GS Lexus GS450h Long Term Test (Road & Track)

[Bruce]

Its quiet, comfortable and powerful character make long drives effortless.
By Jonathan Elfalan • Photo by Jeff Allen


October 2007

[image no longer available]assets/image/2007/W35/8272007173024.jpg

Surprisingly, there are still many people who struggle to grasp the concept of a performance hybrid. They see the word "hybrid" followed by the less-than-stellar EPA estimated fuel mileage, and are completely befuddled because "aren't hybrids supposed to get 50 mpg minimum?" If only they could spend a day behind the wheel of our long-term GS 450h, they would appreciate the amount of performance Lexus squeezes out of 25.6 mpg.

The interior of our Lexus, as light-colored as it is, has held up well considering the amount of use. Regardless, we felt the need to pamper it with a detailing, inside and out. We've recently undergone our 30K service and are now nipping at a total mileage of 35K. We tiptoed through our first set of Bridgestones with utmost efficiency, as the dealer who completed our latest service swears he has never seen a set last as long as ours — now that's bewildering!

"The GS 450h is driving pleasure. Its quiet, comfortable and powerful character make long drives effortless, and I often found myself looking forward to passing trucks on a two-lane road just so I had an excuse to stand on it a bit. I am not so fond of the luggage space nor the drop-down door housing buttons such as the gas-flap release. It's easy to bang your knee against it should you forget to put it up."
— Cheryl Cooper

Production Editor
"This car is rad! All the features kept me overwhelmed, from the seat that keeps your rear end on ice to the deafening sound system. I found the navigation screen a bit hard to read in direct sunlight due to glare, and the function layout is a little confusing for first-timers (so many buttons!) This car really takes off when you punch it, which is cool for a hybrid, but an indicated 19 mpg? I get that much in my Silverado."
— Ryan Dudek
Cycle World Off-Road Editor

ROADandTRACK.com -- Long Term Road Tests - 2007 Lexus GS 450h (10/2007)

 

[cawimmer430]

It's definitely a great car, though for some reason I can't picture these words together:

PERFORMANCE + LEXUS GS

I mean the customers who buy these cars don't strike me as really seeking a performance machine. Here in Europe, whenever I see a Lexus GS, which isn't often, I see an old geezer behind the wheel - even behind the hybrid (Lexus markets them as fuel efficient cars here though).

Lexus is great at marketing, so I guess people think this is a performance hybrid after all. If Lexus really wants a car that get's superb fuel economy over long distances, they need to combine a diesel engine with a hybrid motor. Best of both worlds.

 

[Bruce]

If Lexus really wants a car that get's superb fuel economy over long distances, they need to combine a diesel engine with a hybrid motor. Best of both worlds.

That'd be interesting. I'd certainly welcome that.

 

[Merc1]

I drove this car at the Taste of Lexus. Power is tremendous and seamless. I've always liked the GS' interior, it is the exterior I can't stand.

M

 

[Bruce]

I drove this car at the Taste of Lexus. Power is tremendous and seamless. I've always liked the GS' interior, it is the exterior I can't stand.

M

Understandable Marcus. Even I have trouble digesting the GS's exterior design. Certain angles I think to myself, "hell yeah" - while other angles I think it looks like a bloated Nissan Maxima. Ughh...

Overall, I'll take the 2nd generation anyday; which by the way, is one of my absolute favourite Lexus'..

 

[Merc1]

Understandable Marcus. Even I have trouble digesting the GS's exterior design. Certain angles I think to myself, "hell yeah" - while other angles I think it looks like a bloated Nissan Maxima. Ughh...

Overall, I'll take the 2nd generation anyday; which by the way, is one of my absolute favourite Lexus'..

In a classic case of turnabout, the current Maxima of course got its look from the 2nd generation GS you speak about. Unfair to Lexus but Nissan is the problem here not Lexus, for once.

M

 

[Bruce]

In a classic case of turnabout, the current Maxima of course got its look from the 2nd generation GS you speak about.

M

Agreed.