera and an electric rear sunshade. It loses the trunk step, but has P245/40ZR18 summer tires from the V8 model.
Options include HDD navigation with Bluetooth, casual voice recognition, Lexus Enform, Safety Connect, rearview camera, XM NavTraffic/NavWeather, and XM Sports.
Standard bumper features include dual front airbags, front and rear side airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, front and rear curtain airbags that cover the head, active front headrests, and a tire tension monitor. Front and rear parking aids and a rearview camera. they are popular on the GS 450h and optional on other models. Standard active defense features come with anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake, traction and electronic stability (ESC) assist. The GS 460 comes with integrated vehicle dynamics management.
The Lexus GS features a low, elongated shape, a long hood, a recessed clamp and a short rear axle. It expresses simplicity, but the car is conscientiously sculpted along its entire length. The design is arguably a little predictable, but the combination of this sleek shape and the car’s sleek design to reduce aerodynamic turbulence underneath the vehicle has produced a remarkably low drag coefficient of 0. 27, promoting a quieter interior and fuel economy.
The hybrid edition has received an exclusive look for 2010. Most notable is its horizontal-themed grille, whose body-colored foils appear to change from thicker at the top to thinner at the bottom; as well as to contrast in each and every conceivable way with the undeniable vertical texture and glossy black color of the popular air intakes of the GS 350 and GS 460. Underneath the bumper, the GS 450h swaps the subtly wrapped central air opening for the popular 3-hole probably unrelated 3-hole. At the rear, Lexus has imposed clear lenses on the hybrid’s red taillights, making it look like it’s wearing glasses on the wrong side. Even the hybrid’s new wheels feature an odd combination of thick and thin spokes. In every way, we locate the most visually easy and aesthetically most aesthetically successful vintage models.
All models have high-intensity-discharge headlights with an available system that automatically compensates headlight aim for different passenger loads. The power-adjustable mirrors have defogging heat elements and tilt down when the car is in reverse. The available variable intermittent windshield wipers actuate automatically when raindrops are sensed. Fast-acting LEDs are used in the rear brake lights. Big 18-inch wheels are available.
The Lexus GS is very well appointed. Open the door and you’re greeted by stainless-steel scuff plates, the scent of leather and cut-pile carpeting, and the gleam of highly burnished hardwood trim.
The tilt/telescoping steering wheel is handsomely trimmed in wood and leather (in all but the base model, and it’s optional there). In the traditional Lexus style, the instrumentation is set deep within the dash to promote easy focus by far-sighted drivers and also features electroluminescent instrument needles for heightened visibility. Across the dash panel, each gauge, button, knob, lever and wheel is clearly identified by easily read words or symbols, so you can intuitively grasp the meaning. There’s soft-touch electronic actuation for virtually every control, from the window switches to the trunk release.
The center console is controlled via a seven-inch electronic display with touchscreen controls. Two rows of menu buttons flank the screen. The driver uses this display to control the audio system, climate control, and the optional navigation system with rearview camera, for many purposes. They are duplicated with the buttons near the dashboard. Navigating the submenus doesn’t require too much brainpower, but like most multitasking electronic devices, spending a day with the owner’s manual on a quiet street is the most productive way to figure out how it all works. adequately.
Lexus has made a quality audio system a key component of its brand identity, so it’s no surprise that the GS sedan has a premium system. The standard 134-watt system features an AM/FM/XM tuner and an in-dash, six-disc CD changer that accepts both MP3 and WMA formats. It plays through a 10-speaker sound system. An auxiliary audio input jack is provided, as well as an iPod/USB connection. Audiophiles can opt for the Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound system, developed especially for the GS interior. Utilizing 5.1 surround sound playback via a 7.1-channel speaker topology, its 330-watt amplifier sends the vibes through 14 speakers.
