Lexus GS 250 – the force of peace
Japanese alternative to German limousines. It doesn't shock with performance, but it makes up for it with very good driving performance and rich equipment. If only the price was cheaper...
The first three editions of the Lexus GS weren't aimed at people who like fast driving. Comfort was a priority. However, among those who want to buy an E-segment limousine, there is no shortage of those who want to experience sports experiences. BMW makes a fortune on M-packages for the BMW 5 Series, while Mercedes profits increase with AMG add-ons for the E-Class Lexus analyzed the situation and decided to live up to market expectations. The new GS has broken with the current frantic style and the F Sport version has been prepared for faster mileage enthusiasts.
At its debut, the fourth generation Lexus GS shocked with its predatory grille. The uniquely contoured front is already slightly dressed. Attempts to search for design delights in the sideline or in the rear of the body will be doomed to failure. The L-finesse concept is elegant in its simplicity. The plan is 100% completed. Lexus GS looks nobler and more original than the body of German limousines.
The interior of the Lexus GS has been well thought out. The choice of materials, the precision of the fit, the solidity of the assembly… There is nothing to complain about, but the devil is in the details. There are solid materials at the bottom of the dashboard. Some elements, such as the cruise control lever, were carried over alive from much cheaper Toyota vehicles. The 8-inch display of the multimedia system is a relevant solution, but a rough menu, not very sophisticated navigation or a specific control system with a manipulator modeled on a computer mouse slightly undermine a good impression. GS users would also like more storage space.
Armchairs in their class are spacious and comfortable, and the range of adjustments allows them to fit almost any figure. In the tested version of the F Sport, the seats were also heated and ventilated. It is impossible to complain about the spaciousness in the front of the cabin. In the second row, the space is limited by a high central tunnel and a sloping roofline. The best travel conditions will be for two people whose height does not exceed 1,8 meters.
The GS's adaptive suspension absorbs bumps effectively, but don't expect miracles in a sedan with 19-inch wheels. The driver and passengers receive a large amount of information about the condition of the road surface. Especially when the handlebar on the center tunnel activates the Sport or Sport+ modes, which stiffen the suspension as well as sharpen the throttle response, reduce the steering power and increase the revs at which the gearshift occurs.
The natural arena of the GS - intercity roads and highways - while driving at a constant speed, you can enjoy the silence in the cabin, unobtrusive engine and great-sounding audio system. The Japanese limousine also runs on serpentines crossing mountains and forests. Steering accuracy is reasonably good, and the torque transfer to the rear unloaded the steering system from the driving forces and ensured neutral control.
You don't have to worry about oversteer. The reserves in the multi-link suspension of both axles far exceed the capabilities of the GS 250 engine. The electronics also monitor the situation, and it is quite difficult to remove tires 235/40 R19 and 265/35 R19 from asphalt. . You can try. Lexus, like BMW, has equipped its limousine with a two-stage switch for traction control and ESP.
On paper, 8,6 seconds “to a hundred” and 230 km / h look good. In practice, there is not enough torque. The maximum 253 Nm is only available at 4800 rpm. For comparison, let's add that the turbocharged two-liter engine of the 184-horsepower BMW 520i produces 270 Nm in the range of 1250-4500 rpm. To encourage the Lexus GS 250 to drive dynamically, you have to push the gas hard and use high revs. The engine does not protest and, with a pleasant hoarseness, spins up to the red field of the tachometer.
In such situations, it makes sense to use paddle shifters and select gears manually. The box electronics are reluctant to manage the reductions, which in a naturally aspirated 2.5 V6 that doesn't produce impressive bursts of torque, effectively degrades the dynamics. Once the speed has stabilized, you can return to automatic mode. The gearbox will quickly shift to the highest possible gear, and the cabin will be quiet.
Not only the power unit is well damped. A drag coefficient of 0,27 means that when driving fast, there is no noise from the air flowing around the body, and maintaining highway speeds does not cause an avalanche increase in fuel consumption. This does not mean that the Lexus GS 250 indulges in low fuel consumption. The manufacturer claims that in the combined cycle, the car should consume 8,9 l / 100 km. During the test, the readings of the on-board computer fluctuated between 11-12 l / 100 km. Buying a limousine like the Lexus GS usually saves fuel in terms of range. This is not a record. When driving fast, gas stations must be visited every 400-500 km.
Prices for the Lexus GS 250 start at PLN 193. They were helped by a higher excise tax rate, which is avoided by German limousines with engines of no more than two liters. For the basic versions of the Audi A900, BMW 6 series and Mercedes E-class, you need to prepare 5-174 thousand. zloty. After a thorough analysis of the proposals, it turns out that the price of Lexus is not too high. The GS receives as standard solutions those placed on option lists from competitors. Suffice it to mention sensors and a parking camera, power front seats, LED interior lighting, automatic transmission, cruise control and a three-spoke steering wheel.
The price of the GS 250 F Sport version is harder to swallow. Lexus has priced the sports limousine at PLN 279. In addition to the elements found in the basic version, we can look forward to, among other things, an aerodynamic package, 500-inch wheels, perforated leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, a blind spot monitoring system, a rear window blind or power trunk lid.
That's enough money for a limousine that has much better performance and delivers even more driving pleasure. Suffice it to mention the BMW 528i (from PLN 198 thousand), BMW 535i (from PLN 242 thousand) or Mercedes E 400 (from PLN 271 thousand).
Steep calculations rarely determine the purchase of a premium car. Customers usually choose the car they feel best in. The Lexus GS 250 F Sport lacks greed, but otherwise can be enjoyed. However, the most impressive is the leap that occurred between the third and fourth generations of the Japanese limousine.
