Lexus’ stubborn refusal to offer a diesel GS means the cheapest way into
ownership is with this 2.5-litre petrol model.Priced from £32,995, the GS 250 is
much cheaper than the £44,995 GS 450h hybrid, but it doesn’t feel basic. It gets
18-inch alloy wheels as standard, while inside there’s the same leather and
high-quality surfaces as in the GS 450h – and a vast digital dashboard, too. The
206bhp V6 engine is smooth and well matched to its six-speed automatic gearbox,
which offers quick changes via the steering wheel paddles.Floor the throttle and
it’s not as fast as the 338bhp GS 450h, but the car is still responsive.
It will
go from 0-62mph in 8.6 seconds, and offers decent punch for overtaking. Around
corners, the GS 250 feels much more playful than the GS 450h, and the lack of
hybrid components means it’s 190kg lighter. It’s a much more agile car, and more
fun as a result. Still, the GS 250 always leans towards comfort – you can play
with three different driving modes, but it remains subtle even in its stiffest
setting.The big drawback is running costs. The Lexus might have a ‘small’ petrol
engine, but it’s no match for diesel rivals or even petrol versions of BMW and
Audi executive cars. A similarly priced 530i emits 177g/km of CO2 compared to
the GS’s huge 207g/km. The BMW is faster, too. Lexus expects this model to make
up two-thirds of GS sales in the UK, but it needs an economical small hybrid
engine if it wants to steal customers from rival prestige brands. And we’ll have
to wait until next year for that.
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