What is it?

Now nearing the end of its third generation, the GS slots in above the sporty IS and below the luxury-laden LS. It’s sized about like the tremendously popular ES 350, but the GS offers rear-wheel-drive and a much higher price tag – not to mention the optional V8 seen in our tester.

Its basic style is derivative of the original Giugiaro-penned 1991 GS300 (a rebadged Toyota Aristo), but the latest car was introduced for 2006. Smoother and suaver than the second-generation GS – notable for its Shakespearean “Something wicked this way comes” ad campaign – the S190-platform car retains the two-engine configuration of its predecessor.

As enthusiasts, we jumped at the range-topping GS 460 with its 342-horsepower 4.6-liter V8. A hybrid – dubbed GS 450h – was briefly on offer before sluggish sales forced its removal from the North American market.

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    Hill-start assist control
    Hill-start assist control helps to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards when starting on an incline or slippery slope. To engage hill-start assist control, further depress the brake peda ...

    Exterior
    Despite undergoing a redesign for 2010, the GX 460 looks pretty much like you'd expect a large Lexus SUV to look. It's a little sleek, a little rugged and a little boxy; basically, it's a little b ...

    Trunk features
    Cargo hooks Cargo hooks are provided for securing loose items. Grocery bag hooks Luggage mat Pull the lever upwards when lifting the luggage mat up. The lever can be hooked on the edge ...