Well....first post on the Lexus Forum, but not new to Lexus vehicles. I started with the ES300 in 1997, then to the new ES300 in 2002, then to the GS300 in 2004 (model just before the new design) and now, I'm ready to look again. My goal has always been to get to the LS model.

I did my first drive of the LS460 yesterday and wow, what a great driving car. Smooth, quiet, plenty of power, plenty of gadgets....just what I would have expected. This was the first time I drove any LS as I didn't want to feel "tempted" until I felt I was ready for it. I was hoping to be able to test drive the GS450H for a better comparison, but the local dealership had none in...and the next one won't be available/in until Feb 20!

I like the idea of the GS450H because from what I read you get the power of a V8 but from a V6 engine, and, I do like that it is a Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle vs the LS being just an "Ultra-Low". I also like the fact that the GS got slighly better gas mileage, but in reading a few posts in here it appears many have gotten high 20s on the highway from their LS...not too bad either. Of course, it does seem that city is a good 5 or 6 miles less for the LS.

It does appear in comparing pictures of the interior, that the LS is much roomier and the center "section" of the cabin is also much larger (the NAV screen also appears to be wider). I probably should have looked inside the non H GS, to get a better feel, but didn't (oops).

If money isn't the issue, what are thoughts in here on a comparison between these 2 models? I noticed a huge difference in the cabin when I got back in my GS300....will it be similar for comparing to the 450H? Thanks for any comments.

 

first of all welcome to clublexus, i am sure you are going to enjoy it here. let me give you my 2 cents. i have the ls460l (so larger than the normal ls460) and also the gs350. but i have driven enough of the 450h as well

room
it's no comparison. even the normal swb ls460 is going to be a lot bigger than the gs. i had the 1998 gs400 (same size as your 04) and now the gs350, believe me i feel the car is small. especially the head room, the new gs is smaller. and the new gs is no comparison to the ls460 in terms of the interior size. the new ls is wider and longer, and you get quite a bit more rear room as well. if room is something you consider, it's almost no contest the ls460 will win (not to mention a lot more comfortable seats!!!!)

nav
the gs450h has a 7" nav screen, the ls460 has 8" screen. another win for the ls

gas mileage
yes, the 450h will have better gas mileage. it's true that the ls460 on freeway at around 70mph, the gas mileage is incredible, getting 25+ is easy. overall mixed driving and i am getting 21-22mpg, that's not bad for a car of this weight and a v8.

the 450h will like have better gas mileage on the local, so it depends on your driving.

quietness
the gs450h is quieter than the gs350 or the gs460 (coz' of the hybrid battery), but still i think the gs has more road noise than the ls460. every time i jump from my ls460l to the gs350, i told my wife the car is so much noisier (and she agrees)

handling
this i really have to give it to the gs450h. the ls460 doesn't handle bad at all (in fact quite good for the size of the car), but the gs450h has far superior handling, especially with its APSSS. the car is smaller and much easier to drive, and has much less roll compared to the ls460. the ls460 has a worse blind spot than the gs450h.

i don't know how you consider handling so i just want to throw that out

basically to me, comparing the ls460 to the 450h, they are quite different. the ls is clearly a class up from the 450h. but the 450h does have its high points including the gas mileage and the handling. but also keep in mind the 450h has a ridiculous trunk (meaning useless)

 

I am not familiar with all the features on the 450h but I believe the LS is for sure quieter when it comes to road noise. I really like the way the LS drives and feels.

 

Rominl....thanks for the input. I did like what I saw on the LS460 on my test drive and was amazed at how small things felt when I got back in my GS300. If not for the "H" factor of the GS, it would be a slam dunk on getting the LS. If I had to make a decision today it would be the LS....but I have a little bit of time. I am waiting to see how taxes go before pulling the trigger. I don't expect any surprises, but ya never know. I don't do payments, so want to make sure my cash won't be needed for Uncle Sam.

 

definitely try out the 450h, or at least sit in a gs350/460 to compare. i think that's huge difference already

 

First off, welcome to CL!

