MotorMouths

The Lexus GS offers excellent value, a beautiful cabin and enough performance for all but the hardcore BMW faithful for whom anything less than the Ultimate Driving Machine is unacceptable.

The new Lexus GS’ impressive blend of nimble handling, quiet road manners, intriguing looks and high-level interior seem like the perfect blueprint for the brand’s future.

For its 2013 model year, Lexus gave the GS 350 a fierce look and performance options that make it one of the best-handling Lexus models, and let it begin to approach the sport levels achieved by the German competition.

The GS now has the moves to compete with BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and it hasn’t lost the quiet refinement we’ve come to expect of Lexus. The GS isn’t going to bore enthusiastic drivers.

The 2013 Lexus GS 350 is an impressive redesign. It’s a Lexus that driving enthusiasts can get excited about. More than just promises, it’s actually fun to drive. It can do smooth and quiet, or serious and sporty: your choice.

The new GS represents advancements in refinement, performance, fuel economy, technology, and luxury. Yet, with a standard V-6 that puts out mid-class power, a behind-the-curve six-speed, and a front end that some will deem scary, the GS is a sizeable step forward, not a huge leap.

The GS 350’s interior styling is fantastic, and technology is integrated brilliantly within the interior. But the catch is whether the Lexus offers enough improved performance to convince buyers not to go for the Mercedes or BMW. The jury’s still out on that one.

This four-door’s main goal is to carry passengers in comfort, with a dose of hop-to-it-ivness when desired. Lexus engineers knew they had to inject some shock-and-awe into the fourth generation of the midsize GS sedan.

While the 2013 Lexus GS 350 is undeniably more capable and fun to drive, it still falls short of providing the absolute feedback of European and even American rivals. Engineering “feel” is a lot harder than engineering “performance.” So, Lexus, the new GS is a big step in the right direction. Now, let’s take a few more.

The 2013 GS F Sport is a large Lexus sedan claiming to burn up backroads like a 5 Series BMW. It does a remarkably good job of it.

The 2013 GS 350 isn’t ugly, just mildly odd and alien. But because I enjoyed driving the car so much, I declared a truce with the styling.

The 2013 GS 350 AWD gives Lexus a new face, but the luxury brand’s soul remains the same: long on quiet and comfort, short on thrills. But the car’s looks, comfort and quiet remain strong attractions.