Lexus GS 250

Average score for the 250:

8.010

based on 1 expert reviews

The Lexus GS 250 may be noticeably cheaper to buy than the flagship 450h, but the reports suggest that its relative value for money isn’t the only reason why you should consider the entry level car in the GS range – all the critics agree that it’s the nicer of the two to drive, as a result of not having to lug around nearly 200kg worth of batteries and has most of the pricier car’s plus-points. However, quite a few of the negative aspects have been carried over as well, along with some that are specific to this car…

Reports on the 2.5 petrol V6 were mixed – no road testers would go as far to say it was a bad engine, but a majority weren’t convinced that the engine was pokey enough for a car of this size, with the biggest complaint being the lack of torque at lower revs. Other criticisms regarded the CVT automatic gearbox that was sluggish when left to its own devices.

The biggest problem, though, appears to be the fuel consumption. With claims of 31mpg on the combined cycle, not only is it marginally worse than the figures you’d find in equivalent engines in the GS’s German rivals, let alone the mightily efficient diesels you can specify in those cars as well. Still, if the quirks of the Lexus GS appeal to you and you don’t rack up a huge amount of miles, this entry-level petrol model is worth having a look at, as the 450h’s steep price increase over the GS250 means you’ll have to build up a substantial annual mileage or consider owning it for a long time before the fuel economy savings pay back the difference.