Critically, comfort is high for all passengers. But really there's more than enough, unlike the swoopier Mercedes-Benz CLS. Both those riding in front and rear have enough space to settle in, while white LED ambient lighting, and luxurious-feeling materials create a cozy but modern feeling
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| White LED ambient lighting, and luxurious-feeling materials create a cozy but modern feeling within the cabin. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
within the cabin. The only issue that might possibly come up is that the vents in the floor restrict passengers from sliding their feet under the front seats. Up front, things are better; it's easy to settle into the cabin with its soft body-forming seats, and electrically adjustable steering column. Faced with ultra cool brushed alloy gauges illuminated in cold white, the GS gets the watch-face style gauges right. It's not hard to feel as if you too a part of a Lexus television commercial.
Back track to the start - whether you're still, or progressing along a highway, the GS 300 AWD is the quietest car in its class, bar none. At speed, sound is muted through noise-canceling speakers, and wind whistle is avoided by filling panel gaps with rubberized moulding. En route, Mother Nature and
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| The Lexus's steering has a good heft to it, but it's slightly different than the sensations of a typical hydraulic power steering. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
the dulled roar of passing semis disrupts this sanctuary on wheels. Incidentally, these traits are what make the GS best suited to the daily grind of urban crawl, or freely exploring cross-continental travel.
The Lexus's steering has a good heft to it, but it's slightly different than the sensations of a typical hydraulic power steering; it's artificial. On the GS430, Lexus has tried to one-up BMW by offering VGRS (Variable Gear Ratio Steering) which changes the steering's weight and ratio depending on speed. It also has the ability to counter over and understeer by steering the wheels a further six percent under full-lock situations. While unavailable to the GS 300 AWD, this kind of wizardry isn't needed. Steering is precise and linear enough to provide good fun on twisty roads; new are lightweight aluminum arms on the front double wishbones, and a multi-link rear suspension provides better wheel control even if the suspension's tuning is a little on the soft side. The onset of body roll is more prominent in cornering, but never to the level of discomfort; this is one car that's always cool, calm and certainly collected.
