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COMFORT AND QUALITY | 6 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
ample leg room, but only average head clearance
ConsumerGuide
taller riders may not find enough backseat legroom
ForbesAutos
trunk space is much tighter than other GS models
Edmunds
the [CV transmission] created a sonorous racket
Car and Driver
The 2008 Lexus GS 450h pays a price for its sexy styling and hybrid powertrain—namely, in a cramped trunk and rear seat, as well as a noisy drivetrain.
According to Edmunds, this Lexus 2008 model is "spacious enough for five passengers," but "accommodates four more comfortably as the elevated rear center cushion makes for a tighter fit in the middle position." ConsumerGuide notes that "six-footers get ample leg room, but only average head clearance...taller-still drivers will feel cramped." This source attests, however, that "seats are all-day comfortable." ForbesAutos confirms this impression: "seating is comfortable, though taller riders may not find enough backseat legroom or front-seat headroom."
Because the 2008 Lexus GS 450h is a hybrid that depends on batteries, major sacrifices had to be made in terms of cargo space and storage. Cars.com notes "due to intrusion from the hybrid system's two battery packs, trunk volume shrinks from 12.7 cubic feet in non-hybrid GS models to 7.5 cubic feet in the GS 450h." In addition, "bulky rear wheel arches intrude," and the "small opening makes for awkward loading," according to ConsumerGuide. This 2008 Lexus's harshest critic, Car and Driver, nonetheless concedes that "damped lids ease open to reveal small nooks, [and] hinged panels enhance the usefulness of door pockets."
Despite its other shortcomings, this 2008 Lexus still retains the upscale interior materials of its siblings; Car and Driver acknowledges "the GS 450h excels in small details." Edmunds notes "a luxurious and well-crafted cabin" but adds "the control-oriented drop-down dash panel to the left of the steering wheel can get in the way of the driver's exit if left open."
Noise levels aboard this Lexus 2008 vehicle are unacceptable for an upscale luxury car priced in the high five figures, however; Car and Driver reports that "with the waxing and waning of the power system, the [CV transmission] created a sonorous racket described by another chronicler as 'somewhere between a gas turbine and a vacuum cleaner.'" ConsumerGuide adds that while this Lexus 2008 model "equals most any class rival for hushed refinement," it notes "coarse-surface tire thrum."
Conclusion
For a "luxury" car, the 2008 Lexus GS 450h could offer a lot more in terms of trunk space--not to mention peace and quiet.
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