For 2010, the Levinson sound system is integrated with the new HDD navigation, which includes Lexus Enform, a new telematic product that combines all the functions of Lexus Safety Connect (Automatic Collision Notification, Stolen Vehicle Location, SOS Emergency Assistance Button, and Enhanced Roadside Assistance) plus Destination Assist and eDestination. Destination Assist agents are available via the on-board cellular equipment and can help drivers find a specific address, a business by name, a type of business (e.g., gas station, movie theater, etc.), and even Zagat-rated restaurants; and then send the coordinates to the navigation system for routing. With eDestination, drivers can go online via LexusDrivers.com to save and sort destinations in up to 20 folders, each holding as many as 10 destinations. Then drivers can send the locations, up to 200 at a time, to their vehicle, where they will be available for download into the navigation system. Online, drivers can create personalized location names (e.g., Favorite sushi, 1 PM Appt, Kids’ doc, etc.) and even list notes about their saved locations. XM traffic, weather, financial and sports services are included, as is Bluetooth phonebook download.
The intuitive Parking Assistant takes into account the input of the guide angle, as well as the same usual distance caution sensors, to offer recommendations for avoiding contact via graphs in the dashboard-mounted data demonstration. These tips are also displayed on the rear center of the speedometer, a domain that is also used to demonstrate on-board computer data, radar cruise status, distance monitoring, and caution messages. This formula is the last word in noise prevention in supermarket parking lots.
We found the GS to be a very comfortable car. The combination of the driver’s seat with forced 10-way adjustment and a thick-rimmed steering wheel with telescopic control and forced tilt helps you find a comfortable driving position. The driver’s seat itself is sculpted with a wide set of gussets that help it, they’re not so restrictive as to hinder simple entry and exit. Despite multiple controls, one of our control drivers didn’t like the seating position because the front of the rear seat didn’t tilt up. And taller drivers may not like the GS because headroom is limited.
The same goes for the back seat. Head and legroom will be limited to more than 6 feet 2 inches tall, and the front seats will have little foot room if the front seat is at its lowest. However, the seat is comfortable and a central armrest folds down to reveal the gait. This step is practical, but not as practical as a fold-and-split rear seat, which the GS doesn’t offer.
The trunk is relatively small, measuring 12.7 cubic feet in volume. And the trunk opening is small, caused by the short overhang. The GS 450h is worse, with only 10.6 cubic feet of capacity.
Lexus is known for its sleek ride and luxury features, and the GS has all-round handling. His basic sense of balance makes driving enjoyable. Even on a morning commute to work, you can enjoy a few moments of driving pleasure.
The GS can wreck the road. Wide tyres offer excellent cornering grip: the P245/40ZR18 tyres are popular for the GS 450h and GS 460, while the GS 350 is fitted with P225/50WR17 tyres. We found the GS 350’s 17-inch tires to roll well. However, the available 18-inch tires can make the ride a bit rough. During our test drive of a GS 460 through the streets of Chicago, the suspension reacted harshly to steep bumps, sending into the cabin types of sounds that make you feel like you’re in danger of blowing out a tire or damaging the suspension.
The suspension geometry provides good handling, while gas-charged dampers and coil springs promote a resilient, long-legged ride. The GS 450h and GS 460 both have two-position, electronically adjustable damping control to help the car adapt to driving conditions, as well as available Power Active Vehicle Stabilizer, which minimizes body roll during fast driving and further enhances the sensation of effortless speed.
The high-tech electric force guidance is exceptionally tricky on all models, but on the GS 460 and GS 450h, the variable gear guide accelerates the mechanical ride (while reducing effort) at very low speeds and then provides a slower gear (for more precision) and superior effort at higher speeds. The formula adapts the angle of the wheels to the speed at which the driving force rotates the idler to compensate for any delay in the car’s reaction to the guide inputs. This works especially well on winding roads. A correction is used to compensate for the effects of crosswinds, making small changes in direction.
The guide makes it possible to take a rugged rear-wheel drive car in all types of driving and (more importantly) in all types of weather conditions. But we got the impression that the electric force guidance and electric braking formula are rarely felt. unnatural for controls. In general driving, we adapted quickly, but the combination of those electric formulas with the VDIM proved slightly distracting in enthusiastic driving. In fact, the GS 450h Hybrid actually bothered us, as the transition from traditional friction braking to hybrid-style regenerative electric braking proved clunky and unpredictable at times. For this reason, we prefer the GS 350 and GS 460.