Both are nice cars, but geared towards different audiences. The GS450H is more of a performance vehicle. The LS460 is more luxurious and will pamper you more, which is expected since the LS line is the Lexus flagship. You could get the best of both worlds and purchase the LS600H

Also, if trunk space is an issue for you, then the 450H is a bad choice. It is very small, especially compared to the LS460.

Best of luck with your decision.

 

from my point of view no comparisson
LS Luxury & Sporty car
GS Pure Sporty car

 

INHOCJP.....whereas I said money was not an issue on the decision between the LS and GS H, the LS600H is another issue, LOL. I guess the issue does come down to, as Saudi said, whether I want a pure sporty car or pure luxury. I'm leaning toward Luxury right now, but who knows, when I test drive the GS 450H maybe I'll have a change in heart!

 

rominl.....on the issue of the Navi "lock"....if I'm understanding all this correctly, there appears to be a 3rd party "fix" that will allow you to input addresses and watch a DVD while driving, correct? I think I saw where this "fix" costs about $300. I am not much of a car tech person, so is this "fix" easy enough for a car dummy like me to do or will there be additional costs for installation? I will be having Lexus transfer my Escort SRX system from my current GS300, and I'm sure they will charge something for that, but wondering what the average cost to install the "fix" would be as obviously they (Lexus) will not install it.

Also, from reading other posts on here, it appears that other car makers do not have this Navi "lock" that Lexus has while driving, correct? If so, has there been any indication from Lexus that they might fix this on their own in the near future? I guess the 7.1 version I keep reading about does not fix it?

Thanks for any information.

 

I agree, but would like to add, GS = Upgraded Toyota Avalon (looks like)

 

Ouch, that is not even remotely true, the GS is build in Tahara, Japan while the Avalon is build Georgetown, Kentucky, they are not build on the same platform, they do not share the same engine. The GS is build from the ground up to be a Lexus and be a contender in the high end, sporty international market while the Avalon is a US only car, build to provide an upgrade path to Camry owners.
There is absolutely nothing in common between theses two cars.

 

My comment was not meant to be derogatory. The Avalon is a very good car, but there are too many similarities between it and the GS; I considered the GS, but that fact alone was why I chose the LS, and in Canada anyway, the difference in price was not that much.

 

One other area possibly to look at, the GS 350 or GS 460?

 

Now for the issue at hand LS460 vs GS450h, I happen to own both cars (Both in Black with the Black interior)...

Both cars are (obviously) Lexus, so they both are and feel extremely well finished and put together, the interior presentation is very similar, albeit everything is slightly bigger on the LS, and that is the main point of the LS on the GS, the LS is bigger, the cabin is more roomy, there is more leg room in the front and back, the Nav screen is bigger, the engine is bigger, everything is bigger on the LS, hell even the steering wheel is bigger ! (Note the GS450h trunk is ridiculously small because of the hybrid batteries)

Habitability definitely goes to the LS.

The LS is also more comfortable and quieter, there is no surprise here, as the GS want to be more sporty, you feel more connected to the road, so it got to be slightly less comfy and more feedback.

Comfort goes to the LS

Handling goes to the GS

Performance is a very tricky one, the V8 4.6L on the LS is given for 380HP and you do feel them when you are flooring it, also you can disable traction control, so hooning is possible if you feel so inclined to do so... Yet the GS450h with his V6 3.5L and electric engine is given for 340HP, slightly less than the LS, but the fact that the electric engine is alway available is a big plus, the GS450h is really doing a good job at maximizing the use of the electric engine when needed the most, like when passing or during strong acceleration, the GS 450h do feel much quicker than the LS.

Performance goes to the GS

I average 21MPG on the GS450h and 19MPG on the LS460, on roughly similar driving conditions.

Gas mileage goes to the GS


Bottom line I think it depend what you are looking for, for a comfortable and spacious family car get the LS, for a sportier car get the GS...

 

interesting. i see so much difference between the two though. the avalon is nice, but it does spell a lot of toyota still with all the plastic panels and parts. and it's still fwd, nothing like the gs