A longtime member of the Lexus family dating back to 1993, the GS blends the convenience of a midsize four-door sedan with sporty handling. As a result, the Japanese-brand luxury car builder fields a worthy competitor to the BMW 5 Series and Cadillac CTS.
Four versions are available: GS 350, GS 450h hybrid, new GS 200t turbo, and super-performance GS F. Adding the optional F Sport package to the GS 350 can make it even more enjoyable, even if performance isn’t significantly affected.
What's New for 2017
Little has changed, except that the Lexus Safety System+ has become standard equipment. A limited-slip differential is now optional for the rear-drive F Sport.
Choosing Your Lexus GS 350
Lexus has a refreshingly simple selection process for its GS 350, with no traditional trim levels to choose from. Instead, there’s a single Base version with available packages, although the F Sport package is priced as a separate model.
Under the hood of each GS 350, a 3.5-liter V6 produces 311 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but an all-wheel-drive system is available. Rear-drive models use an eight-speed automatic transmission, and AWD sedans get a six-speed unit. Paddle shifters are included.
Fuel economy is estimated at 20 mpg in city driving and 28 mpg on the highway (23 mpg combined). All-wheel drive drops these figures to 19/26 mpg (city/highway), similar to the estimate for the F Sport edition. Acceleration to 60 mph is achievable in 5.7 seconds, according to Lexus.
Even in base form, the GS 350 is amply luxurious and priced well below, say, a BMW 535i. Opting for the Luxury package still keeps the total fairly reasonable, while providing just about all of the amenities that most discerning buyers seem to desire. Moving over to F Sport might enhance handling, but it doesn’t affect performance.