EDMUNDS.COM 2004 LEXUS GS 430
Find, Buy, Review, Make offers on, and View more vehicles like the 2004 LEXUS GS430 new at UsedNewCars.com!
Click Here For More Reviews On Edmunds.com
 Summary
What Edmunds.com Says
A sedan to consider if you can''t decide which you like more, luxury or sport.
Pros
Powerful engine, plenty of safety technology on-board, available Mark Levinson audio system, Lexus quality and refinement.
Cons
Navigation system bundled with controls when knobs and buttons work better; doesn''t communicate with the driver enough given the sporting mission of the car.
What''s New for 2004
There are no changes for the GS 430 this year.
Overview
Introduction:
When the GS was first introduced in 1993, it was intended as a splash of scarlet in Lexus'' inoffensive sedan lineup, as well as being Japan''s answer to German sport sedans. It was an attractive car with an inviting interior. But as a sport sedan, the GS faltered, largely because of its size and underpowered 3.0-liter engine. Article after article in enthusiast magazines would call it a comfortable, competent handler that was seriously lacking a vibrant powertrain. Not content to take much flak over the competitiveness of its products, Lexus redid the car in 1998 with more dramatic styling and an available V8 engine. This V8 made the GS 400 one of the most powerful four-door sedans available. Since then, the GS has received minor tweaks and upgrades, including a more powerful V8 for the 2001 GS 430. The GS doesn''t beg to be driven, but will handle any job with equanimity. It comes down to a matter of personal preference. If what you require in a car is solidness, luxury and peace of mind, the GS 430 will serve you well. And, if treated with due deference, it''ll last forever. The majority of buyers will be enchanted with their purchase. From our standpoint, though, there are so many excellent luxury cars in this price range that are, well, more. If you prefer a Lexus with attitude, there''s the IS 300 for a lot less money. If you want a top-of-the-line, loaded-to-the-gills, no-holds-barred-luxurious Lexus, fork over a few thousand more, and the LS 430 is quite within grasp. If you prefer a midsize sedan, there''s the all-new BMW 5 Series and the Audi A6 4.2 that fully encompass both a luxurious ride and an athletic one. Plus, the Audi has standard quattro all-wheel drive. There''s also the first-rate Mercedes E500. So where does this leave the GS 430? It''s still a great car, but with increasingly limited appeal. Those who want a Japanese luxury nameplate, desire the finest factory-installed audio system and covet a car with midsize proclivities and a smidgen of sporting attitude (that mostly gets lost in favor of luxuriousness) will find few faults with the GS.
 |
For Pricing information, see Edmunds'' Pricing page. |
Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options:
The five-passenger GS 430 luxury sedan comes with a high level of standard features. Highlights include 10-way power and heated front seats, auto-dimming mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, satellite audio controls for the six-CD changer audio system, a memory system for the driver seat, HID headlights and a moonroof. Popular options include chrome 16- or 17-inch wheels, a wood-trimmed steering wheel, a DVD-based navigation system and an impressive-sounding 10-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system.
Powertrains and Performance:
The GS 430 packs Lexus'' 4.3-liter V8, the same one used in the LS 430. With 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque on tap, the car can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in about 6.0 seconds, a solid effort for this class of car. Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) is used to provide optimal fuel efficiency and allows the GS 430 to earn Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) certification. A five-speed automatic is the only transmission available. Fuel mileage estimates are 18 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway.
Safety:
Standard equipment includes stability control, traction control and four-wheel antilock disc brakes with BrakeAssist. Should these items be unable to prevent an accident, the GS comes with a full brace of airbags. The NHTSA has not tested the GS, though the IIHS has given the car a "Good" rating (the highest possible) for its performance in the frontal offset crash test.
|
For more Safety information, see Edmunds'' Safety page. |
Interior Design and Special Features:
As you might expect from a luxury sedan in this price range, the interior is replete with a virtual laundry list of luxurious doodads to while away the time. The roomy cabin is outfitted with gleaming California walnut wood trim and handsome light-sensitive gauges housed in chrome-ringed pods. Impressive amounts of leg- and shoulder room accommodate the long-limbed and broad-shouldered in the front seats. Rear-seat passengers don''t fare as well, however, as there is considerably less legroom.
|
For more Interior Features information, see Edmunds'' Specifications page. |
Driving Impressions:
With plenty of horsepower and torque on tap, the GS 430 accelerates briskly and it makes quick work of highway passing. The car is happiest on the open road, where its silent cabin, expurgated of any noise, harshness or vibration, is a portrait of tranquility. The four-wheel independent double wishbone suspension is configured to favor a supple, smooth ride over a taut, sporty one, which is great for the passengers, but a tad stultifying for the driver.
|
For more Driving Impressions, Recent Articles and Car Awards from Edmunds'' editors, see Edmunds'' Road Tests page. |
[ UsedNewCars.com ] [ Information Index ] [ Site Map ]
[ LEXUS Information Index ] [ SEDAN Information Index ]
|
