If a car has sporting pretentions, it ought to have a good engine. Thankfully, the GS offers the choice of two. The engine in the GS 300 is a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder, which makes 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, with an estimated 33 mpg return on the highway. It is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The GS 350, meanwhile, carries a 3.5L V6 unit that produces a very healthy 311 horsepower and 280-pound feet of torque. The GS 350 manages to hit 60 miles per hour in under 5.7 seconds while still averaging 23 mpg in combined highway/city driving. It too, is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, incorporating several nifty features taken from the IS-F high-performance sports sedan. Downshifts are automatically rev-matched and upshifts come with little hesitation. The transmission also features an "Eco" mode that revises the throttle mapping and climate control systems for a more fuel-efficient journey.
If power is one side of the sports sedan coin, handling is the other. Front upper and lower aluminum control arms reduce unsprung weight in the GS, improving agility, ride comfort and body control. These features, when combined with its stiff body shell, are what gives the GS its remarkable handling characteristics. Should drivers want even better handling, the F Sport package is available with Lexus' Dynamic Rear Steering. This 4-wheel steering system allows the rear wheels to automatically turn up to two degrees while cornering which aids turn-in and stability.
Although the GS is sportier and more extroverted than ever, it hasn't given up any of Lexus' trademark luxury. Standard interior gadgets include Bluetooth compatibility, SMS text-to-speech, HD Radio, satellite radio and of course a high-resolution 8-inch screen. This system is complemented by a 12-speaker surround sound stereo, though audiophiles can instead option up to the optional 17-speaker Mark Levinson unit.
The Premium package includes rain-sensing wipers, a power rear sunshade and heated and ventilated front seats. The Luxury Package builds on this, with nicer seats in the front, rear HVAC and audio controls, rear manual side sunshades, an Adaptive Front Lighting System, Adaptive Variable Suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels. Opt for the navigation system and Lexus will upgrade the center screen to a 12.3-inch high-resolution version. This screen is big enough to accommodate split screen or full screen viewing of things like maps, audio, climate and vehicle information.
The GS F is a different beast entirely with a 5.0L V8 producing 467 horsepower, it's a serious contender in the ultra-high-performance sedan class. The GS F mates this engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission, ensuring not just rapid acceleration, but a degree of refinement that is unmatched in its class. The suspension of the GS F has also been tuned with performance handling in mind so that it will corner as well as it accelerates and brakes.
Finally, the GS is also available as a hybrid in the GS 450h. An electric motor augments the standard 3.5L V6 to boost total horsepower output to 338 while reducing fuel consumption by 30 percent. The hybrid system makes the GS 450h the most fuel-efficient GS available with a combined EPA rating of 31 mpg.
Luxurious And Sporty
All-wheel And Hybrid Drivetrains Available
Incredible Refinement
Powerful Turbocharged And Naturally Aspirated Engines
The Lexus GS continues into 2019 essentially unchanged, though Lexus' Enform Remote now includes smart watch and Amazon Alexa skill integration.
The Lexus GS competes with midsize luxury sedans from Audi, BMW and Mercedes. With two available engines, sport-tuned suspension and performance-tuned F SPORT as GS F editions, the GS checks all boxes for a sports sedan. The availability of all-wheel drive and a hybrid drivetrain provide further diversity to the genre. The Lexus is packed with the latest technology, from its energy-efficient climate control system to Bluetooth connectivity to its advanced direct-injected powertrains, the Lexus GS can play with the best of the sport-luxury brands.
