Lexus GS

The GS at a glance

The GS sat between the compact Lexus IS and the flagship LS. Its whole story, from Italdesign styling to a hybrid V6, mirrors how Lexus as a brand grew from one luxury saloon into a full range.

How the GS changed by generation

First generation (S140, 1993–1997)

Italdesign Giugiaro started drawing the car in 1988, and it reached Japanese buyers in October 1991 as the Toyota Aristo. Export production of the Lexus GS 300 began on 22 February 1993. It used the 3.0-litre 2JZ-GE straight-six with 169 kW (227 hp) and a four-speed automatic, and its drag coefficient was 0.31. Japanese Aristo buyers could also choose the twin-turbo 2JZ-GTE with 205 kW, an engine later famous in the Toyota Supra.

Second generation (S160, 1997–2005)

The in-house design of 1997 brought a sharper shape, a five-speed automatic and the GS 400 with a 4.0-litre V8 producing 224 kW (300 hp). After the 2001 update the V8 grew to 4.3 litres in the GS 430, and xenon headlights became part of the package. This GS was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year in 1998 and gave the model its best US sales year.

Third generation (S190, 2005–2011)

Designed under Yasuhide Hosoda and launched in January 2005, the third GS had a drag coefficient of 0.27 and offered all-wheel drive on the V6 versions. The 3.0-litre GS 300 was joined by the 3.5-litre GS 350 with 226 kW and, for 2008, the GS 460 with a 4.6-litre V8 and an eight-speed automatic. The GS 450h of 2006 was the first mass-produced rear-drive luxury hybrid, pairing a 3.5 V6 with two electric motors for 253 kW of system power.

Fourth generation (L10, 2012–2020)

Shown at Pebble Beach in August 2011, the last GS went on sale in early 2012 on a new platform with aluminium suspension parts. In its 2012–2015 form it was 4,850 mm long, 1,840 mm wide and 1,455 mm high. The facelift shown in August 2015 lengthened it to 4,890 mm and added the 2.0-litre turbo GS 200t. The GS F arrived for the 2016 model year.

Lexus GS engines and performance

The table covers the fourth generation, the version most buyers look at today.

Lexus quoted 0–100 km/h in 8.6 seconds and 225 km/h for the GS 250, 6.3 seconds for the all-wheel-drive GS 350 and 5.9 seconds with 250 km/h for the GS 450h. In the US the 450h's combined rating was 31 mpg against 23 mpg for the GS 350, a gain of about 35 %.

The GS F turns the saloon into a sports car. Its V8 revs to 7,100 rpm for peak power, uses Atkinson-cycle operation when cruising and drives through a torque-vectoring rear differential with Standard, Slalom and Track modes. Compared with the GS 350, it has about 115 kW more, an increase of roughly 50 %. See how the GS stands against other fast four-doors in the 1cars ranking of the most powerful saloons.

Cabin, boot and technology

The fourth-generation cabin uses a wide dashboard with an 8-inch or 12.3-inch central display, controlled by the Remote Touch joystick on the centre console. Drive modes run from Eco and Normal to Sport S and Sport S+, and the instrument lighting changes colour with the mode. The standard audio system had 12 speakers, while the optional Mark Levinson system had 17.

Lexus quoted 530 litres of boot space for the GS 350 and 465 litres for the GS 450h, whose battery sits behind the rear seat. Rear legroom is good, but the transmission tunnel makes the middle seat a perch for short trips. F Sport versions add 19-inch wheels, larger brakes, adaptive dampers and, on some cars, rear-wheel steering.

Running costs and reliability

The GS has a strong reliability record: it collected J.D. Power initial-quality awards from 2002 to 2005, and Consumer Reports gave it the best predicted reliability in its class in 2005. The hybrids save fuel mainly in town, and their CVT systems avoid clutches and torque converters. Running costs are still those of a large luxury saloon: big brakes, wide tyres and V8 insurance add up.

Lexus quoted about 9 l/100 km for the GS 250 and 10.2 l/100 km for the GS 350 AWD in mixed driving. A kerb weight of 1,721–1,865 kg means real consumption rises quickly with a heavy right foot. Put your own mileage into the 1cars fuel cost calculator before choosing between petrol and hybrid.

Safety equipment

The second-generation GS earned a "Good" rating in IIHS frontal crash testing for 1999 and later cars. The third generation added knee and side torso airbags, adaptive headlights, an optional radar pre-collision system and, on the GS 450h, an infrared driver monitor.

The fourth generation carries ten airbags, LED daytime running lights and a stiffer high-strength-steel body. Options included blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance, a head-up display and the pre-collision system. We found no Euro NCAP rating for the fourth-generation GS, so compare it with rivals using IIHS data and the equipment list.

Rivals: how the GS compares

The German rivals sold far better in Europe largely because they offered diesels, which the GS never had. The Lexus answered with petrol-electric hybrids, stronger reliability and a better dealer reputation. Any two of these cars can be lined up in the 1cars comparison tool.