Overall, the heavy, 4,134-pound GS 450h is the quickest of the GS sedans, getting to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, though it’s capable of just 131 mph. The 3,945-pound GS 460 launches to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds on the way to a top speed of 149 mph, and the 3,795-pound GS 350 sprints to 60 mph in an impressive 5.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 143 mph. The figures for the GS 350 AWD are 5.8 seconds and 130 mph.
The GS 450h’s fuel economy is rated at 22/25 mpg city/highway as per the government EPA cycle. The GS 460 is rated at 17/24 mpg, the GS 350 gets 19/26 mpg, and the GS 350 AWD is rated at 22/25 mpg city/highway based on the government’s EPA cycle. at 18/25 mpg.
Overall, we think the GS 350 is more enjoyable to drive than the other models. The V6 is responsive and just plain fast. The gear changes of the six-speed automatic transmission are virtually undetectable. The GS is not the sort of car that encourages manual shifting, but it is a performance car, and the feeling of acceleration is a large part of its appeal.
More traditional steering and braking allow the GS 350 to feel more natural than the most beloved styles with all its drive-by-wire technology. The 17-inch wheels offer the best ride quality and the 18-inch tires are available to provide more cornering grip for drivers who feel the need. In particular, the all-wheel-drive style feels oddly alert and maneuverable thanks to its rear-delivered strength.
The GS 350 offers some dynamism that goes beyond the limits of its functionality compared to the GS 450h and GS 460, but it’s more fun to drive at socially appropriate speeds. The all-wheel-drive edition of the GS 350 adapts to a wide variety of weather situations and doesn’t seem to offer many compromises in terms of speed, handling, or even fuel economy.
The GS 460 is a paragon of responsiveness, with its V8 engine providing ready power from a stop that makes it seem even faster than it is. While the GS 460 is slower in a sprint than the GS 450h, the V8 seems to provide more willing power at midrange and highway speeds. We did find, however, that the eight-speed requires a deep stab of the throttle to coax the downshifts needed for maximum passing punch.
The GS 450h uses the same 3. 5-liter V6 as the GS 350, but is paired with two electric motors to produce 340 horsepower. The GS450h’s powertrain is a technological marvel. The petrol engine only starts when it is mandatory and switches off at red lights. so that the car can be started and the engine turned off. Electric motors are capable of propelling the car at low speeds. However, the powertrain is more impressive when you step on the gas and see that it’s faster than the impressive Lexus. V8. La smoothness of the CVT will leave many drivers without the rewarding ups and downs of a traditional automatic transmission, but employing the manual shift mode with its six preset gear ratios can fix this problem. Still, we’re not convinced through The Hybrid.
Integrated Vehicle Dynamics Management is an electronic stability formula that processes steering angle, yaw rate, deceleration, brake tension, and wheel speed, then uses the full diversity of the car’s electronic systems for the engine, brakes, and steering to assist the car’s driving force in an emergency handling scenario. Unlike traditional ESC formulas, which react to the loss of a car, VDIM was developed to anticipate a dangerous situation and then, by making safe corrections, allow the driver to continue without even knowing the formula is in operation. Lexus’ available pre-collision system uses a radar sensor to detect the onset of a collision and will automatically optimize chassis calibration for quick guidance response, retract front seat belts, initialize brake assist, and even slow the car. to 0. 3 g if the motive force does not. Take steps to avoid this.
The Lexus GS is rewarding to drive thanks to the calm, intuitive personality we associate with the Lexus brand. All versions of the GS have the ability to take you to your destination as temporarily as you dare. We love the GS 350 for its balance of handling and functionality. The GS 450h offers a combination of strength and fuel economy that is unique among midsize luxury and sport sedans. The GS 460 offers forged functionality thanks to its V8. The passenger area of the GS models is smart but not generous and the shipping area is limited.
New Car Test Drive correspondent Kirk Bell contributed to this report from Chicago.
Lexus GS 350 ($45,600); GS 350 AWD ($47,550); GS 460 ($54,070); GS 450h ($57,450).
Tahara, Japan.
Mark Levinson 330-Watt Audio/Navigation Formula with Surround Sound, Rearview Mirror and HDD Navigation ($1,945); rear spoiler ($200); Intuitive Front and Rear Parking Assist ($500); all-season puncture tires ($320); Rear sun visor ($210).