Lexus GS430
Is this you? Youre sufficiently self confident not to have to worry about your cars perceived badge equity. Youve also grown out of the requirement for a car to be able to corner on its door handles. Youve made a bob or two and are looking to reward yourself with something of exceptional quality. If that sounds like you, the Lexus GS430 could very well be the perfect fit.
Those of you who keep tabs on car news will know that this Lexus is a third generation take on the GS theme. Originally designed to go head on with the likes of the Mercedes E Class and the BMW 5 Series, the GS has metamorphosed into a vehicle that fills a distinct niche. Its not hard to appreciate its peerless build quality and relaxed nature if indeed a car that can call upon 279bhp can ever be called relaxed. With this latest model, the Japanese company have tightened up the driving experience a little, engineered in a whole series of additional safety features and even made the car look a whole lot sleeker.
| Build |  |
| Comfort |  |
| Depreciation |  |
| Economy |  |
| Equipment | |
| Handling | |
| Insurance |  |
| Performance | |
| Styling | |
| Value | |
Lexus dub their latest styling direction L-finesse and it majors on shrink-wrapped bodywork and characteristically unapologetic Oriental detailing. Although the rear three-quarter view of the latest car is still somewhat bulbous, from other angles the car looks a stunner, the 18-inch alloy wheels filling the arches a lot better than the 17-inch rubber fitted to lowlier GS300 versions. The view from directly behind is probably its most flattering angle but the treatment to the headlamps and front spoiler are very neat indeed. The way the rear door glass arcs back is also a very stylish touch.
"Youll search in vain for anything in the Executive class better bolted together than the GS430"
Jump inside and its easy to see where your £47,160 has gone. The fit and finish is utterly peerless, making many of its German rivals look, well, jerrybuilt. The instrument panel features Optitron dials that appear metallic by day but are softly backlit at night. The Mark Levinson designed stereo system boasts no fewer than fourteen speakers, comes with an in-dash CD autochanger and is quite astonishingly powerful.
Similarly comprehensive is the touch screen operating system that marshals the DVD-based satellite navigation, the air conditioning and, where compatible, the Bluetooth control of your mobile phone. Voice recognition software is included, as is a colour reverse parking camera. Its a technological tour de force. Other clever uses of technology include the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system.
This centralises control of the anti lock brakes, brakeforce distribution, traction control, and vehicle stability control systems with the electric power steering, adaptive variable suspension and variable gear ratios to ensure that this vast array of control systems works in harmony. Press the Sport button on the fascia and the damping firms up, the steering sharpens and the gearbox change patterns become more aggressive. VDIM also oversees a very interesting development whereby the electric steering system can work in concert with the stability control system to detect oversteer that situation where the rear end of the car steps out of line and threatens a spin. Whereas rivals cars use the brakes and cut power to combat this problem, Lexus goes one step further.
The car automatically countersteers into the impending skid for you, nipping an emergency situation in the bud. Its so subtle that no steering input is visible from outside the car, but rapid and minute corrections are going on unbeknown to the driver. Its very impressive when put through its paces. The GS430 also debuts a system whereby the car can come to a stop in a straight line even if one side of the car is running on a low friction surface such as snow or ice and the other on a high friction surface such as tarmac.
Most cars would try to spin away from the slippery surface when the brakes are applied, but clever electronics in the GS430 keep things on the straight and narrow. Although a lot of these features are new, the same cant really be said of the 4.3-litre V8 powerplant and it looks distinctly yestertech next to the flagship GS450h hybrid model. It sounds a little churlish to say that the engine is probably the GS430s weakest link, but the introduction of an all-new six-cylinder unit thats not only more fuel efficient but also more charismatic sounding and yielding a mere 34bhp to the big V8 brings into question the wisdom of plumping for the GS430 over the well-specified GS300 SE-L, but closer inspection of the specification sheets shows that VDIM isnt available on the smaller engined car, nor is Lexus adaptive cruise control and pre-crash safety system.
This could well be the deal breaker. The cruise control system is similar to that weve seen in Jaguars and Mercedes luxury models insofar as it monitors the distance to the car in front, aiming to keep a respectable distance. It can be bamboozled though. Swing from the outside to the middle lane behind a slower car and the system will emit a couple of beeps and then wave the white flag, requiring the driver to brake to avoid a rear end shunt.
It also brakes at some rather odd moments on the open road. This is probably the only electronics system in the Lexus its possible to find fault with and given that its a safety system, some drivers will pass it up. Pre Crash works with the radar system and pretensions the seat belts when it thinks youre about to hit something metallic. Theres a lot to like about the latest Lexus GS430.
Its a shame theres no diesel alternative offered, but if you want the best quality product in the executive sector, youre looking at it right here.
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Lexus GS430
PRICES: £47,160 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 18E
CO2 EMISSIONS: 269g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 5.9s / Max Speed 155mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 17.3mpg / (extra urban) 32.8mpg / (combined) 24.8mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, side, curtain and knee airbags, ABS, EBD, VDIM, Pre Crash
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height) 4825/1820/1430mm
