Lexus GS models offer the driving dynamics of a sports sedan with the refinement and quality of a Lexus luxury sedan. Rear-wheel drive, four-wheel double wishbone independent suspension and a sumptuous interior are the key ingredients of this formula.
The GS 430 is a thrilling sports sedan with a 300-horsepower V8 that devours real estate and grips the road at high speed. Meanwhile, the GS 300 purrs with one of the smoothest six-cylinder engines in its class. Both are large, sophisticated luxury sedans that provide comfort for four people with leather and wood accents.
They offer a clever balance between sleek driving and responsive handling. The guide is lightweight for easy handling when parked, but provides the driver with reassuring feedback on the road. Fast and comfortable, they are perfect cars for long trips. and for complicated and busy roads.
Lexus GS sedans feature warm, charming interiors with easy-to-use and elegantly designed controls. The rear seats are among the highest in the category, which increases its practicality.
Lexus continues to offer one of the most productive qualities in the industry and its GS sedans are no exception. The GS 3 Hundred and GS 430 are perennial quality leaders in their class, according to research firm J. D. For the 10th year in a row, Lexus earned the top-ranked logo in the company’s reliability study, which surveys homeowners after 3 years of homeownership.
The Lexus GS series is available in two trim levels: the three-hundred-cylinder six-cylinder GS ($38,875) and the V8-powered GS 430 ($47,975).
The GS 300 is powered by a high-performance 3. 0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 220 horsepower. Preferred with fabric upholstery and automatic climate with filtration and deodorization. Leather upholstery is optional ($1,660) and comes with a memory system.
The GS 430 comes with a 4. 3-liter DOHC V8 engine that produces three hundred horsepower. It’s also popular with perforated leather upholstery; memory for driver’s seat, outside mirrors and steering column; and high-intensity discharge headlamps.
Both models are supplied with an electronically controlled five-speed automatic transmission, although the GS 300 also has E-Shift manual controls on the spokes of the guide wheels.
The options come with a navigation package ($2,000) and a very good audio formula from Mark Levinson ($1,250).
Standard protection features on either model include vehicle stability control, antilock brakes with brake assist, traction control, dual front airbags, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags, and seat belts with pretensioner and force. GS models also have side curtain airbags for the driver and front passenger, which are very important, as are the head and upper frame in the event of side impacts.
The Lexus GS models still make a strong visual impression despite their age. The design of the existing second-generation models is now in its seventh year, but still has a striking look.
Most notable are the football-shaped headlights that move up and back inside the fenders. A separate set of interior headlights serves as headlights and gives the GS an upscale look.
This looks at cars towards the rear of the car with giant multi-lens taillights wrapping around the sides with a separate set of interior lights serving as taillights and brake lights. The two exhaust tips protruding from the rear bumper give the GS a sporty appeal. The rear bumper curves at the rear to create aerodynamic floor effects. An available rear spoiler adds a bold look, but the car looks better without it and probably doesn’t have the handling of a car that has a tendency to understeer to the limit.
In profile, the GS features a particularly angular nose, with the lower edge of the windscreen pointed forward. Its sleek roofline extends to a thick rear deck. A chrome strip surrounds the side windows and accentuates the shape of the glass. This creates an attractive contrast to the flat, black jambs of the windows. For technical reasons, the rear door glass is split into two panels, with a separate constant panel at the rear, a compromise that breaks up the sleek movement of the glass.
Lots of leather, elegant wood appliqués, thick carpets, and a subtle overall design create a charming setting inside the Lexus GS 430. It manages to feel spacious and comfortable. The front view is excellent, but the rear view is limited by the rear. wide headrests and C-pillars.
The dashboard is a refreshing replacement from other Japanese models. Turn on the ignition and a black panel illuminates gauges with black markings on white faces, all illuminated from behind. The backlight intensity varies depending on the ambient light. The gauges are beautiful, creatively designed, and easy to read. There is a useful compass in the rearview mirror.
The audio and climate controls are logically organized and easy to use, with separate heating and cooling settings for the driver and passenger. A smog sensor automatically switches the formula to recirculation mode to prevent contaminated air from entering the cabin. The deodorizing formula takes care of the rest, ideal when you’re avoiding a city bus or suffering from hay fever. Remote fuel tank and trunk releases, located on the rear left of the dashboard, are, first of all, hard to find, and the center armrest hides the seat’s heating buttons.
An optional touchscreen DVD navigation formula calculates routes temporarily. The LCD screen occupies the center of the dashboard and manages the audio and weather, as well as the computer.
