2017 Lexus GS F Road Test and Review

Lexus enthusiasts have been waiting for this car for more than two decades. They’ve been waiting for their brand to step up and build a true high-performance version of the rear-wheel drive GS sedan.

Well, here it is. It’s finally real. And it’s the most powerful sedan Lexus has ever made. This is the new 467-hp V8-powered 2017 Lexus GS F, a luxury car capable of running with the finest high-profile, high-performance sports sedans from Germany like the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63.

Let's take a closer look at the 2017 Lexus GS F.

This level of power, performance and luxury doesn’t come cheap. 2017 Lexus GS F pricing starts at $84,935, including $995 for destination and handling. Standard features include Bluetooth, an enormous 12.3-inch screen, navigation, dual-zone climate control, a moonroof, heated and cooled power front seats, a backup camera and 19-inch wheels and tires.

Under the hood is a naturally-aspirated 5.0-liter V8 making 467 hp. It’s the same engine Lexus uses in its RC F and LC coupes.  Every GS F gets an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, which sends the power back to Lexus’ driver-adjustable Torque Vectoring Differential. No manual transmission is available. All-wheel drive is not offered.

Our white GS F test vehicle was equipped with every possible option including the 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system, a color head up display, orange brake calipers and beautiful hand-polished 10-spoke alloy wheels, which drove its sticker price up to $88,115 including destination.

Think of F as Lexus’ in house tuner or hot rod shop, like BMW’s M division, known for cars like the M3 and M5, or AMG at Mercedes-Benz. F is not as well-known as those German efforts, but the engineers that develop Lexus’ high-performance models have created some noteworthy machines including the V8-powered IS F model sold from 2008-2014 and the 553-hp LFA supercar which was produced from 2010-2012.

These high-performance F models get their own powertrains, suspension and braking systems. They are standalone high-performance models tuned on the world’s racetracks and sold in small volumes to discerning enthusiast buyers that want the most power and the best handling the brand has to offer.

Do not confuse an F model with F Sport, which is an optional sport package on Lexus sedans, coupes, SUVs and hybrid models. For a few grand, F Sport adds a sport-tuned suspension, bolster seats, F Sport badging and a sinister grille mesh to any of these vehicles including a V6-powered GS. F Sport increases performance but does not take it anywhere near the extreme capability of a full blown F model.

Nail its throttle to the carpet and the 2017 Lexus GS F presses you back in the seat and hits the flood button on your adrenal glands. It’s a thrill to drive. At 3,500 rpm the big V8 begins to sound like its from a race car, which only adds to the rush, and it keeps your neck muscles strained until the next gear change at its 7,200 rpm redline.   

This is a quick machine. The GS F rockets to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds, and it covers the quarter mile is just 12.9 seconds. Top speed is 170 mph.

When the police are around, the GS F can be compliant, comfortable and quiet. The suspension is firm, but never harsh. This is a sedan that can be driven every day without sacrifice but it feels satisfyingly sporty around town in low speed, low demand maneuvers.

Snaking off-ramps and mountain roads were designed for this car. With its 19-inch wheels and very sticky, low profile Michelin Pilot Super Sport summer tires, its handling is well beyond the needs of most buyers. Front end grip is impressive, and the cars balance is right. The steering is a bit abrupt off center, but you get used to it quickly. And the huge Brembo brakes could stop continental drift, although they’re a little grabby around town.

In Sport and Sport+ mode, the throttle response increases and the transmission provides more aggressive shifting and gear holding. The suspension also tightens up for more response in Sport+ but it’s not necessary unless you’re lapping Laguna Seca.

I think the GS F is the best looking Lexus sedan. Ever.

Although its overall shape debuted back to 2011, it still looks fresh thanks to an aggressive facelift in 2015, which accentuated that gaping Darth Vader grille and added its sinister front lights. And I’ve always been a fan of the GS’s long hood/short deck profile and fastback roofline.

The lowered ride height of the GS F, along with its fantastic 10-spoke wheels and the huge vents cut into its front fenders, add just the right amount of attitude without the car coming off as cartoonish.

