Roadtrip Review: 2015 Lexus GS350 F-Sport

“Are we there yet?”

Four conspicuous words that, when strung together, instantly frames the feeling of frustrated and bored children in the backseat of the family hauler. But there were no little ones with us in our trek up California’s Pacific Coast Highway last Spring. These words simply came to mind as I peered over the morning horizon, anxiously searching for the start of PCH’s famous stretch of mountain roads that lined the rocky coastline.  

I was piloting Lexus’ 2015 GS350 F-Sport as we began our road trip before dawn.  We had picked up the car just a couple of months prior and I had been anxious to stretch its legs ever since. When the latest generation GS first showed up as a 2013 model, Lexus’ new radical design language - essentially the aggressive trapezoidal front end - definitely raised some eyebrows.  However, after some time, it has started to grow on not just me but many in the enthusiast community. This feeling has probably been bolstered somewhat by the even more angular 2016 refresh of the GS, that is more in line with the style of the current IS and RX.  It makes the 2013-2015 front end look subdued by comparison, and will likely age better.  But to us, it exudes a modern elegance representing the characteristics of each GS generation before it.

Furthermore, when this fourth generation GS debuted, it seriously gave it's German rivals a gut-punch in the performance category.  Armed with true sport sedan dynamics, for once, Lexus came to play as the better driver's car compared to it's rivals at the time, the F10 BMW 535i, Mercedes E350, and Audi A6, all who peculiarly were devoid of steering feel as noted in reviews from major publications, even those often accused of "Bavarian bias."  Couple that with dealers aggressively marking down sticker prices in some markets, and the GS350 became something that deserved a serious look from those in the market for a modern luxury sport sedan.

Outside of Solvang, Highway 101’s long gentle sweepers and rolling hills were handled in traditional Lexus fashion: without drama.  Having already logged a few hours of seat time by this point, it was clear that things have noticeably changed for the marque.  For one, the driving position was excellent.  The 18-way adjustable seats that included power side bolsters provide great support for long treks. Interior ergonomics were on-point, with the HVAC controls, radio tuning knobs, and navigation controls all within easy reach.  However, I discovered two shortcomings that still perturb me to this day: First, the armrest along the door is strangely shallow and thin, and not comforting to use for long stretches. Second, the navigation and entertainment interface. Lexus’ finicky mouse tracking system has not been universally well received due to its imprecise input method. Because it gives the user free-range to browse the huge 12" screen, I found myself overshooting map icons and audio functions when the system should would be better served to instead snap from icon to icon.  Behind the wheel, this only adds to driver distraction and takes away from the otherwise cohesive interior ergonomics.  In a world of rotating dials and knobs, it is - at best - unique, but lacks refinement.  However, just as BMW struggled with the first couple generations of their iDrive system, years of refinement honed it into the intuitive controller it is today. I’m hopeful Lexus will do the same in future iterations - without the "mouse."

Contemporary without being too flashy, the interior makes for a nice place to spend time. .

As we continued past Hearst Castle and into Julia-Pfeiffer Burns state park, the road, elevation, and topography, dramatically changed.  No longer were there grassy shoulders bordering either side of the highway.  To my right were the jagged rocks and boulders of the Santa Lucia mountains. To my left was the sheer drop of the cliffs into a beautiful blue ocean, lapping up the coastline hundreds of feet below.  It was time to shift into the appropriate driving position: Hands slide down to 9 and 3. We’re there.

Turning Lexus’ Drive Mode Selector  two clicks to “Sport+,” the big sedan instantly became more alert.  Throttle response went from traffic-friendly sedate to back-road urgent. The adjustable shock dampening was now firmed up and ready to keep the already taut platform level around the bends.  Moving the gear lever over to manual mode, we were now ready to see what kind of performance can be extracted with the paddle levers perfectly accessible from the perforated leather wheel. Traction control was left on as there was no need for full on hooliganism on this drive.  

As I began braking for the first of many hairpins to come, I was greeted with greater-than-expected bite from the pads, and as a result, a lot more confidence for attacking the curves ahead.  Thanks to the F-sport’s 14” inch rotors, stopping power is something this GS has no shortage of. The tight steering ratio was making turn-in resemble that of a much smaller car.  But most pleasing was how the 8-speed automatic (new for 2014) shifted through the gears.  With speeds and curves ranging from a near stop to about 55 mph, 2nd and 3rd were most frequently called upon to negotiate the path ahead, with a forgivable amount of delay between shifts.  Dual-clutch speed this was not, but there was nothing to complain about as the automatic danced in harmony with the familiar but revised corporate 3.5 liter V6.  Click the paddle, and the gear change engaged predictably. Even outside of manual mode, the transmission was eager to downshift and remain in a lower gear, anticipating the acceleration to come.  This, I was not expecting.  Decreasing radius uphill curves, uneven camber banks, extended climbs, and sudden stops, the GS350 F-sport handled all without breaking a sweat.  And with it, the smiles grew wider.

Making a pit-stop for lunch in one of Big Sur’s many roadside cafes, the Lexus’ small-car like turning radius and widescreen display with back-up camera helped move us around the improvised parking lots without fear of scraping the bark of age old redwoods.  It also gave a moment to pause and reflect on the car itself that brought us up here.  The sensations the GS provided reminded me distinctly of hustling along two-lane roads in an E39 BMW 540i, the vaunted standard bearer of modern sport sedans.  Make no mistake, in Sport+ mode, the GS was just as eager and refined in delivering an enjoyable driving experience. The trade off for the vault-like highway feel and V8 torque of the German saloon car was offset by the new kid's lack of heft through the curves, and a faster-steering rack befit of a car 15 years it's junior.

As the road started to straighten back out and the elevation decreased back to sea level, we stopped at Carmel by the Sea. It was here that the car truly became a revelation. Eight hours of seat time in the GS did not leave us with any sort of soreness or fatigue that some older products of Toyota Motor Co. have left me with in the past.  It is a well sorted car, to say the least.  Except for a few ergonomic quibbles, the 4th generation Lexus GS, particularly in F-Sport trim, is a testament to how far Lexus has come in developing a modern, well-engineered sport sedan, to go along with the brand’s well established hallmarks of luxury and reliability.  And down the road, if the 467hp V8 GS-F becomes a more reasonable (i.e. cheaper) buy, I would strongly consider picking that up as a replacement. But until then, the current 4th Generation GS350 will do just fine.

“Are we there yet?”  I certainly hope not. Now approaching 2 years and over 20,000 miles into GS ownership, we are still ready for more.

Ah, road trip bug splatter. A badge of honor, sure. But nothing beats the look of a clean grill after.