As it stands now, Lexus is one of the leading luxury brands in the automotive world. The automaker is a subsidiary of Toyota, and has seen a large amount of success throughout the developed world since the late 1980s, when Lexus released its first model, the full-size LS sedan. Since then, the brand has continued to gain a larger and larger following, thanks to its penchant for peerless reliability and modest yet elegant styling.When we think of Lexus as a whole, models such as the flagship LS sedan, the compact executive IS, and the RX crossover SUV typically come to mind. There are other famous models, too, like the mid-sized Lexus ES and the sporty Lexus RC coupe. However, there is one mid-sized Lexus that gets ignored now, one that was even ignored when it was still being produced: the Lexus GS 450h, specifically those produced between the 2013 and 2017 model years.The thing is, though, despite being largely ignored, the GS 450h actually deserves a thorough going-over, for more reasons than just its obscurity. A Hybrid With Something To Hide Lexus 2013–2017 Lexus GS 450h Key Points Boasts an overall average used price of $23,786 Utilizes a 3.5-liter V6 mated to a hybrid powertrain Received a facelift for the 2016 model year Part of the Lexus GS's fourth generation The underdog Lexus GS model was one of the original nameplates to be released upon Lexus' founding. It first hit US shores in 1993, just four years after the Lexus LS debuted in the colonies. The model was meant to sit just underneath the big LS in terms of size and adopt certain styling cues from the Lexus SC coupe in order to give it a blend of practicality and sportiness. At the time, the first-gen Lexus GS was known as the Toyota Aristo in its homeland of Japan.Lexus The second and third-gen Lexus GS are much more well-known in the States. Both generations feature Mercedes-Benz-like quad headlamps and were aimed directly at competitors such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the Audi A6. However, once the fourth-generation Lexus GS debuted in 2011 for the 2012 model year, car buyers in the US seemed to forget about the Lexus GS somewhat. While it put up strong sales figures in its debut model year with 24,555 units shifted, the Lexus GS's sales would never get close to that number again, despite reaching nearly 35,000 in 2005.!!!MODEL TAG!!! Listing Carousel 2017 Lexus GShttps://carbuzz.com/cars/lexus/gs/2017/Its lack of sales didn't reflect the amount of kit, as well as the power the Lexus GS 450h, in particular, boasted. The fourth-generation GS as a whole was meant to breathe new life back into the Lexus brand in the US market and was outfitted in such a way to achieve this. The GS 450h, being one of the higher-end iterations of the GS line, was meant to spearhead this new initiative, along with the Lexus GS-F, a high-performance model introduced in 2015 sporting a 5.0-liter V8. Specs And Features Lexus While there were a handful of powertrain options available on the fourth-generation Lexus GS, the 450h-grade hybrid powerplant is the most worthy of recognition among the others. At its core lies a Toyota-bred 3.5-liter Atkinson cycle V6 lashed to a 147-kW electric motor. According to FuelEconomy.gov, a 2015-model GS 450h managed 31 mpg combined, pretty good for a decade-old mid-size luxury sedan. Mated to the fuel-sipping powertrain is a CVT gearbox. Power sent from the CVT gets routed to the GS 450h's rear axle. All-wheel drive was not offered.Lexus The fourth-generation Lexus GS was built upon Toyota's New N Platform, which it shared with the Lexus IS compact executive sedan and the Lexus RC coupe. In keeping with the Lexus GS and its quest to revitalize the Lexus brand, it was the first-ever mass-market hybrid sedan to offer an all-wheel steering system called "Lexus Dynamic Handling". Most of its suspension is made from aluminum in an attempt to keep the GS's weight to a minimum.We'll lay out the Lexus GS 450h's detailed powertrain and performance specs in a table below. For this purpose, we'll use the 2017 model-year GS 450h:*Specs courtesy of Lexus and MotorTrend testingBased on the figures above, it's easy to see why we consider the GS 450h a "stealthy, sporty-ish sedan". Despite its exterior being peppered with hybrid badges, and its front and rear fascias being as non-intimidating as possible, it can still give quite a few cars on the road a run for their money. Features LexusBeing a Lexus, the GS 450h needs to come standard with a good bit of kit. Of course, the standard luxury car features are present, such as leather seats and real wood trim scattered about the cabin. The center console sports a mouse-wheel meant to operate its standard eight-inch infotainment screen. A 12.3-inch display was available as an option. A total of five drive modes are built into the GS 450h's computerized brain, those being Normal, Eco, Sport, Sport+, and EV, the latter of which allows the car to cruise over short distances below 25 mph. A driver assistance suite, an optional head-up display, and an optional 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system round out the Lexus GS's amenities. Want One? Here's What It'll Cost You LexusYou've probably begun to ponder if a used Lexus GS 450h might be worth buying. After all, Lexus has been voted the most reliable mass-market brand available today, not something to shake a stick at by any stretch. The Lexus GS 450h itself, specifically the 2015 model, received a reliability rating of 89 out of a possible 100 points, earning itself a "Great" score. It's also rated as a "#1" mid-size premium car by J.D. Power.Suffice to say, picking up a used Lexus GS 450h isn't a large risk, especially if you find a "little old lady-owned" example. However, with premium Japanese brands, namely Lexus, used examples can fetch a bit more than average. In the table below, we'll lay out exact pricing for the Lexus GS 450h's 2013 to 2017 model years. We'll also include pricing for the 2015 BMW ActiveHybrid 5 and the 2015 Mercedes-Benz E400 Hybrid for good measure:2015 BMW ActiveHybrid 5: $18,151 2015 Mercedes-Benz E400 Hybrid: $17,289 *All pricing courtesy of Kelley Blue BookThanks to the bulletproof nature of the Lexus name, the GS 450h fetches a few grand more on average than the Mercedes or the Bimmer. However, when it comes to reliability, the Lexus trumps them both, with the BMW scoring 86 out of 100 and the Mercedes earning an 83. In our opinion, ponying up a bit more for a more-reliable ride that offers a good amount of power and kit is worth it.Sources: Lexus, FuelEconomy.gov, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, MotorTrend
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