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Sporting edge sharpens luxury Lexus

Lexus GS 450h F Sport E-CVT car test review
STRONGER styling and a more sporting appearance are the mix for the new Lexus GS. But does the recipe work?

Car review: Sam Hardy

Lexus GS F Sport rear
Agile: Great to be in but not so great to look at?

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17 May 2012

 

Lexus luxury: Even more to enjoy about this increasingly popular executive car

 

Lexus GS 450h F Sport E-CVT

Car review by Sam Hardy

What is it?

The start of something new, Lexus says. The fourth-generation GS is meant to herald a new dawn of interesting to look at, great to drive cars as Lexus wants to move on from its image of producing very reliable and well-equipped models and inject some excitement.

So the latest Lexus GS, a business car rival in the BMW 5 Series executive car class, is all-new: it’s wider and taller and has a re-designed body. The interior has been heavily revised with a vast new central digital display, while the engine range even has a 207bhp 2.5-litre V6 for the entry-level GS 250. The only other model is the GS 450h hybrid which comes with an updated 338bhp 3.5-litre V6 and electric motor combo. It’s available in M Sport-style F Sport trim with lots of handling gizmos aimed at making it fun to drive. There’s no diesel, but Lexus is planning an entry-level petrol hybrid which is said to compete with the BMW 520d on emissions and fuel economy.

That’s not for a while though – in the meantime the GS range has arrived in Lexus showrooms with the GS 250 costing from £32,995 and the GS 450h from £44,995, which we’ve tested in F Sport trim.

 

What’s hot

  •  It certainly looks more distinctive at the front with LED running lights…
  •  …and a dramatic new grille. F Sport versions get a racy bodykit and 19-inch alloysInside the cabin has taken a big step forward. There are high-quality leathers…
  • …metals and even bamboo. A Maserati-style clock finishes things off nicely
  •  The centre screen is huge and can be upgraded to 12.3-inches
  • Equipment levels are still extremely generous with standard satnav and parking cameras and a very sophisticated air-con system
  • There’s more space inside and the hybrid batteries have been repositioned so the boot is 60 percent bigger
  •  The hybrid engine is fast: it can do 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds but
  •  …it also returns 47.8mpg (up from 36.7mpg) and 137g/km (down from 179g/km)
  • So if you want one as a company car then the company car tax is just 19% for the GS 450h Luxury E-CVT in 2012/13
  •  Adaptive suspension makes for a smooth ride and the new chassis offers greater stability while the steering has more weight
  • The F Sport has four-wheel steering and a variable steering rack and feels very agile indeed
  • It’s still a great high-speed cruiser, the engine settling to a hush on the motorway, the big seats soothing away the miles
  • Safety kit includes lane departure warning, adaptive cruise and collision mitigation
  •  The optional Mark Levinson stereo is incredible
  • Lexus dealers treat you like absolute royalty

What’s not?

 

  •  Apart from the front end the rest of the design just looks a little bland
  •  The CVT gearbox is hesitant and causes the engine to drone when you demand lots of acceleration
  •  We’re dubious of Lexus’ economy claims as hybrids rarely get anyway near their posted figures
  •  A BMW 5 Series is more engaging to drive and feels better built. Plus there are a  wide range of diesels to choose from, including now an EfficientDynamics version
  •  The GS 450h F Sport costs a hefty £50,995
  •  The old GS didn’t have great residuals. Will the new one be any better?

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Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton is an award-winning journalist and the founder of Business Car Manager (now renamed Business Motoring). Ralph writes extensively about the car and van leasing industry as well as wider fleet and company car issues. A former editor of What Car?, Ralph is a vastly experienced writer and editor and has been writing about the automotive sector for over 35 years.

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