Used Lexus GS 2012-2018 review

Standing out in the established luxury car class is hard. The Lexus GS has to compete with a number of premium rivals, such as the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 and even the Volkswagen Passat. With such a strong list of alternatives, it has to have a unique selling point in order for it to garner some attention. Fortunately, it does.

One of the major reasons you’d choose the GS over the competition is that it's available with a hybrid powertrain. This is good news for those who do most of their driving in congested town or city traffic, since the car can run for a limited time on electric power only, making it a very quiet way to get around.

The GS 300h is probably best for this, because it promises diesel-like economy. For those who need more power, there's also another hybrid that features a 292bhp 3.5-litre V6 (the GS 450h), as well as 220bhp 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in the GS 250. There's also a range-topping 5.0-litre V8 petrol called the GS F. Unfortunately for some, there are no diesel engines available.

The entry-level trim equips the GS with a wealth of Lexus safety systems, 10-way adjustable front seats, a leather upholstery and a 12.3in screen infotainment system complete with sat nav, Bluetooth and DAB radio. Upgrade to the Luxury trim and the GS gets 18in alloy wheels and a rear-view camera, while the F-Sport trim adds adaptive suspension, heated and ventilated front sports seats and LED headlights. The range-topping Premier models get a touch more luxury, with premium leather and wood used on the interior, a head-up display and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, while the red hot GS F gets numerous sporting details and aerodynamic parts fitted, and a quad-exhaust system.

Hybrid GS models use a CVT gearbox. This makes the driving experience a little odd, at least to begin with. When you put your foot down, instead of the 'box kicking down to a lower gear (because there aren't any), it increases the engine revs to the top of the power band to give the best acceleration. However, this should rarely happen at slower speeds, and you'll be treated to a very peaceful drive.

The calm and unflustered way the GS drives impresses. The ride is supple and composed, although F Sport models fidget a little. Body control is generally very good, although predictably cornering is improved by selecting the sportiest of modes in cars with adaptive suspension. The same can be said of the steering – nicely weighted, if a touch on the light side. Selecting 'Sport' adds 10 per cent more weight.

The GS F is a totally different animal, with a 5.0-litre V8 that springs into life above 3800rpm and revs all the way to 7300rpm, its growling bellow getting louder and more manic as it goes. It reaches 62mph in less than five seconds. With lots of performance-focused dynamic upgrades, it has a much firmer ride but changes direction with real athleticism. The suspension comes with switchable dampers that get firmer still in the sportier drive modes. While the ride gets harder, it’s never harsh and copes with bucking B roads surprisingly well. Its downfall is the indecisive eight-speed automatic gearbox, though, which fails to select the gear you want, when you want it, making it hard to get the best from the characterful engine.

The GS's interior is something special, featuring plenty of soft-touch plastics, real metal and supple leather. However, the infotainment system isn’t the easiest to use, because it's controlled by a trackpad that’s far too sensitive, meaning you often miss your intended icon, particularly when you're driving.

The hybrid system also robs the boot of space, and you can't get split-folding rear seats, whereas you can in most rival cars. This inflexibility hampers practicality greatly if you need to carry long items, such as a bicycle. Space in the rear seats isn’t that great, either, and the car's high window line can make the interior feel cramped. Room up front is better, and there's a wide range of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel – often electrically.

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Prices for an early 2012 GS 250 with average mileage start at around £10,000. This seems like good value for a large luxury car with a high level of standard equipment until you discover that a BMW 5 Series with similar mileage and a more economical 2.0-litre diesel engine could be yours for around £1000 less.

However, if you must have a hybrid car, the tables are turned, because there simply aren't that many alternatives to the GS. The GS 450h has been around the longest, and a 2012 example with 60-70,000 miles should be around the £13,000 mark. The more economical but slower GS 300h came out about a year later and commands a slight premium: a 2013 car with 50,000 miles will start at around £14,500-£16,000.

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If you choose a hybrid version, the running costs should be pretty reasonable for an luxury car. The GS 300h offers the lowest running costs, with an official combined fuel economy figure of 56.5mpg and road tax of just £20 per year. Even the GS 450h gets 46.3mpg and a £145 tax liability.

Only the non-hybrid GS 250 lets the side down, only managing 31.7mpg and costing a not-inconsiderable £315 per year in tax.

Any GS registered after 1 April 2017 will fall under the new road tax system and will be charged a flat rate fee of £140 per year (or £130 if it’s a hybrid), unless the car was worth more than £40,000 when new. If it was, you’ll have to pay a surcharge of £310 on top of the £140 flat rate fee until the car is over six years old, no matter which engine option you go for.

Lexus publishes the prices of all servicing on its website, so you’ll be able to budget for your yearly running costs. If your GS is more than five years old, it’ll qualify for Lexus Essential Care, which is a more cost-effective alternative to regular servicing, and the standard hybrid health check is still included in the price.

The GS 300h may not be quite as quick or as refined as the GS 450h when driven quickly, but its smaller, 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine is much more economical when you take it on a long motorway journey. It’s still quiet enough in most situations to make it our favourite.

The standard equipment in the GS is impressive enough that you wouldn’t feel short-changed even with the entry-level car. However, most of the GS 300h examples available on the used market are the higher-spec Luxury version, which features blindspot monitoring, larger 18in alloy wheels and auto-dimming and electrically folding door mirrors.

Our favourite Lexus GS: GS 300h Luxury

Mentioning the BMW 5 Series may make you sigh since it seems to be the default alternative in this class, but that’s because it’s one of the best cars you can buy. There may not be the same number of hybrid versions available, but there are plenty of other engine options available that either match or exceed the economy provided by the GS. Plus, it’s great to drive and you’ll find it to be slightly more practical as a family car.

The Audi A6 is the king of premium interiors amongst its peers. The infotainment is much simpler to use compared with the one that Lexus uses and like the BMW, it’s got a vast range of engine choices to suit all needs.

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