The Korea Herald, in cooperation with carmakers, offers a test-driving experience to executive officials at Korean or multinational companies and ranking diplomats here. The opinion above is the author’s own. For any inquiry into this column, please contact jylee@heraldcorp.com. ― Ed.


My daily routine requires me to drive to many different places in Seoul, all at different times of the day, and I must say that I feel much safer and my commute seems quicker and more practical in this marvelous Lexus GS350.

The Lexus model I was asked to test drive seems to perfectly combine a luxury sedan and a sports car. Driving it feels like I am atop a delicious cloud because of the incredible Lexus suspension and silky smooth engine ― which is so amazingly quiet it required me to check a few times to make sure it was turned on, but it also made me feel as though I was surrounded by safety, luxury and the responsiveness of a sports car.

For me, the safety of our family is my No. 1 priority, and this car make you feel like every passenger is totally protected by the numerous safety systems incorporated into the stylish design.

Getting our two kids in and out of their child seats proved easy because of the ample space in the back seats, and the window shades proved very useful when they napped on the way home from school.

The control console incorporated in the rear seat armrests was very convenient, as it allows us to change radio and temperature settings without having to disturb the driver or front seat passenger, and the pass-through door in the trunk would be very convenient for us to place our skis when we travel to Pyeongchang later this month for the annual International Ski Festival.

The seats themselves were amazingly comfortable yet not too soft, so it seems they would be very good toward ensuring proper posture during extended journeys. They include three different lumbar settings, in addition to side and base adjustments that ensure that drivers and passengers of different body types will all be comfortable and arrive at their destinations feeling great.

Another feature that I greatly appreciate is the dashboard being well laid out and with truly useful functions. The designers have used a logical and practical approach that I consider very driver-friendly.

Nowadays too many cars have cluttered dashboards full of buttons you seldom if ever use, and the clean, rational layout of the Lexus dashboard is a welcome example of intelligent design.

The exterior design of the GS350 is a beautiful combination of a luxury sedan’s bold statement, and the sweeping curves of a sports car. The nose is aggressive, I think highlighted by the headlight and grill design, which are a great combination of friendly but bold design cues that are evident all around the body shape of the GS350. The shape of this car is an excellent marriage of classic beauty and modern sports sedan.

Although our family only got to enjoy this car for a few days, we all decided that we would be honored to welcome this amazing GS350 as the newest member of our family.

By Vanessa Passailaigue, Wife of the ambassador of Ecuador in Korea