2010 LEXUS GS 350: More power, less price: This Lexus is a potent pleaser

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/07/2009 (6286 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

IT’S been several years since I had been behind the wheel of one of Lexus’s GS series of mid-sized sport sedans. The last time was with the GS 300 AWD with the then-new availability of all-wheel drive.

Its significance at that time was that it was the first Lexus automobile to be fitted with the drivetrain, joining the ranks of other luxury Japanese makes in offering the traction-enhancing system.

Infiniti with its G35x and M35x and Acura’s RL (and now TL) had also gotten in on the act. On the European side, Audi had been exploiting all-wheel drive for years, while Mercedes, BMW, Volvo and Saab had also seen benefits to adding AWD to models in markets where snow was a significant factor for at least a portion of the year.

The biggest difference in the intervening years is that Lexus has anted up more power for the base GS and changed the numeric portion of the name as a result. As the GS 350, the fastback four-door certainly benefits from the stronger personality of the 303-horsepower, 3.5-litre DOHC V-6. No, the extra ponies don’t alter the fundamental fact the GS is more of a grand tourer than an out-and-out sport sedan, but the car’s increased athleticism is duly noted. Having another 58 h. (the GS 300 was fitted with a 245-hp, 3.0 L V-6) in a car with a curb weight of more than 1,700 kilograms will do this.

When I say grand tourer, that shouldn’t be construed as a negative in any sense. Lexus has always had the smarts to call the GS a "performance luxury" sedan rather than using the "sport" descriptor, acknowledging the brand’s desire to indulge the driver (and passengers) as much as involve him or her.

That said, the GS 350 will respond when the gas pedal is prodded.

The V-6 is hooked up to a close-ratio six-speed automatic transmission with a sequential manual-shifting mode. The manual mode is precise (although not as lightning quick as, say, Audi’s DSG or Porsche’s PDK units) and extracts maximum acceleration out of the car (zero to 100 kilometres an hour in about seven seconds). Fuel economy for the week was a reasonable 11 litres per 100 kilometres in my customary mix of highway and city/suburban driving — premium unleaded recommended.

Though not set up to tackle the Monte Carlo rally’s Col de Turini, the GS 350 AWD will not embarrass itself on a curvy bit of road. There’s slightly more lean when one gets aggressive on an on-ramp, but the tires stay glued to the road. Plus, it’s just plain comforting to know that the all-wheel-drive system has your back when the weather chooses not to co-operate. Plus, in addition to AWD, the GS 350 is equipped with additional safety items such as vehicle stability control and traction control, Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (a sophisticated handling and control system), Hill-Start Assist, ABS and an assortment of air bags.

The biggest surprise in the three years since I last drove the GS AWD is how much it’s come down in price. The GS 300 I tested then had a list price of $66,700 for the AWD model; the 2009 GS 350 is a far more affordable $53,900.

And, I didn’t see any overt cost-cutting measures to cheapen the product.

— Canwest News Service

THE SPECS:

Type of vehicle: All-wheel drive mid-sized luxury sport sedan

Engine: 3.5 L DOHC V6

Power: 303 hp 6,200 rpm; 274 ft-lbs. of torque 4,800 rpm

Transmission: Six-speed manumatic

Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS

Tires: P225/50R17

Transport Canada fuel economy L/100 km: 11.1 city, 7.8 hwy.

Price: base/as tested: $53,900/same

Destination charge: $1,895

Standard features: Dual-zone automatic climate control with cabin air filter, power tilt and telescopic steering column, cruise control, power door locks, power sunroof, Lexus Smart Key System, push-button start, power windows with auto up/down function, premium AM/FM/CD audio system with 10 speakers and Bluetooth capability, 10-way, power-adjustable front leather seats with lumbar support and heat, electro-chromatic rear-view mirror.