Same Car, Less Money: The 2015 Lexus GS 350 F SPORT

The 2015 Lexus GS 350 F SPORT.

Just shy of eight months ago, I reviewed the 2014 Lexus GS 350, in a piece called "What An Extra $5,695 Can Do For Your Lexus GS 350".  By all means, click through and read it, but the summary is that I said that adding the optional F SPORT package to the GS 350 made it a better-handling and more desirable automobile.

2015 Lexus GS 350 F SPORT.

For 2015, Lexus has made the GS 350 F SPORT even more desirable, by changing nothing and lowering the price of the GS 350 itself and of the F SPORT package.  The car, which was $49,950, is now $48,600.  And the F SPORT option drops from the aforementioned $5,695 to $4,825. Which means, in theory, that a 2015 version of the car we drove and loved last year could be had for $2,195 less.

I say "in theory" because press fleet vehicles are rarely optioned the same way twice and this year's test vehicle had only a $1,670 price saving over last year's.  A one-touch power trunk, trunk mat and trunk net are the culprits, but all three are very nice things to have.

As noted last time around, the GS 350 is a very good sedan to begin with, with its 3.5 liter, 306 horsepower V6 mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission delivering strong acceleration and smooth cruising along with an EPA-estimated 19 miles per gallon in the city and 29 on the highway.

What the F SPORT package brings to the equation is rain-sensing wipers, heated and ventilated front seats and a power rear sunshade, 19-inch split five-spoke alloy wheels with dark graphite finish, summer tires, F SPORT adaptive variable suspension, variable gear ratio steering, Sport S+ drive mode, 14-inch two-piece front brake rotors with four-piston calipers, a 16-way F SPORT driver's seat with power side bolsters, striated aluminum interior trim, a black headliner, and an F SPORT front bumper, upper and lower grille inserts, rear valance and rear lip spoiler.  In short, nothing that makes the car faster, but a lot that makes it handle and stop better and some appearance items that tie it all together.

2015 Lexus GS 350 F SPORT interior.

And that is the environment from which you get to enjoy it all.  An interior bathed in leather and aluminum trim, with a 12.3-inch split-screen display for your multimedia, navigation and assorted other information.  As tested, our car came to $59,200.  We loved it last year.  Costing less this year, we love it even more.