But Lexus would probably rather I didn't focus on the car's civility, as Toyota's luxury division is already well enough known for pampering the occupants of its vehicles. Suffice it to say the GS 450h
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| The GS interior is conservative, but wonderfully refined. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
delivers one of the highest quality interiors in its class, with an elegant simplicity that's missing within its two most formidable German rivals, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Where the 5-Series is all origami angles with a big-screen, double-bubble infotainment monitor taking centre stage, and the seriously "blingified" E-Class doesn't follow through on its soft-touch, matte finish surface promises when you dig deeper by opening its centre console, a process that reveals ghastly shiny plastic that appears more Auburn Hills than Stuttgart, the GS features a tastefully designed dash and centre console, with impeccably finished surface textures of textured composites, real metal and richly grained woods. It's an interior fit for adults, not techno-wiz-kids or nouveau-riche rap stars.
Still, it isn't devoid of technology, or ultimately cool ways of displaying it. The Lexus delivers full-size infotainment too, albeit more civilly integrated within the centre stack than others mentioned. Within the large screen is a back-up camera, effectively extending a driver's vision day or night, a DVD-based navigation system, with a myriad of helpful preset destinations, such as refueling
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| There's lots of room in back for comfortable cruising. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
stations, hospitals, restaurants, etc, plus an infotainment system that integrates one of the most enlightening OEM audio systems ever produced; a 14-speaker Mark Levinson unit that plays DVD/MP3/WMA discs via a 6CD, dash-mounted changer and includes an auxiliary jack for iPods and the like... heck, it even plays cassettes! Exclusive to the 450h, at least until 2007 model year GS's arrive later this year, is Bluetooth compatibility, while all Lexus infotainment screens are touch actuated - handy.
But I've gone on too long about the GS's fabulous interior and its many features, although I haven't mentioned my favourite item, the cool dropdown control panel at the lower left portion of the dash. It contains power mirror controls, the parking assist defeat button, the AFS defeat, the rear window power sun screen switch and also power trunk and fuel door releases. It's designed like a personal remote, a slick little interface that tugs on my XY chromosomes like the latest PDA, digital camera or hyper-powerful laptop.
This said, after a day's journey the GS 450h's 10-way adjustable front seats are high on the love-in list, with perforated leather covered cushions
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| The cool dropdown control panel offers multi-function access that can be stowed away, out of side. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
integrating multiple heat settings as well as a fan for derriere ventilation - no, not for what you're thinking. I've also forgotten to make note of its keyless, fobless, smart entry system and seriously trick "START" button, or no-cost glass sunroof, adaptive HID headlight system that bends the lenses to light up around curves in the road ahead, featuring headlight washers no less, rain sensing wipers that actually work, and full assortment of safety features such as every airbag that could be conceived of, yes even one for the driver's knees, plus an advanced ABS system, traction and electronic stability control, orchestrated to all work together via Lexus' exclusive Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM). Oh, and incidentally, Lexus won a CAA "Safety Innovations Award" for VDIM, so don't just think it's another run-of-the-mill acronym designed to baffle us into paying more for something we really don't need. Of course, everything is standard with the 450h, so just take comfort in the fact that it's there if you need it.
