2001 Lexus GS 430 Review

Elegant inside, the Lexus GS 430 is no softie on the road. The Lexus GS 430 sedan is a rival to European sports-luxury sedans, but is more comfortable than such harder-edged autos. What else can you expect from Lexus?
The only hard-edged car from this upscale Japanese automaker is its new, compact IS 300 sports sedan, which seems too harsh to be a Lexus. But the IS 300 is trying hard to appeal to younger buyers, while the GS 430 confidently coddles older occupants. Not that the GS 430 is a softie. Not with a 300-horsepower V-8 under the hood, strong brakes and a sophisticated suspension. Rivals such as BMW feel sharper, but the GS 430 is a willing accomplice if a driver wants to push it hard.

The GS also comes as a very good $38,555 model with a smooth 220-horsepower inline six-cylinder engine. But the ultimate GS is the $47,355 430 model, which I tested for hundreds of miles over a wide variety of roads. The GS 430 felt a little more at home quietly cruising on interstate highways than on winding two-lane roads partly because its heavy at 3,707 pounds. But, like top European sports sedans, it has a rear-wheel-drive setup for good weight distribution. And a sophisticated all-independent suspension helps give it nice agility on any type of road. Both well-equipped GS models look alike, with racy, unique styling that has been revised slightly at the front and rear for 2001. However, the optional $440 rear spoiler has a tacked-on look.

New features include side curtain air bags up front, added interior wood trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio system controls, water-repellent front door glass and an electronic compass. The GS 430 gets high-intensity discharge headlights for better nighttime visibility. The BIG news for the GS 430 is a V-8 that has been enlarged from 4 to 4.3 liters. Horsepower remains the same as in last year's GS 400 model, but the engine has more torque for greater responsiveness. This is a fast car. It can hit 149 mph and scoots to 60 mph in 6 seconds. There's plenty of reserve power for passing and staying out of harm's way.
The smooth, quiet V-8 uses no more fuel than the engine in the 2000 model, but costlier premium gasoline is recommended. Estimated fuel economy is 18 mpg in the city and 23 on highways. (I got 25-26 mpg on highways by keeping a steady pace and not topping 70 mph.) The nearly 20-gallon tank provides a good highway cruising range. The overhead-camshaft, 32-valve V-8 is state-of-the-art with such things as continuously variable valve timing.

It works with a five-speed automatic transmission that upshifts seamlessly and downshifts quickly in fully automatic mode. It can be easily shifted like a manual with its console mounted lever, thanks to a nicely designed shift gate. Steering is fast and precise, with decent road feel although it lacks the sensitivity of the best European sports-sedan steering. The suspension has a race-car-style double-wishbone design and easily soaks up bumps. Larger 45-series tires on bigger 17-inch wheels are a $215 option for the GS 430 and allow crisper handling. The brake pedal has a solid feel and the GS 430Õs brake-assist feature allows surer emergency stops.

Traction control adds stability, and a Vehicle Skid Control system helps keep the car going on its intended course if, say, a driver enters a curve too quickly. Four tall adults easily fit in the plush interior, but five occupants is a squeeze because the rear seat doesn't have the shoulder width to comfortably accommodate three passengers. The front seats are especially comfortable on long drives, and a power-adjustable steering wheel and power drivers seat allow relaxed driving positions.
The wood-and-leather interior is generally quiet, but not as quiet as one might expect it to be in such an upscale car. For instance, some roads elicit pronounced tire noise especially with the optional tires. The pricey $3,790 Mark Levinson audio system thus sometimes cannot be fully enjoyed.

The gauges have special lighting during the day to make them easier to read but are set too deeply in the three-pod instrument cluster. The trunk and fuel cover releases are semi-hidden, although other controls are easily reached. The optional navigation systems touch screen contains climate and audio functions and can be tedious to use. The owners manual takes up most room in the glove box, but the console has a fairly large, covered storage area. Console mounted cup holders also have a cover and are easy to use without spills. The power window controls are sure to drive you crazy. Windows have a one-touch power-up and power-down feature and trying to stop them from racing completely up or down with their control buttons often seems impossible. After a while, it doesn't seem worth the effort.

Another fault: Although the trunk is fairly large, it has an awkward two-level design that makes it difficult to easily fit large suitcases and other big objects. Also, rear wheelwell housings eat into cargo room to the trunk lid old-fashioned manual hinges. Even some economy cars have compact hydraulic struts instead of such hinges.
There's a full-size spare tire in a well under the trunk floor, but checking its pressure calls for awkwardly removing the heavy tire to get at the valve stem with a tire gauge. The GS 430 is solidly built, although the trunk lid has a tinny sound when closed. In contrast, doors shut with a reassuring thunk. The hood has a release lever in the grille area that makes it easy to open, but one is confronted with huge expanses of plastic when the hood is up. It's as if Lexus doesn't want you to see or touch the engine. At least the fluid filler areas are easily reached. The GS 430 is ideal for those who want most capabilities of top European sports sedans and the comfort of Japanese luxury cars.