Lexus GS F 2020 Review

When it comes to Lexus sports sedans, the GS F sits atop the pack -- powered by a thumping V8 engine and adding more kit than its GS or indeed IS siblings.

The model we’re testing here is the GS F 10th Anniversary – meaning it’s (a little) more special than the run of the mill GS F variants we’ve tested in the past. But, truth be told, besides adding adaptive dampers in late 2016, not much else has changed.

This one gets matte grey paint, a blue interior pack with brake calipers in the same colour and polished black alloy wheels. The special edition is priced the same as the standard GS F at $155,582 (before on-road costs).

From January 1, 2020, Lexus introduced capped-price servicing for new car buyers as part of its Encore Owner Benefits program. If you buy a GS F, that means you’ll pay $595 for the first three services, which are due every 12 months or 15,000km.

The program also includes 24-hour roadside assistance and four-year warranty.

Standard safety kit on the Lexus GS F 10th Anniversary includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and lane keep assist. It also gets rain-sensing wipers, high beam assist, tri-zone climate control and daytime running lights.

A head-up display, 10-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat with memory, heated and cooled front seats with heating for rear outer seats, electric rear sunshade and a sunroof are also standard on our tester.

That said, just because there’s no shortage of features, doesn’t mean they’re all particularly intuitive or useful.

Case in point: atop the GS F’s dash sits a large 12.3-inch infotainment unit that we reckon will be the bane of most GS F’s owners’ existence. It’s miles behind the user-friendliness of other vehicles in its class. Sure there’s Bluetooth, navigation, digital radio and a CD player, but it misses out on Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and employs an infuriatingly sensitive captive ‘mouse’ to select items on the screen -- which is placed closer to the passenger seat that you’d probably like. It’s almost easier to fathom the buttons on the steering wheel, and that’s saying something.

There isn’t a great deal of storage either, given the GS F’s generous cabin proportions. Up front, you’ll find two USB ports, plus one auxiliary and 12V socket.

The instrument cluster is a little clearer to follow, but still lacks the style and minimalistic layout others seems to surpass and takes some time to master.

Moving on from its technology struggles, the GS F wins back points with its ultra-comfy seats – although the blue is questionable. The seats themselves fit like a glove and offer a ton of adjustments and the perfect driving position for all heights.

Outside, you’ll see quad exhaust tips and huge ventilated brake discs cloaked in even bigger 19-inch gloss black wheels wrapped in sticky Michelin tyres.

If you go by Lexus’ marketing strategy? Affluent golf players!

Think about it more realistically, and you’d be hard-pressed finding someone who wouldn’t enjoy driving the GS F. Yeah, the exterior design will be polarising to some (maybe even more so than its blue interior) and the infotainment unit is a headache, but these things that many pretrolheads will happily turn a blind eye to – especially once they hear that V8.

The GS F’s boot offers a respectable 520 litre luggage capacity (plus a ski port) and the cabin feels spacious and luxurious, fitting four large adults in comfort.

Those in the back can also make use of a centre armrest that folds down to reveal a multitude of controls including the rear sunshade, music selection, volume controls and more.

A fifth adult passenger in the middle rear seat will likely feel cramped, but three small people will be happy.

A magnificent beast! Its wide, heavy body feels rather intimidating at first (and taking it through the Maccas drive-thru sounded like a much better idea in my head) but it’s not long before you feel at home in the GS F’s low seating position and cocooning sports seats.

Around town, you feel its bulk – all 1865kg of it -- but out on the open road is where the GS F shows its true colours. That warbling 5.0-litre V8 puts its power down with ease and no matter what speed you’re going or which gear you’re in, hit the throttle and it just keeps pulling.

It’s a shame you don’t hear more of the orchestra coming from the exhaust -- its beefy notes are muffled by the ultra-quiet cabin almost too much… Maybe that’s what well-to-do golfers prefer of a Sunday morning?

It’s kind of cool that there’s only three driving mode options: Eco, Sport and Sport Plus (economical, fast and really fast). Where it feels best? Sport Plus obviously.

On the twisty stuff, the GS F handles better than you’d expect given its large footprint. Those Michelin tyres cling to the road like glue and when the rear-drive creature eventually breaks loose, the stability control intervenes in the most subtle and unobtrusive way.

The stoppers on the GS F are also incredible, as they should be with six piston calipers up front and four-pots at the rear. Left-foot brake at your own device.

Steering feels weighty, no matter which driving mode you’re in -- and again here the settings seem better suited to more energetic driving than around the 50km/h streets of suburbia. It’s easy to notice bumps and potholes through the taut sports suspension, although overall the four-door doesn’t seem easily unsettled.

The eight-speed auto is well calibrated under normal driving conditions, but struggles to keep up when using the shift paddles – delivering its gear changes a short time after you’ve requested it.

At night, the headlights are bright enough, but spread too low, lighting up little more than the road just ahead of you.

Overall, the GS F is an absolute hoot and its combination of power and drivability are undoubtedly the best thing about it.

For some, the Lexus GS F 10th Anniversary’s wonderful handling characteristics and whopping engine will be enough to get them over the line. Others might struggle with its lack of user-friendly tech and a divisive appearance (inside and out).

But now that staple brands like Holden and Ford no longer offer rear-drive naturally-aspirated V8 sedans, there isn’t much more to choose from when looking for a big four-door performance car – leaving those left searching to turn to ze big German saloons from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Would the GS F be just as convincing parked alongside its European competitors with similar price tags? Maybe not. But it has its own perks that impress in a different way, and that’ll be enough for some people.

What I think? I reckon my dad would LOVE this car.

How much does the 2019 Lexus GS F 10th Anniversary cost?
Price: $155,582 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 petrol
Output: 351W/530Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 11.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 262g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: N/A