Its rear view is my favorite. I’m taken by its the understated carbon fiber rear spoiler and four large exhaust pipes, which are stacked diagonally instead of the usual side-by-side configuration.

Three interior colors are available, gray, black and the red of our test car. Get the red. It’s wonderfully vibrant and keeps the GS F from feeling too much like a traditional Lexus. It also looks fantastic with the standard carbon fiber and piano black trim, and it suites the sedan’s very comfortable high-back sport seats, which look like they were plucked from a race car.  

Open the door, and you’re met with beautiful materials, dynamic design and high build quality. Everything feels expensive and the analog clock is an appreciated touch of class. Visibility is excellent. The driver’s seat is height adjustable for shorter drivers and it’s easy to find the perfect driving position thanks to the power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel.

The two front-seat cupholders are large but when in use they block the controls for the seat heaters. Other misses include Lexus’ computer mouse-like Remote Touch infotainment interface, which is still frustrating to use, although it’s better than it used to be. And the voice recognition didn’t get along with my New Jersey accent.

Sports sedans have become so desirable because they offer all the speed and image you could want in a family-friendly package. The 2017 Lexus GS F seats five comfortably. Although some of its competitors offer more rear seat head and legroom, the Lexus has plenty. Rear passengers can spread out and enjoy the rear air conditioning vents. The lack of heated rear seats is an unfortunate oversight.

Also disappointing is the GS F’s missing onboard wifi, which is standard on the Audi S6 and the Cadillac CTS-V, and Apple Carplay, which is ubiquitous at this point. Younger families will appreciate the Lexus’s easy to reach LATCH connectors in the outboard seats and three easily accessed upper-tether anchors.

Trunk space is good for the class. The 2017 Lexus GS F offers 14.0 cubic feet of trunk space, unfortunately its rear seat does not fold to expand that capacity. There is a pass through for long thin items like skis, however, and there are two sizable storage bins under the trunk floor.

Fuel economy is also slightly above the competition. The GS F is rated 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. I averaged 21 mpg in a week of spirited mixed driving around Los Angeles and 23.5 mpg during a two-day 500-mile family road trip.

With the Lexus Enform Remote mobile app, which is complimentary for the first year, you can use your phone to remotely start the engine, lock and unlock doors, check your fuel level, and find your vehicle in a parking lot. You can also receive instant alerts if a preset speed or mile limit is exceeded, a feature surely appreciated by parents of teenagers.

Every GS F comes standard with valuable active-safety systems including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and lane keep assist. And they work as advertised, although the lane keep assist system is a bit too aggressive as it steers the car to the middle of the lane, often unnecessarily.

Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, which warns you if a vehicle approaches from either side when you’re backing out of a parking space and Blind Spot Monitor are also standard. The standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection warns if vehicles and pedestrians are in your path. Should it determine an imminent frontal collision, it will automatically begin braking and can even bring the vehicle to a stop.

Built in Japan, the GS F competes against the BMW M5 and M6 Gran Coupe, Mercedes-Benz E63 and CLS63, Audi S6 and Cadillac CTS-V. Talk about getting thrown into the lion’s den. These are not just cars; they’re the finest high-performance sedans in the world.

They’re also all much more powerful than the GS F, which has brought a wooden spoon to a gun fight. It’s 467-hp V8 just doesn’t have the power to compete. Every other car in this class is packing over 500 hp. And the twin-turbo V8 in the BMW M6 makes up to 600 hp. Only the 450-hp Audi S5 lags the Lexus.

As a result, the undeniably quick Lexus is the slowest car in the class, getting out accelerated by even the less powerful, but all-wheel drive Audi.

Here’s the good news. The Lexus is cheaper than many of its more powerful competitors. The M5 starts at well over $90,000, while the M6 sedan and E63 Mercedes start at over $100,000.

If you’re an enthusiast looking for a high-performance luxury sedan, the 2017 Lexus GS F is a desirable overall choice.

It performs well, is comfortable, and fun to drive. It’s also beautifully appointed, and Lexus’ reputation for reliability remains the envy of the industry. It may not match the horsepower of some of its European or American competition, but the GS makes up for that with a long list of standard safety technology, a unique combination of luxury, performance and a lower price.

Just remember to get the red interior.