Luxury sedans may not have the same ring to them they used to have. Modern drivers looking for luxury in smaller packages often gravitate towards crossovers, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for a well-built luxury sedan with universal appeal in today’s market. It does, however, mean that that room is tinier and more competitive than ever before. In order to stand out in the crowd, luxury sedans needs to come packed with pizazz now-a-days and if that pizazz comes in the form of an F Sport package from Lexus, I’m all good with that. Lexus is already well-known for luxury sedans and the GS has been one of the company’s premier vehicles for years. But does it have pizazz and is up to the task of balance both luxury and accessibility? And just how important is the optional F Sport package? (Spoiler alert: it’s crucial)
More Style Than You Can Shake a Cat at
I received the keys to a 2018 Lexus GS 300 and for a week I put I through its paces, finding reasonable and realistic ways to utilize the powerhouse underneath the hood. A gorgeous electric blue paint job was the first piece of eye candy that I was treated to; it’s a deeply rich color that simply pops in both day and night. This electric blue friggin’ compliments the GS stylings to a tee; I’ve seen this model in other colors and they don’t look nearly as bad-ass. The sharp angles of Lexus’s signature hourglass-shaped, “spindle” grill are still one of my favorite styling cues of any modern sedan and it’s nice to see those angles carried through the body and into the rear of the car. I’m nitpicking here, but I wish Lexus would add a little more character to the side panels besides the protruding lip on the bottom of the doors.
Hopping into the GS, I was greeted with some modest luxury and swanky materials that cohesively work really well together. The leather wrapped buckets seats and trimming on the middle console came complete with muted red highlights that meshed ever so smoothly. A honeycomb texture added a touch of fun and class to the dash’s trim; sit in the front seat and I dare you not to reach out and run your hand over it. Controls for the infotainment center are placed in the middle console with Lexus’s stunted, leather wrapped knob controller taking center stage. Like some technological witchcraft, the knob floats effortless above the console pad it sits on and somehow physical locks into place when the on-screen cursor lands on menu selections. It’s not quite as accurate as Mazda’s user-friendly, infotainment knob control but I prefer this over Lexus’ “laptop trackpad” controller found in the LC.
I absolutely dig the GS’ understated front dash design, particularly the layout of the infotainment screen and temperature controls. The minimalist inspired design is a fantastic mix of class and style. There’s just enough silver trim to counter the black plastic and leather, creating a nice balance of muted contrast that allows for the red portions of the center console and the seat’s leather to pop. Another small but genius design choice that shouldn’t be over-looked is the recessed infotainment screen sunken slightly back into the dash. Its a large, bright screen and doesn’t need to take center stage. Placed back into the dash means that other luxury elements, like the classic Lexus analog clock, don’t get lost.
Engineering Wizardry
Lexus offers the GS in three engine configurations: a turbo-4, a V-6, and a V-6 hybrid. While I’m certainly curious about the V-6 Hybrid engine, the review vehicle I tested came with the turbo-4 configuration: a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine that produces 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission but curiously it doesn’t have direct injection. Injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber of each cylinder might have improved acceleration, and perhaps fuel economy, so I’m surprised its not included here. Direct injection is indeed included in the V-6 model.
Despite the smaller engine, the GS 300 was a joy to drive and has enough raw power to satisfy most thrill seekers but still nicely comfortable enough to maintain its posh reputation. Cabin noise was minimal and handling was unexpectedly smooth. Of course, with a color this vibrant and a F Sport packaged attached, it would be a crime to simply take this GS on a leisurely Sunday drive. Every opportunity I had to open up the engine and evaluate the handling, I took it. Overall, the GS is a pretty darn well rounded experience.
The cabin is free from outside noise, even at top speeds, and it felt very agile, even when presented with erratic movements. Handling was beautifully on point but some of that engineering wizardry might come from the adaptive suspension that paired with the active steering. These are the type of variable ratios that the F Sport package brings to the table. With Sport mode activated the GS feels closer to the ground, allowing for crisp handling around sharp corners. The only area where the car felt less than stellar was in the acceleration department – the transmission feels, and sounds, like it was over compensating to hit 0 to 60 mph in 7 seconds. I had much more fun, and the climb felt much more natural, while using the paddle shifters.
What the F is the F Sport Package.
The F Sport package is Lexus/Toyota’s answer to the phrase “ratchet it up a notch.” It’s a package of options offer nifty additions to the base model of the car, enhancing performance and styling.
The F Sport package for the GS adds 19-inch staggered-width wheels and tires (single width with all-season tires for AWD), larger front brakes (RWD only), adaptive dampers with Sport S+ mode, a limited-slip differential (GS 350 RWD only), variable-ratio steering (RWD and 350 only), a rear lip spoiler, F Sport badging, a unique front bumper and rear lower valance, mesh front grille inserts, aluminum exterior trim, aluminum interior trim, aluminum pedals and door scuff plates, a 16-way power sport driver’s seat, unique perforated leather trim, and a black headliner.
Your My Boy, Blue!
The Lexus GS is known for its reliability and at the price point this is a quality it should possess. I could see myself in it a something I drive on a daily basis so even though the msrp for the base model is $46,510, the GS is a sound investment. When that comes to luxury sedans that starting price is right in the middle of the road but the GS has an advantage: alot of the features that cost extra on other luxury sedans in this class come included in the GS.
I’d opt for the F Sport package too. It adds a few K to the price but it’s a worthwhile addition that can be felt everytime you take it out for a spin. Oh, and opt for the electric blue paint job too. It’s wicked sharp and guaranteed to turn heads.
