2015 Lexus GS 300h eCVT RWD (223 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Lexus introduced the fourth generation of the GS in 2011 and refreshed it in 2012 with a proper facelift that focused mainly on the exterior and the engine bay.

Creating a luxurious mid-size sedan was already something that Lexus knew how to do. After three generations of the GS nameplate, it learned what its customers wanted and complied. But there was one area that it hadn’t mastered completely, and that was how to facelift a model that was already good. With the 2016 model year of the GS, the automaker proved that it learned that lesson well, and the new version looked like a completely different vehicle. Even though it relied on the same underpinnings as its non-facelifted brother, the refreshed version of Lexus’s mid-size sedan was longer, provided a roomier cabin, and was powered by new engines.

Lexus adopted a new design language for its entire lineup and adjusted the look of the GS accordingly. As a result, the 2016 model year came with a tall spindle grille stretched from the hood to the lowest part of the apron. This was flanked on the upper side by new headlights sporting three LED blocks and on the lower side by a set of scoops that housed the LED fog lamps. The same light-emitting diode technology was used for the arrow-shaped daytime running lights that pointed toward the brand’s badge that took center stage on the prominent grille.

From its profile, the clean-looking bodywork featured curved panels for the doors and fenders, with enlarged wheel arches that covered the standard 17-inch alloy wheels. Lexus also offered customers the option to get a 19-inch set, which was standard for the F-Sport package. The increased front and rear overhangs led to a longer overall length of 1.2 inches (30 cm) but featured the same wheelbase. At the back, the angular-shaped taillights extended from the quarter panels to the trunk’s lid were also new and, like the headlights, were based on LEDs. Underneath the bumper, the automaker added a new valance flanked by flat, angular-shaped exhausts.

Inside, customers were greeted by an enhanced cabin. They could choose either if they wanted wood or aluminum trims, depending on their tastes. In addition, the automaker offered the option for piano-black decorations that adorned the center console, the dashboard, and the door cards, depending on the market. Regardless of these finishes, the 2016 Lexus GS came fitted with the same 12.3-inch LCD placed atop the center stack, neatly integrated into the dashboard, for the infotainment system. Lexus was the only car manufacturer in the premium segment that offered a mouse-like controller, while most other automakers preferred a rotary dial. This differentiated them, but customers were not very fond of the system. For an excellent sound experience, the GS was available with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. The Japanese premium car manufacturer used man-made leather for the GS’s interior and installed heated and ventilated front seats and available heated outboard seats.

Under the hood, most engines were carried over from the non-facelifted version of the car, but there was also a fresh turbocharged inline-four gasoline unit. This helped the automaker lower the starting price of the car while still providing enough performance for its mid-size sedan. Besides the hybrid versions, all gasoline-only powered ones sent their power to the rear or in all corners via an eight-speed automatic transmission.