DRIVEN: 2006 Lexus GS300

Story by Mark Atkinson
Photos courtesy Lexus Canada

With Lexus’ domination of Mercedes-Benz over and done with, the Japanese company decided it was time to turn its attention to the new sales leader in the global luxury market, BMW. What you see here, the 2006 Lexus GS300, is the first of an entirely redesigned fleet of Lexii ready to tackle Bavaria’s most popular car maker.

Now in its third generation, the GS300 follows the same tune as before: a mid-sized four-door sedan with six-cylinder power and rear-wheel drive. The GS’ exterior styling follows what Lexus calls L-Finesse. We call it ‘Flame-Surfaced-Without-The-Bangle-Butt’ or ‘One-Better-Than-Bimmer’. Your call…



Anyway, it’s a handsome sedan, with a rakish rear window and low roof height that helps to give the GS a very sleek profile.

Under the hood, the biggest change from before is the adoption of a traditional V6 in place of the old inline six. Displacement is the same as before, 3.0 liters, and it puts out 245 hp @ 6,200 rpm and 230 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm. There’s also a 4.5-litre V8 available (GS450), and Lexus has just recently launched a V6 hybrid version (GS450h) that’s the most powerful of the three. Both V6 and V8 get six-speed automatic transmissions while the 450h debuts a new two-stage CVT.

While the recipe reads well for the enthusiast, the problem comes once you’re on the road. Sorry – that should be once you’re driving ‘spiritedly’ along your favourite road. While Lexus are aiming directly at the 5-Series with their latest GS, they’ve handcuffed what’s quite obviously a very balanced and able chassis with a hyper-sensitive form of traction and stability control called Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM).



At seven or even eight-tenths, and the car is relatively nimble, if mute in its information delivery. But once you start pushing the envelope, the electronics yank you back into shape without even a hint of letting you slightly sideways. And the worst part is that it’s undefeatable. You can’t turn it off. Period. It’s nothing like a BMW.

However, it is very much a luxury car, which means a gorgeous interior and top-notch materials, a quiet cabin and very good ride, even on the large-ish 17-inch wheels on our tester. The stereo is fantastic, and it’s a great place to relax and let the heated seats melt away the stresses of your day. And despite the general lack of headroom both front and rear (something had to give for that rakish roof) the GS is more than happy to schlep you and three other people wherever you want in great comfort.



It’s even a decent price – our Touring-package equipped tester coming in at $67,100, about $8,500 under a comparably equipped 530i.

But it’s definitely not a BMW. And maybe that’s the point. For years Lexus cribbed its entire playbook from other manufacturers. Now after 17 years in the market, the company’s finally confident enough to have their own sense of self. So enjoy the GS350 for what it is – a Lexus. Not a BMW.