2011 Lexus GS

Lexus is the luxury car brand of Toyota Motors Inc. The goal of this article is to provide a product review for the 2011 Lexus GS. This review will focus on the engine/s available, performance and mileage, exterior design, interior design and material, safety & reliability reports, as well as the pros and cons of the 2011 Lexus GS. This article will also compare similar cars from different makers and models in the same class and range.

The Lexus GS is classified under the Luxury Large Cars category. Based on this classification the GS is ranked 7 out of 10. This is based on nearly fifty published works of reviewers, data and specification analysis of the make and model as well as test drives by reviewers and experts.

Specifications

General Info
Vehicle Type: Sedan RWD Base Price: $46,900.00
Fuel Tank Capacity: 18.8 gallons (71 liters) Miles Per Gallon: 19 city / 26 hwy
Dimensions
Length: 190.7 in. (484.5 cm) Width: 71.7 in. (182 cm)
Height: 56.1 in. (142.5 cm) Wheel Base: 112.2 in. (285 cm)
Curb Weight: 3704 lbs (1680 kg) Ground Clearance: 5.1 in. (12.9 cm)
Luggage Capacity: 15.2 cu ft Maximum Seating: 5 people
Performance
Engine: 32-valve DOHC V8 Displacement: 4.6-liters
Horsepower: 342 HP Max RPM: 6200 RPM
Torque: 339 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm Transmission: 8-Speed Shiftable Automatic
0-60 mph: 5.7 seconds Maximum Speed: 140 mph (225 km/h)
Available Trims & Engine
Option:GS350 AWD MSRP: $48,850; MPG: 18 city / 25 hwy
Option:GS460 RWD MSRP: $55,370; MPG: 17 city / 24 hwy

Trims & Engine

The Lexus ES is available in two trims: The rear wheel drive is a 3.5 Liter V6 that gets 19 city and 26 highway miles per gallon. The All wheel drive, a 4.6 Liter V8 gets 18 city and 25 highway mpg.

Exterior & Interior

The exterior of the GS is considered conservative by most reviewers but proponents say that the exterior is simple but elegant with its sleek lines that is evidently Lexus in design.

Proponents are all praises and state that the interior is well appointed and opulent with high grade plastics, genuine wood and genuine leather. Interior sound proofing is excellent and minimal exterior noise can be heard from the interior. Deponents however insist that regardless of the high end materials, the way it was colored stained and arranged make them look cheap.

Seats are very comfortable and made of very soft leather. The front seats boast a ventilated heating system. However deponents fault the GS for having insufficient head and leg room that will hamper taller occupants.

Interior features are all well appointed but most reviewers believe that it could have been done better, or at least designed in a more sophisticated manner in order to be able to compete with top brands like Mercedes Benz, BMW and Audi.

Safety

A high safety rating is always a confidence booster, which the GS receives. Unfortunately the Federal government has yet to crash test the 2011 variant of the Lexus GS. Fortunately the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has. Front and side impact got the highest rating of “Good” while roof and rear impact is rated as “Acceptable.”

Standard safety features include:

  1. An airbag system which consists of ten airbags. These are located in the front, knee area, rear and side.
  2. Brake assist
  3. Traction control
  4. A Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system, that aids the driver recover from a skid

Reliability

The 2011 Lexus GS received an 8 out of 10 rating in terms of reliability with 0 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. This is based on a three year reliability performance.

Warranty specifications are:

  1. Basic warranty: four years or 50,000 miles
  2. Powertrain warranty: six years or 70,000 miles
  3. Wheel alignment: 1 year
  4. Tire balancing: 1 year

The Competition

Competition in the large luxury class is vast. The advantages of the GS are the fact that it is quiet, elegant exterior, luxurious interior. Disadvantages of the GS are its overly simplistic interior technology and interface, as well as the lack of a manual transmission variant. All in all The Lexus GS is a good choice but if it is really interior opulence a person requires then the Mercedes E class (MSRP $49,400; 17 city / 24 hwy) is the better choice. If it is design and performance you look for, then you can look at the BMW series 5 (MSRP $45,050; 22 city / 32 hwy).

Overall Rating
72 out of 100

What others say:

“The 2011 Lexus GS 460 looks, rides, and even drives like its GS 350 sibling, only the key difference is that it’s powered by a 342-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission.”Car Connection

“No GS feels as agile as comparable German rivals. Still, cornering lean is modest, and grip and balance are both good.”Consumer Guide

“The 2011 Lexus GS 460 delivers plenty of performance and luxury features at a reasonable price, but is ultimately outclassed by its stout competition.”Edmunds

“The GS isn’t as sporty or engaging as some of its competitors. A 3.5-liter V6 and 4.6-liter V8 are offered.”MSN-ConsumerReports

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