Lexus GS350 is a luxury sports sedan that is available in either a RWD or AWD configuration. According to Lexus, GS350 luxury sedan competes with BMW 5 Series, Acura RL and Mercedes-Benz E-Class with the V6 power plants. So how does this expensive sports sedan from Lexus fare against its competition? Read the rest of the review to find out.
The GS has always been one of the most sought after vehicles in the Lexus line-up. While the LS attracts mostly older crowd, GS has the ability to attract your 30-40 year olds that are higher up in the corporate ladder. Lexus has maintained that GS has a futuristic style which has carried over from the 2010 model year. The front of the GS needs some getting used to but the long hood with the trade-mark Lexus emblem flows in nicely with the rest of the car. The GS has been designed with the aerodynamics in mind so the windshield along with the A-pillars and the roof flow back towards the rear of the car.
Interior of the GS is designed to fit five passengers comfortably and comes with standard luxury features such as the Navigation System with Bluetooth, Backup Camera and XM Satellite Radio. What we have learned over the years is that Lexus interior is really the true definition of Luxury and this GS is no different. High quality leather seats greet you when you first step in along with a smartly designed dash. We have always loved the way Lexus engineers place the various buttons on the dash thus making them easily reachable. 10-speaker audio system is well suited for the GS and comes with 6-CD indash changer, XM Satellite Tuner and Bluetooth audio streaming.
GS350 comes standard with the 3.5 liter V6 that is rated at 303 horsepower and 274 pound-feet of torque mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Our test vehicle was equipped with the optional All-wheel Drive system that made use of the Hydraulic controls to vary the front/rear torque split from 30/70 to 50/50. This innovative system according to Lexus provides the performance of a rear-wheel drive with the traction of an all-wheel drive. We were lucky enough to test our AWD GS in Atlanta rain and to tell you the truth we were truly impressed. It’s amazing how a huge luxury sedan like GS can stay under control while we were throwing it on the curvy roads in rain. And the same GS behaved like a track machine when it was put on a straight line in a sunny weather. Lexus has tuned the suspension and steering in a way that the GS is a treat to drive especially on a long journey.
And when talking about Lexus, it’s tough not to mention all the safety features that every Lexus comes with. The GS is loaded with the safety features like Front seat-mounted airbags, adaptive cruise control, curtain airbags to name a few.
So to sum it all up, who should really look at purchasing a GS350 AWD? Well first if you have the cash to spend and are looking for a car that delivers pure luxury while carrying 4-5 people then the GS is for you. Opt for the AWD system if you are going to run across winter weather or just want to experience a better driving experience like us.
