2019 Lexus GS 350 Review

Lexus' V6 engines are admirable for their silky smooth rev quality and decent punch. But competitors have improved over the years and now produce turbocharged four-cylinders that can not only keep pace with this V6 but are more efficient as well. We managed a 0-60 mph sprint in 6.4 seconds, which isn't slow but is also unremarkable for the class. What hasn't changed is how well this engine works with the eight-speed automatic transmission, making it a breeze for daily duty.

As pleasant as the GS is to wheel around, we expected more in both braking and handling ability, especially in F Sport trim. Our tester felt pretty tame and uninspiring.

If there's anything Lexus does consistently well, it's a quiet interior, and the GS is proof of that. Overall it's serene, with only mild amounts of wind and road noise. The comfy seats complement the experience, offering great adjustability for the front passengers and plenty of padding on all the armrests.

And though we tested an F Sport model, ride quality was surprisingly not harsh and nicely controlled. The only thing that left us unimpressed was the climate system. It didn't quite meet our cooling demands on a particularly hot day, and we found the layout of the controls to be initially confusing.

Our GS tester came with Lexus' older joystick-style mouse interface, which is a hassle to use in trying to navigate the infotainment system. A lot of the functions are locked out once the vehicle is in motion for safety reasons, but we often found it difficult to work quickly enough to get things done at stoplights.

What the GS lacks in a friendly user interface, it makes up for in great natural visibility, easy cabin entry and exit, and a good range of driver-seat adjustments that allow it to accommodate a variety of people. Space within the cabin is about on par for the segment, even if it looks a little cozier than others.

At 14.3 cubic feet, the GS has a hair more cargo space than German competitors. But since the rear seats do not fold down, it severely limits the length of cargo you can load; there's only a ski pass-through. That's kind of inconvenient and uncommon for this class. The optional automatic trunk seems a bit weird in this application, but it is still nice to have if you're of the minimal-effort ilk.

Storage within the cabin is sparse, limited to an awkward sliding armrest and cupholders that unfortunately obscure access to the seat temperature controls when deployed. We also found it oddly difficult to install a car seat base, though we knew exactly where the anchors were located. Not a problem if you don't swap bases out regularly.

Lexus is beginning to add Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to its vehicles, but it hasn't trickled down to GS models just yet. You can still play your tunes via Bluetooth — just remember to connect before you hit the road (you can't pair on the go). The onboard nav is useful in lieu of using your smartphone maps, and it works best through the voice controls. No need to fumble with the joystick interface.

As far as driver aids go, all the usual features are here, such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring. The systems work, but they aren't calibrated as well to maintain tight traffic gaps or keep you in the middle of your lane, so you need to pay them more attention. That's maybe not such a bad thing, considering the level of distracted driving these days.

Get the GS 350's F Sport version. Its sportier suspension, brakes and styling are appealing upgrades, well-suited for the 350's power (and wasted on the less powerful GS 300). If you're really committed to sports driving, you can add a rear-steer handling system, a Torsen limited-slip rear differential, and low-profile 19-inch wheels and tires. The optional Mark Levinson sound system sounds great, too.