Bought a 2016 Gs350 base and have been looking into forums for slight modifications such as wheels/tires, slight lighting mods, suspension, exhaust, etc. but every thread i see talks about the 4GS from 2013 and below. Just wondering what the major and even minor differences are between 2013and under versus 2016+ (aside from the obvious front end and tail lights). Thanks!

 

Besides new front end and new tailights, you also get Safety suite 2.0 or w/e. Newer wheels.

 

Updated UI/Enform, side buttons for navigating the menu. In addition to the safety upgrades, you get a lot of information on the speedo/tach area now. There's a mini-display between the tach and speedo that you can scroll through and see a bunch of information. The clock has been updated, but you wouldn't immediately notice. And you do get a digital clock now on the mini-display between the speedo and tach. No fog lights on any model anymore. F-Sport model has an updated digital speedo/tach combined into one.

That's about all I can think of right now. Oh, and the steering wheel is different now.

 

Different engine...

 

How different is it?

 

There should be a sticky on this. Facelifted models are starting fall into the hands of cashed up bogans like myself so we'll get this question every week!

 

Someone on here had posted that the F Sport suspension got softer on the 2016+ models but I have no way of confirming that. Apparently the 2016+ models got more weld points and adhesive as referenced in 2016 reference press release here:

"The GS's underbody aerodynamics have been improved by positioning the bottom edge of the front bumper 10mm further forward, to adjust the volume of air passing under the floor. Lexus has paid strict attention to optimising body strength and rigidity in the GS to achieve high levels of crashworthiness and durability, as well as lower interior noise levels.A highly rigid body also provides a stable platform for the suspension, while optimising handling stability and ride comfort. The 2016 year model GS Line body has been further refined, with new design features and greater use of key body manufacturing techniques.

The new GS body has an additional 188 points of spot-welding to the frame to optimise panel-coupling rigidity - focusing on the cowl, the junction of the rocker panels and B pillar, and the rear shelf. Coupling panel rigidity has been further boosted by increased use of body adhesive.

The new GS body has an additional 22.5 metres of body adhesive. The rear of the cabin has more laser welding points, and the door surrounds have an additional 132 laser-screw welding points compared with the current body.

A performance damper has been adopted between the left and right front number two members on GS 200t EX and GS 350 F-Sport, to reduce vibration and increase stability. The GS Line upper-cowl area has been further refined by adding sound-absorbing material to enhance cabin quietness."

 

The 2GR-FKS can switch from Otto cycle to an Atkinson cycle operation for better fuel economy. The exhaust manifolds were revised to be integrated into the cylinder heads and the EGR circuit is cooled. So really, it's not an "all new" engine, but a definite evolution of the previous 2GR-FSE. Having owned both, in multiple applications, I find the FKS to be quite a bit quieter and smoother. Not much different otherwise, though. 5 more horsepower isn't noticeable.

My 19 is definitely quieter than my 15 was. As for driving differences, yes, my 19 F Sport feels a bit softer, particularly in Sport S+ mode than my 15 did. In the pre-refresh models, the AVS in the F Sport was tuned more aggressively than in the Luxury Package cars. I often wonder if Lexus just gave all AVS models the Luxury Package programming after the refresh.

 

There are more differences than most tend to realize, both major & minor...

2016+ get...

