Used 2015 Lexus GS 350

If a car has sporting pretentions, it ought to have a good engine. Thankfully the engine in the GS350 is a gem. It's a 3.5L V6 unit that produces a very healthy 306 horsepower. The engine features four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing and direct injection. The Lexus manages to hit 60 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds while still averaging 23 mpg in combined highway/city driving. The engine is mated to a state of the art 8-speed automatic transmission, incorporating several nifty features taken from the IS-F high performance sports sedan. Downshifts are automatically rev-matched and upshifts come with little hesitation. The transmission also features an 'Eco' mode that revises the throttle mapping and climate control systems for a more fuel efficient journey.

If power is one side of the sports sedan coin, handling is the other. Front upper and lower aluminum control arms reduce unsprung weight in the GS, improving agility, ride comfort and body control; while a newly designed rear subframe accommodates a multilink setup in the back. Overall the components are lighter and stronger. Combined with a stiffer body shell, they allow the GS to handle corners with aplomb. However should drivers want even better handling; the F Sport package is available with goodies such as Lexus' Dynamic Rear Steering system. This allows the rear wheels to automatically turn up to 2 degrees while cornering, aiding turn-in and stability.

Although the GS sportier and more extroverted than ever, it hasn't lost any of its trademark luxury. Standard interior gadgets include Bluetooth compatibility, SMS text-to-speech, HD Radio, satellite radio and of course a high-resolution 8-inch screen. This is complimented by a 12-speaker surround sound stereo, though audiophiles can instead go for the optional 17-speaker Mark Levinson unit boasting 835 watts.

The Premium package includes rain-sensing wipers, a power rear sunshade and heated and ventilated front seats. The Luxury Package builds on this, with nicer seats for in the front, rear HVAC and audio controls, rear manual side sunshades, an Adaptive Front Lighting System, Adaptive Variable Suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels. Opt for the navigation system and Lexus will upgrade the center screen to a 12.3-inch high-resolution version. This screen is big enough to accommodate split screen viewing of things like maps, audio, climate and vehicle information.

The GS F is new for 2015. The 5.0L V8 it utilizes produces 467 hp, enough to make it a serious contender in the ultra-high performance sedan class. The GS F mates this engine with a standard 8-speed automatic, ensuring not just rapid acceleration, but a degree of refinement that is unmatched by its competitors. The suspension of the GS F has also been worked over ensuring that the car is able to corner as well as it accelerates and brakes.

The 2015 Lexus GS is also available as a hybrid. The so-called GS 450h adds an electric motor to the standard 3.5L V6. The addition of this motor boosts total horsepower to 338, while simultaneously reducing fuel consumption by about 30 percent making the GS 450h the fastest and most fuel efficient GS available, with a combined EPA rating of 31 mpg.

Luxurious And Sporty

All-wheel And Hybrid Drivetrains Available

The GS350 gets a new and improved multimedia system for 2015, increasing interior sound quality and upping the technology quotient for the car. Expected later in 2015, is the GS F sedan, which slots above even the GS-350 F-Sport at the top of the GS performance ladder.

The Lexus GS competes with midsized sedans from luxury manufacturers such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes. With a powerful engine, sport-tuned suspension and available F SPORT as GS F editions; the GS checks all the right boxes for a sports sedan-- and the availability of options such as all-wheel-drive and a hybrid drivetrain provide further diversity to the genre. The Lexus is packed full of the latest gadgets and technology, from the latest energy-efficient climate control system to Bluetooth connectivity to the advanced direct injection engine, the Lexus GS is a thoroughly modern take on the midsized sports sedan.