The world of high-performance luxury sport sedans has basically become a game of one-upmanship. Which one has the most horsepower? Which one goes from zero to 60 mph in the quickest time? Which goes around Germany's Nürburgring track quicker than the rest? In the process, some of the visceral thrill and tactility of these cars have been lost — turbocharging is numbing engine response and all-wheel drive is limiting tail-out antics.

Well, consider the 2018 Lexus GS F a refreshing option for keeping it old-school. Its 469-horsepower V8 is non-turbocharged. As such, it has less low-rpm, torque-rich thrust than its
turbocharged competitors, but in return it produces sharper and more engaging responsiveness and a more special soundtrack. Oh, and it sends its power to the rear wheels, just the way the sports car gods have always intended.

As with all of Lexus F cars, there's more than just a big engine. Compared to a regular GS, the GS F features retuned steering for even better feel. And its superb handling is made possible by an adaptive sport-tuned suspension that allows for impressive control, minimum body roll and, quite impressively, a sufficiently comfortable ride. The end result is an uncommonly rewarding sport sedan even in routine driving.

Of course, beyond its performance credentials, the GS F is still a Lexus GS — for better and for worse. For better, you get impeccable build quality and a long list of standard features, including safety and driver aids that its competitors almost always charge extra for. There are still some downsides here — most notably, the frustrating-to-use Remote Touch infotainment interface — but overall this is one refreshingly honest and thrilling luxury sport sedan.

Notably, we picked the 2018 Lexus GS F as one of Edmunds' Best Sport Sedans for this year.

2018 Lexus GS F configurations

The 2018 Lexus GS F is the high-performance version of the regular Lexus GS sedan, which we review separately. There is only one loaded trim level. It comes with a 5.0-liter V8 (467 horsepower, 389 pound-feet of torque), rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Besides its engine, the GS F stands apart from lesser GS models with a torque-vectoring rear differential, an adaptive sport-tuned suspension, sport steering, Brembo brakes, aerodynamic enhancements and special styling.

Other standard features include auto-dimming mirrors, xenon headlights, automatic high beams, LED running lights, automatic wipers, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, keyless ignition and entry, power-adjustable front seats with memory functions, leather upholstery and a power-adjustable steering wheel.

Also standard is the Remote Touch infotainment interface with a 12.3-inch display, a navigation system, voice controls, Lexus Enform (infotainment app suite and remote vehicle controls), a USB port, and a 12-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio and HD radio.

Options are limited to different wheels, orange brake calipers, a head-up display, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system that also adds a six-CD changer.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2017 Lexus GS F sedan (5.0L V8 | 8-speed automatic | RWD). There have been no changes made to the 2018 model that would alter our ratings of the GS F.

Driving

9.0

The GS F is an uncommonly rewarding sport sedan even in routine driving. The steering is sharp and communicative, and that inspires driver confidence. Its maximum thrust can't match others in the class, but it is not slow either. Overall, it's a pleasure to pilot.

Acceleration

8.0

There's natural and responsive power delivery in the GS F. The V8 is a bit down on low-speed grunt compared to the turbocharged competition, but by no means is it slow. High-rpm power is exhilarating. In our testing, a GS F accelerated to 60 mph in a respectably quick 4.7 seconds.

Braking

7.5

Good but not great brakes. In town or during hard driving, they offer intuitive modulation. We observed some mild squealing during nearly every routine stop. In max-effort panic stops, the pedal feel could be better. Our measured stop from 60 mph in 108 feet is good but not class-leading.

Steering

9.5

This steering is outstanding. Spot-on weighting with great on-center feel. Communicative like few modern steering racks. Actual road texture can be felt by the driver. Quick and precise without ever being darty. It gives a good sense at all times of the grip available at the front wheels.

Handling

9.0

This sedan really shrinks around you on a canyon road. A hint of body roll provides a good sense of cornering loads. It responds well to your inputs. The variable differential settings make a big difference in cornering behavior.

Drivability

9.0

Very well-mannered. In routine driving, the transmission shifts smoothly and downshifts readily. The engine is responsive from a stop. Sport and Sport+ modes have suitably more aggressive shift schedules. Manual gear changes are not quite as immediate as we'd like, though.

Comfort

8.0

Excellent seats and a firm but compliant ride quality make the GS F equal parts sport sedan and long-distance mile-eater. There's a bit of road noise, but it's not fatiguing. The climate control interface is button-centric — we'd prefer knobs. Overall, it's a comfortable vehicle in its class.

Seat comfort

9.0

The seats are especially comfortable with modest bolsters that still manage to provide adequate lateral support. Medium-firm padding. These seats seem to cradle your entire back quite uniformly without any significant pressure points. Backseat comfort is solid, too, even for taller people.

Ride comfort

8.0

The ride quality is firm and still manages to take the edge off rough roads and most impacts. Variable dampers have three settings, and none is brutal. You know you're driving a sport sedan, but it's never punishing. Suitable for long-distance driving.

