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2020 Lexus GS F is on display at the 112th Annual Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place

The 2020 Lexus GS F Is a Fun Car, but It Just Doesn’t Make Sense for the Price

The 2020 Lexus GS F is far from your typical sleepy Lexus sedan. Even though this body style is now less popular than SUVs, Lexus still produced four high-quality models for this year. The Lexus GS F was recently reviewed by Roadshow and received high praise. We have to preface this by saying the Lexus …

The 2020 Lexus GS F is far from your typical sleepy Lexus sedan. Even though this body style is now less popular than SUVs, Lexus still produced four high-quality models for this year. The Lexus GS F was recently reviewed by Roadshow and received high praise.

We have to preface this by saying the Lexus GS F definitely has some tough competition. Rivals with turbocharged engines – like the BMW 5 Series sedan – offer much better acceleration. The Lexus GS F is still a blast to drive, but we’re not sure it warrants a high price tag.

Inside the 2020 Lexus GS F

The Lexus GS F comes with standard sports seats made from leather with a stylish suede trim. The seats are well-bolstered without making the driver feel claustrophobic inside the cabin. However, Roadshow reported that as a whole, the GS F’s interior still looks outdated compared to other sports sedans.

There’s no option for smartphone integration, and the infotainment system runs clunkily at the best of times. However, it does come with a decent amount of safety equipment and a head-up display is optional. Ignoring the minimal tech offerings, the Lexus GS F’s cabin is still quite comfortable for both short and long drives.

A distinct, classy exterior

The Lexus GS F definitely breaks the mold with its aggressive styling. It has blistered fenders instead of the traditional vents, complete with blue F emblems. It has a carbon fiber spoiler and black trim on the side-view mirrors, both of which match excellently with the yellow paint option.

However, the sportier GS also has less trunk space than the standard model. The regular Lexus GS has over 18 cubic feet of space, plus a pass-through area for the back row. It has no pass-through and only 14 cubic feet of cargo space. Despite this, its back row can still comfortably seat adult passengers.

A fun driving experience

Under its hood, the Lexus GS F has a 5.0-liter V8 capable of 467 hp. It only comes with front-wheel drive and is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It may not be great on gas, but it can rocket from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds.

This model doesn’t come with an air suspension, so it has a stiffer ride quality. However, Roadshow’s tester didn’t have any problems enjoying their drive in the GS F. It can easily tackle tight corners and winding roads, plus absorb any harsh bumps in the road. The Brembo brakes are easy to modulate and can activate quickly when needed.

The odd price point

The Lexus GS F comes with a big price hike compared to the base GS sedan. Without any optional equipment, the GS F sedan starts at $86,035. With a few extra upgrades, you may end up paying closer to $100,000.

Even its luxury competition costs thousands of dollars less, plus come equipped with more modern cabins. However, the GS F has more horsepower than certain competitors, like the upscale Mercedes-Benz E53 sedan. Still, a fun drive without any extra trimmings is hard to sell on its own.

Other minor flaws in the Lexus GS F

We can’t say the Lexus GS F is totally stuck in the stone age. After all, it comes with a voice recognition feature and a Remote Touch controller. Unfortunately, Roadshow reported that both of these functions aren’t very user-friendly.

Despite its questionable pricing, the 2020 Lexus GS F is still one of the most engaging luxury sport sedans. If the bloated cost is a dealbreaker, used models are actually quite affordable. The 2016 version has the same engine and exterior for only $40,000. 

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