2007 LEXUS GS 450h

This year, the GS family is growing with the addition of the 450h: Lexus has grafted a hybrid system on a GS 350, making the 450h the world’s first luxury hybrid with rear drive. They coupled the power of a 4.5 litre V8 engine—thus the name 450h—with the fuel consumption of a V6. And, of course, it is elegantly and fully equipped. Interior and trunk The easy-to-get-into front seats are very comfortable with an integrated, efficient cooling system. The driving position is very good. Headroom for taller people is limited to the point that their heads touch the roof. Legroom is quite a bit more generous and each seat has memory. Despite the large doors, the rear opening is a bit narrow. The bench is comfortable for only two people because the hump for the driveshaft takes up all the space in the middle. The bench seat is a little low and when the front seats are at their lowest point, there is no room for feet underneath. Also, rear headroom for taller people leaves something to be desired. The backrest is fixed and there is no ski pass-through. Considering the vehicle’s dimensions, the trunk is very small due to the hybrid system batteries. As well, the trunk opening is small. Convience and safety The interior finish is excellent, with topnotch materials. Road noise soundproofing could be better. In our test vehicle we heard a little creaking. There is ample storage space.

Photo : Lexus

The instruments and controls are well laid out with the exception of those for the sound system, which are too low, and others located in a small concealable panel to the left of the steering wheel, which are hidden from the view of the driver. This panel contains the controls for the mirrors, headlights wipers, dash light intensity, daily log, and more. If the driver wants to use one of these controls, he or she must take his eyes off the road, which is not safe. At night, almost all the controls are lit. The air conditioner is effective. When in reverse, a camera provides an image on the dash of the area behind the vehicle with impressive colour and definition. As the windshield is much lower than the roof pillars, snow can get stuck and eventually block the slow-moving windshield wipers, preventing them from making it all the way to the end of their course. This could damage the wiper arms and/or motor. For safety, the GS has front airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, two more for the front passengers’ knees, an antiskid system, traction control, and four disc brakes with ABS. The five head restraints are not high enough for taller persons. The roof pillars limit visibility. What’s more, the interior mirror creates a blind spot diagonally to the right for taller persons. The headlights are lacking range on low beam but are fine on high beam. The adaptive lighting system that turns the headlights in sync with the wheels is not very impressive and seems less effective than that of the ES 350. The turn signals are barely audible. Engine and transmission The 3.5 litre V6 puts out 292 horsepower and 267 pounds of torque, but the hybrid system boosts it to 339 horsepower for brief periods. With this many ponies, the GS accelerates very quickly. Not only is it very quick, acceleration and pickup are instantaneous. The hybrid system functions with almost no jerking sensation. The car can be propelled fairly often using only the electric engine, as long as one does not accelerate or drive fast. In the POWER mode, the vehicle accelerates more quickly than in the NORMAL mode. The SNOW mode enables the vehicle to start off gently. The engine meets the SULEV (Super Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle) standard. The electronic continuously variable transmission is extremely smooth and particularly well adapted to the hybrid system.

On the road The all-wheel independent suspension is firm, which may disappoint some drivers because of its occasional tendency toward stiffness. The 40-profile tires contribute to the stiff response. However, the ride is generally comfortable. There is not much difference between sport and regular modes, with sport mode being slightly firmer. Handling is very solid for a vehicle of this weight and size. At the same time, there are no suspension settings equivalent to German ones that combine just the right amount of flexibility and firmness while transferring a good degree of road feel. Power steering is heavy at low speeds, despite the variable assistance. It becomes better calibrated as the speed increases. It is stable, precise, and fairly quick. The wide tires have the annoying habit of following ruts and require frequent corrections. The turning radius is tight. The steering transfers just a hint of road feel. The four disc brakes are very powerful and were amazingly fade-resistant after several emergency stops at high speed. A once-over at a CAA-Quebec Technical Verification Centre revealed a very well-built car with a solid underbody that is well protected against rust. Conclusion Impeccably built, very comfortable, generously equipped, and very pleasing to drive, this Lexus hybrid still lacks cargo space. We might question the utility of such a vehicle even though it meets Toyota’s objectives of providing the performance of a V8 with the fuel consumption of a V6. In fact, a design less bent on a high-performance hybrid system would be more logical. PROS: powerful engine, effective transmission, comfortable front seats, powerful brakes, meticulous assembly, good handling. CONS: less-than-perfect soundproofing, small trunk, head restraints not high enough, lack of headroom (taller persons), weak low beams, some controls to move elsewhere.

2007 LEXUS GS 450h Engine: 24-valve, 3.5-litre, V6; electric motor Horsepower: 292 hp at 6400 rpm; 197 hp from 5615 to 13, 000 rpm Torque: 267 lb-ft at 4800 rpm; 203 lb-ft from 0 to 2840 rpm Transmission: ECVT (electronic continuously variable transmission) Suspension: fully independent Brakes: disc/disc Wheelbase: 285 cm Length: 482.5 cm Width: 182cm Height: 143 cm Weight: 1,875 kg Tires: P245/40R18 Maximum towing capacity: not recommended Airbags: dual front, plus two side, two curtain airbags and two airbags for the knees Fuel consumption: Transport Canada rating: City 8.7 L/100 km (31 mpg) Highway 7.8 L/100 km (36 mpg) Test result: 11 L/100 km (26 mpg) Test temperature: 100C to 250C Fuel tank capacity: 65 litres Fuel requirement: premium grade Acceleration: 0–100 km/h: 6.3 seconds 60–100 km/h: 4.1 seconds Competition: Acura RL, Audi A6, BMW série 5, Infiniti M35/45, Jaguar S-Type, Mercedes classe E, Volvo S80 Warranty:

Full basic coverage: 4 years/80,000 km Powertrain: 6 years/110,000 km (8 years/160,000 km for some

components of the hybrid system) Surface corrosion: 4 years/80,000 km Perforation damage: 6 years/unlimited km Emissions control system: 4 years/80,000 km (full coverage);

8 years/130,000 km (catalytic converter, electronic control module, onboard diagnostic system).

Factory replacement parts: Rear bumper: $905 Front brake disc: $154 Brake pads: $77 Muffler: $477 Front fender: $377

Average insurance premium (Quebec City, replacement cost endorsement, claim-free insurance record, male or female driver 30 to 40 years old): $1,149 to $2,237 Price according to trim level: $76,900 Main options:

Alloy sport wheels: $1,640 XM Satellite Radio: $628

Price as tested: $76,900 Freight and preparation: $1,775 Dealers: Quebec: 5 Canada: 28 © August 2006. All rights reserved, CAA-Quebec