Lexus GS430 2005 review

But there's no doubting the GS430's technological credibility – the engineers have crammed more into the GS than any Lexus.

A touch of the door handle opens the car and as the cabin is entered there's a sense of either snugness or claustrophobia.

But it's a quiet ambience that is barely disturbed as the engine start button is hit.

The dulcet tones of the creamy V8 are only a distant reminder the engine is idling; the cabin is so well insulated it is a little eerie.

The electrically adjustable leather seats, which are also heated or cooled, are comfortable for long hauls but taller occupants may require more range of movement away from the roofline.

Getting under way at anything from regal/sedate to bank-robbery-departure pace is nonchalantly completed. The V8 is hooked up to a super-smooth six-speed auto, but only at full revs is there anything other than minimal engine noise within the cabin.

Which is a shame as the motor makes such sweet music – the 4.3-litre 90-degree V8 generates 208kW of power at 5600rpm and 417Nm of torque at 3500rpm, outputs which Lexus claims gets the 1695kg sedan from zero to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds, on the way to a 14.4 second 400m sprint and an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.

The company also claims an average fuel consumption figure of 11.4 litres/100km. My time in the GS yielded 13.3 litres/100km, which included plenty of open road work as well as more than a touch of harder work to enjoy the engine note.

Using the manual shift will allow more V8 music to be heard – if you want to bounce it off the limiter, the gearbox will comply as there's no override.

Cruising on country roads offered the chance to play with the adaptive damping system, which offers normal and sport modes.

Most Lexus owners will rarely flick the switch to sport as the standard setting is firmly damped anyway, but the brand's younger target audience might prefer it.

In sport mode, the GS430 tightens up, with more body control immediately noticeable, allowing the GS to be hunted through corners with enthusiasm. Although it still feels like a big car, the variable-ratio power-assisted steering system makes life easier in terms of lock-to-lock movement.

Bringing the cruise to a halt in a hurry is easily achieved with the large brakes and clever electronics, but smooth day-to-day braking requires some practice, as the brake-by-wire system provides little pedal feel.

The steering system is part of the cutting-edge stability and traction control systems – Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) in Lexus terminology – which assists the driver in emergency situations by increasing or decreasing steering assistance as well as influencing braking and power delivery.

The safety technology list also includes a pre-collision system that prepares the seat belt pre-tensioners and has 10 airbags, including dual front-seat knee airbags.

The GS430 radar-controlled active cruise control system works behind other vehicles but lacks the ability to hold a speed when there is no other traffic on a downhill grade.

Night driving showed one of the car's strengths – the adaptive front headlights work unobtrusively but are effective.

The 14-speaker Mark Levinson sound system provides crystal-clear, rich and loud sounds.

The GS430 equipment list is extensive, as you would expect – a fully trimmed leather interior, the smart keyless entry system, stability control, a handy rear-view camera, Bluetooth mobile phone system, 10 airbags and adaptive front headlights.

There are also 18in alloys, satellite navigation, the Mark Levinson sound system, pre-crash safety system, radar-controlled active cruise control, parking sonar and the sunroof.

The VDIM safety system, the adaptive suspension system and the variable ratio steering round out the features highlights.

The GS430 is a keenly priced competitor in its segment, undercutting its German V8 competition by more than $20,000 and the V8-powered Jaguar representative by more than $35,000.