A longtime member of the Lexus family, the GS blends sporty handling with the convenience of a midsize four-door sedan. Redesigning of the GS for 2013 gave Toyota’s luxury car division a worthy competitor to premium-class German and American models, including the BMW 5 Series and Cadillac CTS. Only two versions were offered initially: the GS 350 and GS 450h hybrid, both with V6 engines. Two more joined the lineup for 2016: the GS 200t with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a super-performance GS F. Adding the optional F Sport package can enhance the pleasure of driving the GS 200t.
What's New for 2017
Little has changed, except that the previously optional Lexus Safety System + has become standard equipment.
Choosing Your Lexus GS 200t
Beneath the hood of each GS 200t, a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine develops 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque (versus 311 for the GS 350). The sedan comes only with rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission, whereas an all-wheel-drive system is available for the GS 350. Paddle shifters are included.
Acceleration to 60 mph takes 7.2 seconds, according to Lexus, compared to 5.7 seconds for the GS 350. Fuel economy is estimated at 22 mpg in city driving and 32 mpg on the highway (26 mpg combined), dropping to 21/30 mpg in F Sport form. In contrast, the GS 350 gets an estimate of 20/28 mpg (city/highway), or 19/27 mpg with the F Sport package.
Only one basic trim level is offered, plus the F Sport option:
Opting for the turbo four-cylinder rather than a V6 cuts down on performance, but boosts fuel economy significantly. You also save $3,410 by choosing the GS 200t rather than a rear-drive GS 350. Even in standard trim, the GS 200t is quite luxurious and well-equipped. Turning to the F Sport option might enhance GS 200t handling somewhat, but it doesn’t affect performance.The Cascada Premium trim brings in additional safety features and adds navigation, offering a complete package for this model line. Although only $1,000 more, the Sport Touring trim doesn’t offer anything beyond decorative updates to justify spending an extra grand on this model.