The Lexus GS has been on U.S. shores since 1993, and since then has grown both in size and in luxury. That growth has occurred over four generations with various mid-cycle refreshes in between. The first generational change took place in 1997. The design lasted until 2000 when a refresh debuted for the 2001 model year. Five years later, the third generation GS debuted for the 2006 model year. The fourth and current generation debuted for the 2013 model year and just recently received its mid-cycle refresh for the 2016 model year.
This most recent iteration of the GS sedan brings the large Lexus Spindle grille that’s found across the brand’s lineup. The new face is more aggressive and striking, suggesting the Lexus GS is no longer a soft, cushy cruiser built for the retirement crowd. In fact, the GS has broken that mold. The car’s more youthful and muscular stance now places it more squarely against competitors like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes.
Adding to that muscular stance is the optional F Sport package. Check that box and the grille trades its horizontal chrome trim for an X-pattern mesh and larger air inlets down low. F Sport-specific wheels and badges are also added. Comparably, the F Sport package is like BMW’s M Sport – both add sporty features but aren’t the range-topping performance iterations. Leave that to BMW’s M division and Lexus’ F brand. And yes, the GS does offer a full-on GS F version, all-new for 2016, with a 467-horsepower 5.0-liter V-8.
However, I recently found the 2016 GS 450h F Sport in my driveway. As you might suspect, the “h” stands for hybrid. This version packs a V-6 and a battery pack, along with the eagle-eyed F Sport package for good measure. In a sense, the GS 450h F Sport is a true jack-of-all-trades. Keep reading to see what it’s like to live with.
Continue reading for the full driven review
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