Used 2019 Lexus GS

In the 2019 Lexus GS, buyers will find a smart and stylish luxury sedan exhibiting multiple personalities. For the frugal-luxury buyers, there’s the 4-cylinder turbocharged GS 300, offering acceptable levels of performance with an added emphasis on luxury and quality. Those wanting a bit more power will be more than pleased with the 311-horsepower V6 in the GS 350, while drivers shopping the cars like the Audi S6 and Mercedes-Benz AMG E43 might be just as thrilled to climb behind the wheel of the 467-horsepower Lexus GS F. Regardless of choice, every GS sedan comes backed by Lexus’ superb dealer network and promises exemplary resale and reliability ratings.

Our time in the V6-powered GS 350 left us with a positive impression of a smart midsize-luxury sedan delivering competent handling, impressive acceleration, a smooth ride and, when equipped with the F-Sport package, thrilling cornering abilities. The GS’ rigid architecture, lightweight aluminum suspension and wide track all aid in the car’s on-road performance, as does the 3-setting Drive Mode (Eco, Normal and Sport) that allows the driver to vary the degree of steering response and throttle input. The F-Sport package opens the door to even better options like Lexus’ Dynamic Handling system. If you’re comparing apples to apples, we’d place the GS slightly below the BMW 5 Series but on par with the ride and handling abilities of the Audi A6 and Jaguar XF.

In typical Lexus style, the 2019 GS luxury sedan is wrapped in the finest leather and wood, augmented by the latest Lexus technology. Both driver and passenger enjoy 10-way-adjustable power seats, while the entire cabin is bathed in light, including subtle rays from the door ornamentation and center console. Contrasting stitching adorns the door panels, instrument top pad and shift boot. The dash design isn’t as complex or elegant as in an Audi A6 or a BMW 5 Series, but the big 8- and 12-inch high-res-color control screens certainly make an impression. Too bad the Remote Touch Interface hasn’t quite been perfected, leaving us wishing for system more like Audi’s MMI.

Not for the shy, the Lexus GS luxury-performance sedan is a boldly styled piece of road-going art. It leads with an aggressive front-end treatment with an oversized grille, deep chin spoiler and intense expression. Distinctive headlights and LED taillights fit its sporting image, as do its muscular lines, highly defined shapes and low stance. The GS 350 is fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels, while the F Sport Package and GS F add 19-inch wheels. Rich and varied paint options are a pleasant departure from the ubiquitous sea of silver, white and black.

LEXUS SAFETY SYSTEM+
With more distractions taking driver attention away from the road, it’s nice to know the 2019 Lexus GS comes standard with such helpful assistants as a lane-departure warning and assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams and pre-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection.

LEXUS ENFORM REMOTE
This latest upgrade to the Lexus Enform system allows for remote viewing and operation of certain features via a smartphone, smartwatch or Amazon Alexa-enabled device. The remote system allows owners to lock or unlock doors, start/stop the engine, adjust climate control, locate the vehicle and even monitor guest drivers.

The Lexus Safety System+ package comes standard on the GS. The state-of-the-art system includes Pre-Collision System Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Intelligent High Beam and High-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. All 2019 Lexus GS models include leather upholstery (NuLuxe simulated leather on the GS 300), wood/metallic accent trim, power moonroof, multifunction steering wheel and energy-saving S-flow automatic climate control. The standard Lexus Premium Audio System has 12 speakers, AM/FM/DVD with HD Radio and WMA/MP3 capability, Bluetooth streaming, 5.1 Surround Sound and numerous other features.

The 2019 Lexus GS 300 with a Premium Package includes heated and ventilated front seats, while a Cold Weather Package on the GS 350 AWD adds headlight washers, wiper de-icers and water-repellant front door glass. The F Sport Package makes any Lexus more fun to drive and brings 16-way driver’s sport seat, custom-tuned AVS, bigger wheels, tires and brakes along with Variable Gear Ratio Steering. Among the more notable stand-alone options are an HDD 12.3-inch Navigation system with Enform apps, a heated steering wheel, power trunk release, an 835-watt, 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround-sound audio system, Intuitive Park Assist and a Head-Up Display.

Power for the 2019 Lexus GS 300 sedan comes from a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine making a modest 241 horsepower. This engine is offered only with rear-wheel drive (RWD) and an 8-speed automatic transmission. The GS 350 employs a more robust 3.5-liter V6 with dual variable-valve timing and intelligence (VVT-i) good for 311 horsepower. Power is again routed through an 8-speed automatic on rear-drive models, and a 6-speed automatic on all-wheel-drive (AWD) cars. Finally, the rear-drive-only GS F offers a 5.0-liter V8 paired to an 8-speed automatic with manual shift control. You’ll find better fuel-economy numbers from an Audi A6, as well as the hybrid and diesel versions of the BMW 5 Series.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (GS 300)
241 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,650-4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/32 mpg, 21/30 mpg (F-Sport)

3.5-liter V6 (GS 350)
311 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
280 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/28 mpg (RWD), 19/27 mpg (F-Sport), 19/26 mpg (AWD)

5.0-liter V8 (GS F)
467 horsepower @ 7,100 rpm
389 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800-5,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/24 mpg