2007 Lexus GS 450h Review

Overview

Lexus GS 450h – 2007 Review: Two vivid memories came to mind while driving the 2007 Lexus GS 450h – a day trip through New Hampshire with a stop along the river in Woodstock, and crawling through the slot canyons outside Escalante, Utah. Why? Because they’re all smooth on a level you can’t forget. The canyons and riverbed can thank Mother Nature, time, and lots of flowing water, while the Lexus GS 450h, or its owner, owes gratitude to designers for their vision and engineers for their brilliant execution. Indeed, the fact that the GS 450h achieves an EPA-rated 28 mpg on the highway becomes easy to overlook.

Performance

Everything about this car feels smooth. Power is always available aplenty, with gradual pressure or release of the gas pedal instinctively adjusting rpms and speed. In fact, there’s enough power behind the continuously-variable transmission to ensure a roll of the throttle will give you the response you want without simply racing the engine in anticipation, as is often the case with such gearboxes. Give the throttle a good squirt and the GS 450h simply hauls tail.

On the down side, there’s a surge in the powertrain while cruising at a steady speeds, most likely tied to the hybrid system’s regenerative braking/charging activities – it was subtle, but noticeable. Fuel economy dipped to between 23 and 27 mpg, depending on driving style.

Handling

Drivers will be blown away by how well balanced this car is on the twisty roads. Steering is extremely responsive, providing plenty of feedback without the leaden or over-boosted feel of various competitors. The optional run-flat tires allow for high speeds through corners without any worries about grip, and body roll is negligible. We hit 70 mph through the sweepers, yet never noticed any tendency for the tail to step out and only the slightest hint of understeer. The highway ride is a bit stiff, no doubt attributable to the run-flat tires, and bumps don’t disrupt the ride or handling. Steering feels solid and refined even at triple-digit speeds, while braking is responsive (we noticed a hint of fade during a spirited mountain run).