Photo: Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: OWS Photography, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Verdict
Large hybrid touring saloon sold in France with the GS 450h (3.5 V6 with 345 hp combined), then the GS 300h (2.5 with 223 hp combined). The available owner feedback is rather positive, but documentation on its faults is thin, and its identified weak point is the 12 V battery. No Euro NCAP rating was found for this generation: check before buying.
- Reliability
- 4.0/5
- Indicative prices
- €11,300 – €31,900
- Monthly cost
- €457
- Euro NCAP
- Rating not found
Which version to choose
Versions to favour: GS 300h.
GS 450h
Hybrid · Automatic · 345 hp · Crit'Air 1
3.5 V6 hybrid with 345 hp combined (L'argus), the only engine sold in France at launch in 2012.
GS 300h
✓ RecommendedHybrid · Automatic · 223 hp · 4.4 L/100 km · 104 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 1
2.5 hybrid with 181 hp combined with an electric motor, 223 hp combined, 0 to 100 km/h in 9 s (Automobile Propre).
Market prices
€11,300 – €31,900
Indicative range: 2012 to 2018, all mileages, asking prices of online listings (private sellers and dealers, Europe).
Collected on 13 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.
Known faults
Front passenger airbag: occupant detection sensors
Severity 3/3 · SeriousIn March 2015 Lexus launched a Limited Service Campaign on certain 2013 model-year GS 350 and GS 450h: the passenger seat sensors, which control activation of the passenger airbag and help detect certain collisions, could misread seat occupancy (NHTSA bulletins, US market). Check with Lexus France whether the vehicle is affected.
- Versions
- GS 450h
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Discharged 12 V battery
Severity 1/3 · AnnoyingAn owner of a GS 300h reports a car that would no longer start after seven months standing at the seller's, the 12 V battery being charged at almost €700 by Lexus (Caradisiac). A thread in an owners' club also covers battery discharge on the fourth-generation GS. Prolonged immobilisation or short journeys should therefore be watched.
- Versions
- GS 300h, GS 450h
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Manufacturer recalls
See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Lexus GS”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.
Real monthly cost
Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated
| Fuel or electricity | €108 |
|---|---|
| Insurance | €107 |
| Maintenance | €26 |
| Depreciation | €216 |
| Total per month | €457 |
⚠ Estimates to treat with caution
- NEDC consumption (older, more optimistic than WLTP) as no WLTP figure is published: fuel is probably slightly underestimated.
- Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
- Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
- Fuel (petrol)€108
GS 300h version: combined consumption of 4.4 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.14 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.
4.4 × 1.15 × 2.14 € × 10 = €108
Petrol price (SP95-E10): French national average on 7 October 2026.
- Insurance€107
Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.
- Maintenance€26
Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.
- Depreciation€216
Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.
Inspection checklist
Lexus GS IV — inspection checklist
Things to check
- Ask for the complete service book from a Lexus network and check the age of the 12 V battery.
- Make sure the car has not been left standing for a long time: the 12 V battery is a reported weak point.
- Ask Lexus France, with the serial number, about any recall campaigns (passenger airbag on 2013 GS 450h).
- Carry out an extended test to check the hybrid system works properly, with no warning message on the dashboard.
- Check the boot: the hybrid battery behind the rear seat limits its volume.
Questions to ask the seller
- Has the 12 V battery been replaced, and when?
- Has the car been left standing for a long time?
- Have the Lexus recall campaigns been carried out at a dealership?
Test-drive tip: read the fault codes
A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.
Electric or hybrid equivalent
No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost
Alternatives
Photo: Guillaume Vachey, CC0
Toyota Camry
VIII · 2019–2024
- Price
- €26,500 – €32,730
- Reliability
- not rated
- Fuel types
- Hybrid
Photo: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima, CC BY-SA 4.0
Volkswagen Passat
B8 · 2014–2023
- Price
- €10,000 – €24,000
- Reliability
- 3/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid
Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Škoda Superb
III · 2015–2024
- Price
- €13,700 – €36,000
- Reliability
- 3.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid
Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
BMW Série 3
VII (G20/G21) · since 2019
- Price
- €17,000 – €40,000
- Reliability
- 5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid
Before you buy: check and equip
Check the history
Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.
Read fault codes
An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.
Parts and maintenance
Compare prices of parts for the Lexus GS IV (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.
Insure the car
Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the boot capacity of the Lexus GS?
465 litres for the GS 450h according to L'argus, the battery being placed vertically behind the rear seat. Encycarpedia gives 450 dm³ for the GS 300h.
Which engines does the Lexus GS come with in France?
Hybrids only: the GS 450h (3.5 V6, 345 hp combined) at launch, then the GS 300h (2.5, 223 hp combined), according to Automobile Propre and L'argus.
Found a listing?
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