Noise & vibration

7.5

Road noise at moderate speeds is more noticeable than it ought to be for a car of this class. Wind noise is well-suppressed, while the engine is quiet during cruising. Put the hammer down, though, and you get a great-sounding V8 wail above 4,000 rpm.

Climate control

7.0

It maintains set temperature adequately, but it doesn't seem to compensate for sun exposure as other systems do. The all-button climate interface isn't as easy or quick to use as those with knobs. The buttons are clearly marked at least. Sufficiently effective seat coolers when on the max setting.

Interior

7.5

The interior design is showing its age, but it has the fundamentals of driving position and visibility covered well. The cabin is very button-centric, and a few of them are oddly placed. The driving position is spot-on.

Ease of use

6.5

Good placement of primary controls and most secondary ones. But there are some head-scratchers — the parking alert button is completely covered by the sliding console lid in its forward-most position, for instance. And we had to consult the owner's manual to find the parking brake.

Getting in/getting out

7.0

The driver's seat and steering wheel power out of the way to aid entry or exit. The GS F's wide lower body kit extensions hamper your movements a bit, but otherwise it's a pretty easy car to get into.

Driving position

8.0

It's easy to find a suitable driving position, with a good relationship between the seat and the steering wheel and pedals. A nice, wide dead pedal is placed well in regard to the brake and gas pedals. The telescoping wheel has decent reach, and the driver's seat motors up fairly high.

Roominess

7.0

Tall drivers will find ample headroom despite the compulsory sunroof. The driver's footwell is pleasingly wide. You get a nice sense of width in the cabin, too. In back, there's enough headroom and legroom for 6-foot-tall passengers. On a par with the class.

Visibility

8.0

The cowl is not especially low, but the ample windshield compensates to avoid any sense of sitting in a bunker. There's good separation between the mirror and the windshield pillar. The rear windows' squared-off trailing edge expands the view over your shoulder.

Quality

7.5

The subdued cabin design incorporates many materials and integrates them precisely. The leather and faux suede are of high quality. Some vinyl-padded surfaces and plastics have a relatively subpar feel, making the cabin less rich than some competitors'. An occasional muted creak from the dash.

Utility

7.5

The amply sized trunk will swallow plenty of gear, though it's let down by a back seat that's fixed in place. There are plenty of areas to store items in the cargo area and in the front portion of the cabin. It handles car seats well, though the lower latch anchors can be a bit of a hassle to reach.

Small-item storage

8.0

Solid options for storing various items. There are large door pockets, a sliding-lid center console bin with a removable tray, and an average-size glovebox. Backseat occupants enjoy a fold-down console with a lid and two deployable cupholders.

Cargo space

7.5

The wider-than-average trunk opening has concealed gooseneck hinges and is pretty deep. The back seat does not fold but has a ski pass-through. Handy fold-down grocery bag hook, tie-down points and additional storage well under a door. The decklid is not powered but is light and easy to manipulate.

Child safety seat accommodation

7.0

The outboard seats have LATCH anchors that are tucked away and a bit difficult to access. There's decent room for a rear-facing child seat, though the front seat will need to be pushed very far forward.

Technology

5.5

This cabin is behind the times when it comes to infotainment. The control interface is awkward, and the native voice controls are subpar. There's no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto functionality, and the screen graphics look old. But there is a nice suite of driver aids as standard equipment.

Audio & navigation

4.0

The Remote Touch interface is infuriatingly bad. The target icons are easy to overshoot, and the feel is poor, with inconsistent haptic feedback, so it requires a lot of glance time. The screen is huge, but responses can be slow and the graphics are old-school. A reason to avoid this car.

Smartphone integration

6.0

Bluetooth pairing is intuitive and easy, and there's a USB outlet, auxiliary jack and accessory power. Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is not available. Instead, the GS F includes Siri Eyes Free.

Driver aids

7.5

The comprehensive suite of driver aids — lane departure and blind-spot alerts, lane keeping, automatic emergency braking and high beams — can be set to be permanently off if so desired. The adaptive cruise can't operate in stop-and-go traffic.

Voice control

5.0

Slow responses and wildly incorrect navigation, even in an ideal test condition (parked, quiet, driver speaking clearly), don't give confidence in the GS F's native voice controls. You'll have to rely on Siri Eyes Free instead, but that applies only to iPhone users.

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Features & Specs

MSRP

$84,350

MPG

16 city / 24 hwy

Seats 5

8-speed shiftable automatic

Gas

467 hp @ 7100 rpm

See all 2018 Lexus GS F features & specs

Safety

Our experts’ favorite GS F safety features:

Pre-Collision System: Warns the driver of a possible impact with other cars or pedestrians. Can automatically apply the brakes if necessary.
Rear-Seat Side Airbag: Protects outboard rear occupants in case of a side-impact collision. It's standard; rivals have it as an option or not at all.
Lane Departure Alert with Lane Keeping Assist: Warns you when drifting out of your lane and intervenes with steering input if needed.