The audio setup of the GS is very good. But if you love music, you owe it to yourself to order the Mark Levinson stereo, a 10-speaker formula with a discrete amplifier with ultra-low cross-distortion that delivers exceptional audio quality no matter where you sit.
Power windows and a sunroof can be opened and closed with a single touch. A sensor stops the window or roof panel and warns the driver when something is blocking their path. The included keyless remote control can be used to automatically operate windows and/or sunroof. A concealed electric garage door opener can be programmed for almost any frequency.
The boot lid is raised 90 degrees and the lift height is low for easy loading and unloading. At 14. 8 cubic feet, the shipping capacity is comparable to other cars of its size.
Lexus GS sedans offer a great balance between functionality and luxury, leaning more toward the luxury side of the equation than their German competitors. They are a choice for the driver who values a stylish ride, a quiet cabin and hassle-free operation over precise handling and tracking functionality. However, they respond well when encouraged enthusiastically.
The choice between the GS 300 and GS 430 largely depends on how much you value performance. Speed costs money, how fast should you go?In this case, saving two seconds on your 0-60 times costs about $9,100. That’s a big difference in dollar terms, but it’s a huge difference in terms of performance. The GS 430 rushes much faster than the GS 300. In addition, the GS 430 has a higher level of apparatus than the GS 300.
Like BMW, Lexus uses an inline six-cylinder engine for the GS 300, and enthusiasts tend to prefer inline-six engines to the more popular V6 configuration (whose construction cost is lower and takes up less space). Its design tends to make the inline six-cylinder engine inherently smoother than a V6, and the inline six-cylinder used in the GS 300 is a superb engine. It purrs like a kitten and seems smoother to us than six-cylinder engines from BMW and Mercedes. The 3. 0-liter engine produces 220 horsepower. Lexus claims it can propel the GS 300 from 0 to 60 mph in 7. 8 seconds and go the quarter-mile in 18. 8 seconds. It’s a quick performance, but don’t expect to win a lot of endurance races. It gets an EPA city/highway score of 18/25 mpg, which is average for its class.
The GS 430 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5. 8 seconds, according to Lexus, putting it in the league of some of the most productive sports sedans in the world. The GS 430 almost jumps off the road when you step on it and rises with probably infinite force when passing other cars on the road above. Yet its sound is subtle, a higher-tech mechanical note than the livid rumble of a Corvette’s V8. The 4. 3-liter V8 produces three hundred horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. High torque at low revs gives the GS 430 plenty of power for cruising around town and away from intersections. Lexus claims it can cover the quarter mile in 14. 2 seconds. It’s a complicated engine with four overhead camshafts, 32 valves and variable valve timing, allowing it to deliver maximum torque at low revs while still offering healthy punch at top revs. drinker. Despite its impressive acceleration, the GS 430 earns an EPA highway rating of 23 mpg and is certified as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV).
All Lexus GS sedans come with an electronically controlled five-speed automatic transmission and a shift knob on the console. It’s a sleek and responsive stream. The GS 300 can also be shifted using a set of buttons on the front and rear of the steering wheel. Pressing the button on the front of the idler reduces one gear. Pressing the button on the idler shifts to a higher gear. A display at the bottom of the speedometer shows the selected gear. The electronics save you from making downshifts above the engine’s redline.
Like all true performance cars, the Lexus GS uses rear-wheel drive. In general driving conditions, the GS is sleek and effortless. It’s not a marshmallow, but the ride quality is stylish. The suspension absorbs the diversifications of the road, while reassuring in tight corners and fast corners. Management requires enough effort to instill in the company that sense of control that luxury cars lack.
Large, high-performance brakes bring the GS to a stop temporarily and without drama. Anti-lock brakes (ABS) with brake assist, electronic traction and vehicle stability are standard. Brake Assist can trip when the driver is in a panic braking scenario and will automatically maintain full braking power even if the driving force mistakenly releases brake pedal pressure. This is a wonderful piece of security, as studies show.
Lexus GS models combine luxury and functionality in a spacious luxury sedan. They offer Lexus quality, a comfortable interior with proper ergonomics and an elegant ride. The GS 430 offers inspiring functionality and responsive handling. The GS 300 be offers the same subtle chassis with a very good six-cylinder engine.
Lexus GS three hundred ($38,875); GS 430 ($47,975).
Tahara, Japan.
Mark Levinson Audio and Navigation System ($3250).