• LED headlights as standard whereas they were Bi-Xenons before
• "Intelligent High Beams" - I don't think these were previously available
• Puddle lamps on all 4 doors are LED - they were incandescent before
• Full LED taillights as standard - they are super detailed & three-dimensional with super bright turn signals, reverse lights, & have a clear housing. Big upgrade, in my opinion. Similar to the all-new ES' taillights, but even nicer and of higher quality.
• New instrument cluster screen with additional functionality. 2015 and older doesn't give you much. You get range to empty, outside temp & tire pressure - not much else. 2016+ you get displays for G-Force, audio, navigation, Adaptive Cruise/Lane Keep/Steering Assist, and so on.
• Remote Touch controller updates. There's now a physical back button and additional select/Enter buttons on the sides of the controller. The palm rest is now "leather" wrapped with stitching and the little puck you actually move around gets lined in chrome. 2015 and older have all-black hard plastic palm rest and controller.
• Newer generation navigation software/display that is more in line with more recent Lexus systems (but is not the newest). This allows full-screen map mode which wasn't available previously. New system gets enhanced voice recognition. There are also other slight updates, such as the navigation system automatically re-routing you when it detects traffic whereas the 2015 and older has to ask for permission to do this.
• Updated window switches with chrome trim as opposed to the all black plastic ones you'll find in 2015 and older GS. Slight change but much more premium looking and feeling, similar (if not the same) as the ones in the new LS and LC (but not new ES - ES has all black plastic ones like older GS)
• Lexus Safety System+ (Pre-Collision System with pedestrian detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Vehicle Sway Warning, Intelligent High Beams, All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with stop & go) - optional on 2016, standard 2017+
• Standard Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (which means power-folding mirrors became standard as these two were linked - had to get one to get the other previously)
• New clock design & clock is now GPS linked and updates automatically. 2015 and older had 2 little buttons near the face of the clock used to adjust the minute and hour.
• New center air vent design. The updated ones have more slats, the older ones had single-slats. The newer vents also feel more refined to adjust. They're smoother and more fluid whereas the older ones were notchy and cheap feeling. The outboard air vents were also updated as was the silver trim that surrounds them.
• New A/C temperature displays are higher resolution and are now animated like you'll find on the new LS or LC. 2015 and older had calculator-style displays with no animations.
• New rear seat ceiling lighting (now centrally mounted)
• New shift ****
• New steering wheel
• New metal door handles. They were plastic previously.
• Brake Hold
• Updated "frameless" rear-view mirror

From the press release:

• New seat upholstery design & new side stitching pattern
• Ambient lighting color changed from "silky white" to "warm white"
• The double wishbone front suspension & multi-link rear suspension get new coil spring calibration
• Conventional and AVS dampers have been optimized to improve response
• Front stabiliser bar shape and characteristics have been refined

A big upgrade that goes nearly completely unnoticed is what @mkmckinley posted:

These are huge changes, in my opinion, not to be overlooked. There are even more changes when you get into how the two actually drive & perform. The 2016+ GS, while on the surface, seems very similar to the outgoing model, is a very different car and is significantly more refined and well-rounded than it already was.

 

I have no actual data or method to prove or confirm this but as an owner of a 2015 GS F-Sport and both tested and driven loaners of 2016 - 2018 GS F-Sport I can with certainty tell you 100% the handling and overall driving dynamics did change on the 2016+ models. The "on-rails" feeling and suspension feels so much different from the refreshed 2016+ models and are way much softer and don't have that solid planted on the road feeling or handling dynamic. In my opinion I think it feels more like a non F-sport luxury model compared to my 2015. The 12-15 GS F-Sports reminds me allot of my still in use 2002 325Ci (e46), very planted, real road feedback , excellent handling with presence and eats corners for lunch and dinner all day without a hiccup. The 2016+ versions of the GS feel like more of the modern day car's with artificial steering feeling and softer suspensions leaning more toward comfort and quietness with a kiss of sportiness.

 

Preach, signdetres, preach! LOL

 

As someone considering a 2017 GS 350 AWD this thread has been super helpful, thanks!

 

Signdetres - Are you referring to 2016 production years or model years? I've been looking at 2017 model year GS 350's because I liked some of the features that I found, but wondering if I can expand my search to 2016 model years as well.

 

Model years.

 

Great, and thanks for your quick reply. So there is no difference between 2016 and 2017 model year GS 350 AWD's then? I'm seeing a lot of possibly left over leased 2016s on the market, but only a few 2017's that have hit the market from leases so far. I'm thinking as more leased 2017s hit the market 2016 prices may drop some, which interests me if 2016's are otherwise identical to their 2016 counterparts.