I have been reading car mags since I was about 12 years old and that was a long, LONG time ago. Motor Trend has been dead last on my list of trusted sources and for a variety of reasons. Some of the writing in the two quotes posted illustrate my point.
Set up accordingly, the GS 350 AWD’s autobox fires off gear changes like a sharpshooter at the range. While the crisp exhaust notes created when the transmission blips the throttle on downshifts is almost as tasty as the R-Spec’s V8’s rumble.
R-spec's "rumble"? WHAT rumble? At idle or at speed you cannot hear the engine. The 5.0 is as quiet as the V-6 used in Toyota's Avalon and the GS.
And where the Hyundai wallows in turns, the Lexus remains incredibly stable, able and willing.
Wallows? What R-spec did they drive? Mine is a 2012 is it turns flat as a pancake. No wallow. No lean. Nada.
The only blemish on the Lexus’ resume is its too-light electric steering system, something the Hyundai suffers from as well.
I haven't driven a GS lately but the steering in my R-spec does not "suffer" from anything. If anything, it could be marginally quicker.
Overall, the 2013 Lexus GS 350 AWD is the better sports luxury sedan for the money. And we haven’t even mentioned its all-wheel-drive, a must-have for many Canadians in this segment.
There are plenty of Americans who live in areas where AWD is a benefit but if they feel it is a mandatory requirement then they wouldn't be looking at a RWD car in the first place. This reminds me of a Consumer Reports that did a write up on sports cars and dinged one of them for "being too difficult to get in and out of". Idiots!
That isn’t meant to imply that the R-Spec is now a bona fide luxury sports sedan. Sure, its steering is sharper and more responsive, but it still feels artificial. Any extra cornering or braking grip the Hyundai’s 19-inch rubber (one inch larger than the Lexus) may promise is washed away by its extra weight. And although you give up foul-weather driving traction with the Genesis’ rear-wheel-drive setup, understeer at the limit comes quicker than in the GS 350 AWD.
What is "artificial" steering? Either it steers or it doesn't. Apparently the guy writing this didn't ride in the other test car that had "too light" steering. These guys are going out of their way to find fault and they are not able to agree on concise descriptions. I call baloney!
A great many potential buyers live in areas where ice and snow are not issues. There is no penalty for driving an R-spec here and AWD would actually be a waste of money.
Just as the GS 350 AWD delivers a quiet cabin and luxurious ride, the R-Spec is nearly silent when cruising. There’s little wind noise and nary a peep from the road. But when you want to hustle the Hyundai, its wide and soft driver’s seat offers little support, and although its interior is nearly the match of the Lexus for fit and finish, many of the controls seem like add-ons or afterthoughts.
This paragraph would make my old English teacher turn over in her grave - multiple subjects unconnected.
The R-spec is indeed quiet with even less road noise than my previous ultra-quiet Avalon. No vibration. No squeaks. No rattles.
I've never considered the GS a sports sedan and I doubt its driver seats are anything close to a Recaro. You want to hurl either of these cars around the track you would be wise to replace the drivers seat with something made for the purpose. Myself, I would hate to have to wrench myself in and out of a more enveloping seat every time I take the car somewhere. As it is, the seat is comfortable and offers enough support for daily driving off the track. I see no shortcoming here. Cheap shot city.
Nice of the author to throw the R-spec a bone with its comparison to the Lexus fit and finish but I would put the R-spec's fit and finish up against any other car in its class. You could argue endlessly about the design and placement of the dash and controls but I see nothing about the interior that looks like an "add-on". Could there be improvements? Yes. The seat heater controls in the rear could be re-located to a position less likely to be turned on accidentally and the dash buttons could be white-lit instead of the more difficult to see blue back light. But these are refinements, not shortcomings.
Luxurious, the Hyundai is. But sporty? Meh, not so much.
Motor Trend still operates at its usual low level of expertise (tied, I'm sure, to advertising buys). Thanks, but if I want to read total fantasy I'll pick up a copy of the National Inquirer next time I pass through the checkout line.
