The Lexus GS model was redesigned in 2006, and is one of Toyota's most advanced vehicles in technology. For 2009 there have been no significant changes made to the GS luxury sedan. I have to admit I was not all that excited when I found out I would be getting the Lexus GS450h ($56,550) to test drive for the week In the past, the Lexus sedans I have tested have been too soft for my taste.
I have a fondness for the German luxury sedans that are built for the kind of roads and driving I do in the Denver area near Evergreen. Generally Lexus appeals to a more sophisticated buyer looking for comfort and luxury and someone not all that interested in performance. But after driving the Lexus GS450 hybrid, I came away impressed by this automobile.
The first thing I liked was the Matador Red Mica color, the rear spoiler, and the 18” 5-spoke 245/40R18 sport wheels. Before I even drove it, I knew something was different about this car. After getting in the expected luxurious interior of the GS450, I noticed the Adaptive Variable Suspension setting and immediately switched it from normal to sport mode. So I set out to see if this car was just pretending to look like a sports sedan, or if it really was the real deal. I could tell right away that the AVS sport suspension mode made a difference in the way the car handled. Cornering on the mountain roads where I live felt tight with very little body lean, unlike most Lexus sedans I have driven.
The GS 450h is the hybrid version which combines the 3.5-liter V6 with two electric motors for improved power and fuel economy. The GS 450h hybrid is actually the quickest of the GS sedans, getting from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. Fuel economy for the GS 450h is rated 22/25 mpg City/Highway according to the government's EPA rating. The GS 450h uses the same 3.5-liter V6 as the GS 350, but it is mated with two electric motors to produce an equivalent 340 horsepower.
The GS450h's powertrain is a technological marvel. The gas engine doesn't start until it's needed, and it shuts off at stoplights, so the car still has power with the engine off. The electric motors are capable of powering the car at low speeds and thus saving fuel. The powertrain is more impressive, though, when you hit the gas and find it's faster than Lexus's impressive new V8. The smooth CVT will leave many drivers missing the rewarding climb through the gears of a conventional automatic, but using the manual shift mode with its six preset gear ratios can remedy that.
Coming up I-70 near Genesee, I tested the performance of the 340 horsepower V6 hybrid. In the steepest part of the grade when most vehicles begin to gasp for air, the GS450h had power to spare. The 3.5-liter V6 is responsive and just plain fast! The GS 450h is the first true hybrid vehicle to be driven by the rear wheels, and withrear-wheel drive, the GS450h can begin to compete with the German sports sedans from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes.
The only issue I have with the GS450 is that it took me three days to figure out how to adjust the passenger and drivers outside mirrors. There is a button that is located on the left side of the steering column hidden behind the steering wheel that you have to push that opens a door to the controls.
Toyota usually has very easy to use controls, but this one had me baffled on why they chose to hide it behind a door. Technology is good but they may have gone too far on this one. Options on the GS450h that I drove had a navigation system with voice recognition ($1,850) which includes a rear backup camera; Mark Levinson 330-watt audio system with 7.1 surround sound, DVD Audio playback, and integrated navigation and backup camera ($3,630); active vehicle stabilizer system ($3,320); and a rear spoiler ($200).The GS450h come well equipped with front and rear park assist, rain-sensing wipers, power rear sunshade, and headlight washers and comes with high performance P245/40ZR18 tires. Unfortunately all-wheel drive is not available on the GS450h model.
The all-wheel-drive GS 350 AWD which is more suited for Denver drivers features a fast-acting, clutch-type center differential that sends 70 percent of the power to the rear wheels under normal circumstances to help foster the dynamics of a rear-wheel-drive car. When wheel sensors detect slippery road conditions, as much as 50 percent of engine power is diverted to the front wheels to increase the car's overall traction on the road. If the GS450 hybrid version had all-wheel-drive, it would be a perfect Denver vehicle.
The Lexus GS450h combines precision technology with lavish, luxurious appointments. It delivers a high standard of automotive performance, and is fun to drive. There are amazing examples of automotive technology that are included as standard equipment, and the driver is never aware of them. The Lexus GS does everything you ask, and yet it always feels effortless. Once they offer all-wheel-drive on the hybrid model, the European manufactures will have some real competition.
source: examiner