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Side Impact Test
Good
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested
IIHS Small Overlap Front Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test
Good

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More about the 2018 Lexus GS F

The GS is the Lexus answer to midsize, rear-wheel-drive European luxury sedans. But the 2018 Lexus GS F adds a twist: a performance-oriented V8 engine from Lexus' RC F sport coupe. We've come to like the Lexus GS, and the F version is without question the most appealing version, boasting a distinctive personality that not only stands out from other GS versions but from other high-performance sedans as well.

At the heart of the GS is a non-turbocharged 5.0-liter V8 that produces 467 horsepower and 389 pound-feet of torque, delivered to the rear wheels by an eight-speed automatic transmission. Though many of its competitors are quicker, the GS F nevertheless makes up for its acceleration shortcomings with the sort of visceral sounds and sensations that can only come from a non-turbocharged V8.

The performance upgrades don't stop with the bigger engine, though. It also gets a torque-vectoring rear differential, an adaptive sport-tuned suspension, sport steering, four-wheel Brembo ventilated brakes, 19-inch forged wheels, a four-port sport exhaust and aerodynamic enhancements.

This being a Lexus, we expect luxury to go with our performance, and the GS F delivers: Materials quality is high, and build quality is on a par with the proverbial brick outhouse. Backseat space is good, but the trunk is tight and the rear seat does not fold down. Our biggest complaint, though, is the Remote Touch interface, which uses an input device not unlike a computer mouse. The paradigm will be familiar to anyone who uses a desktop computer, the problem being that when you use a computer, you are looking at the screen; when you drive a car, you should be looking at the road. We think Remote Touch requires too much of the driver's attention to be diverted from the road ahead.

Lexus sells the GS F in a single trim level, and the list of standard equipment is long, though the price is high. The GS F is offered with several options and packages, some useful and some not. What's the best way to spec out your own car? Let Edmunds help find the perfect 2018 Lexus GS F for you.

2018 Lexus GS F Overview

The 2018 Lexus GS F is offered in the following submodels: GS F Sedan. Available styles include 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 8A).

What do people think of the 2018 Lexus GS F?

Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2018 Lexus GS F and all its trim types. 0 Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2018 GS F.

Edmunds Expert Reviews

Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2018 Lexus GS F and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2018 GS F featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.

Our Review Process

This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.

We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.

What's a good price for a New 2018 Lexus GS F?

2018 Lexus GS F 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 8A)

The 2018 Lexus GS F 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 8A) can be purchased for less than the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (aka MSRP) of $88,350. The average price paid for a new 2018 Lexus GS F 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 8A) is trending $5,060 below the manufacturer’s MSRP.

Edmunds members save an average of $5,060 by getting upfront special offers. The estimated special offer price in your area is$83,290.

The average savings for the 2018 Lexus GS F 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 8A) is5.7% below the MSRP.

Available Inventory:

We are showing 4 2018 Lexus GS F 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 8A) vehicle(s) available in the in the Ashburnarea.

Which 2018 Lexus GS FS are available in my area?

Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2018 Lexus GS F for sale near. There are currently 5 new 2018 GS FS listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as $88,680 and mileage as low as 0 miles. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a car from our massive database to find cheap vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the 2018 Lexus GS F. Then select Edmunds special offers, perks, deals, and incentives to contact the dealer of your choice and save up to $5,101 on a used or CPO 2018 GS F available from a dealership near you.

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Edmunds has deep data on over 6 million new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, including rich, trim-level features and specs information like: MSRP, average price paid, warranty information (basic, drivetrain, and maintenance), features (upholstery, bluetooth, navigation, heated seating, cooled seating, cruise control, parking assistance, keyless ignition, satellite radio, folding rears seats ,run flat tires, wheel type, tire size, wheel tire, sunroof, etc.), vehicle specifications (engine cylinder count, drivetrain, engine power, engine torque, engine displacement, transmission), fuel economy (city, highway, combined, fuel capacity, range), vehicle dimensions (length, width, seating capacity, cargo space), car safety, true cost to own. Edmunds also provides tools to allow shopper to compare vehicles to similar models of their choosing by warranty, interior features, exterior features, specifications, fuel economy, vehicle dimensions, consumer rating, edmunds rating, and color.

Should I lease or buy a 2018 Lexus GS F?

Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.

2018 Lexus GS F

New

Used

2018 Lexus GS F pricing

Which GS F does Edmunds recommend?

Edmunds' Expert Review

Overall rating

2018 Lexus GS F configurations

Trim tested

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Driving position

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Child safety seat accommodation

Technology

Audio & navigation

Smartphone integration

Driver aids

Voice control

Features & Specs

Safety

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2018 Lexus GS F 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 8A)

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Should I lease or buy a 2018 Lexus GS F?

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