This V8-powered BMW M5 rival costs less than a new Tesla Model 3

Lexus has a long-standing reputation for making comfortable, reliable and luxurious SUVs and saloon cars. They’ve always been very pleasant, but not what you’d call thrilling. That was until, back in 2011, it threw away its sensible hat and gave us the bonkers LFA supercar with its fire-breathing V10 engine.

This opened the floodgates for more crazy performance models from this Japanese Luxury brand. There was the IS F, the RC F and the car we’ll be driving today – the GS F.

Launched in the UK back in 2015, Lexus didn’t manage to shift too many of these cars. According to the website howmanyleft.co.uk, there are just 56 GS Fs on the road today, and one of those is kept tucked away by Lexus. This is the one we’ve been driving.

There were a few reasons this car didn’t sell all that well. Firstly, it cost just over £72,000 back in 2017 which made it roughly the same price as the BMW M5 of the time, a car which had a much larger following in the performance saloon scene.

The BMW was also 90hp up on the GS F, it was faster from 0-60mph and it had an infotainment system which was easier to operate than the infuriating one you got in the Lexus. Programming the sat nav using the weird mouse-based controller was like trying to play Call of Duty while wearing boxing gloves. It was hopeless.

Don’t write the Japanese car off just yet though because, despite what we’ve said so far, the Lexus GS F is actually a bit of a hidden gem. At the heart of this car is something which is very hard to come by these days: a 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated V8.

Turbochargers are great for adding loads of power to an engine, but they can mute the soundtrack. This naturally-aspirated V8 sounds epic, whether you’re just burbling around town or wringing it out to the red line. This would’ve been helped no doubt by Yamaha’s input in the development of this engine.

It’s no slouch either, even if it’s slightly slower than the BMW M5 of the time. It’ll do 0-60mph in just 4.6 seconds, and the gearbox is super responsive when you plant your right foot. All this grunt going to the rear wheels can make it a bit lairy in the corners, especially on the greasy Sussex roads we were driving it on, but if you keep the driver aids switched on it won’t step too far out of line.

The steering is delightful, with the right amount of weight and plenty of feedback to let you know what’s going on beneath you. It’s not quite as pin sharp as an M5, but it’s really not far off.

The most impressive part of this whole package though is that once you’re done making noise and being a hooligan, this is still a Lexus GS. It’s supremely comfortable around town, and not just for a performance car. The interior is also a lovely place to sit, despite the abysmal infotainment system, with lashings of lovely leather and solid metal trim making it feel more special inside than any BMW.

After spending a day with the car we’ve grown quite fond of the GS F’s styling as well. It may not be conventionally pretty, but it is unapologetically bold and angular. All of the sharp creases and angles come together to make something which is properly striking to behold, and the stacked quad tailpipes are a cool touch.

Nowadays you’ll pay anywhere between £30,000 and £35,000 for a used Lexus GS F, much less than a new Tesla Model 3, but good luck finding one. At the time of writing we could only find three for sale in the country, compared to more than 100 M5s of similar vintage.

But if you’re looking for a big, luxurious and ferociously fast four-door performance car, the GS F has what it takes to tempt even the most diehard BMW fans away from their precious M cars. It truly is a hidden gem.

Looking for an easy way to change your car? Then Carwow is the place to go. You can sell your old car for a great price, and get the best deals on a new one. All through our network of trusted dealers and all from the comfort of your home. Tap the button below to get started today.