The Lexus LS is a very unique vehicle, and soon, it will be gone.
At least for a while - one never knows if Lexus will replace it. Well, Lexus probably knows, but like all car companies, they are tight-lipped about future product.
The LS was once the large, silent, luxurious flagship for the brand. It was a tad soft but that was OK - it’s what the buyers wanted. A pillow-soft ride and sound deadening that turned the outside world to “mute” was what made the LS move off of dealer lots and into driveways in nicest American ZIP codes.
Lexus then began sporting the car up, at least in certain trims. Some of this was appearance-based, some was a bit more mechanical. Then, eventually, the entire car got sportier, thanks to swoopier styling that broke from the staid image. This was both good and bad - good, because it made the car more engaging to drive and helped it shed its image as a car only for the AARP set, but bad because with style comes some sacrifice.
Such as interior room.
Shifting Philosophies Changes Mission But Doesn’t Sacrifice Luxury
The LS of recent vintage practically screams “luxury sports sedan”, from the exterior styling to the more-aggressive interior design. And the driving dynamics speak to that same idea, at least to an extent. But the car never feels less luxurious, at least in terms of materials and sound deadening.
The cloud-like ride is gone, but the LS remains quite quiet unless you’re pushing it hard.
At close to 5,000 pounds, this is not a light-weight car, and heaviness keeps the handling from being super sharp. It’s still pretty engaging for something of this size, with well-muted body roll, but you can only push so far before the car starts to feel its weight. Steering that’s a tad too artificial in feel doesn’t help, though using the sportier drive modes improves both handling and steering feel somewhat.
And sure, the ride is no longer soft, but it’s still smooth, and it’s never too stiff, not even when the sportier drive modes are engaged.
The 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 416 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque is the star of the show here. It has power a plenty for merging, passing, or just indulging a wild hair. It’s quiet until you dig deep and get the RPMs up, at which point it comes alive with a pleasant growl that’s still somewhat muted, since this is an LS and not an IS.
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a smooth shifter. This test unit had all-wheel drive, which adds to the curb weight.
Getting Luxurious With The Lexus LS 500 F Sport AWD
As you’d expect, this Lexus came pretty loaded. My test unit had a base price of $86,925. Standard features included LED head- and taillamps, power moonroof, heated steering wheel with leather trim, dual-zone climate control, 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and a digital key.
Selecting the F Sport box nets you six-piston calipers for the front brakes, four-piston calipers for the rear brakes, F Sport-tuned adaptive variable suspension, leather-trimmed heated and cooled power front seats, ultrasuede headliner, and 20-inch wheels.
Advanced driver-aid systems included the Lexus Safety System Plus 3.0, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, intuitive parking assist with auto braking, and a head-up display.
Options included Mark Levinson premium audio ($1,940), the paint job ($3,100), a panoramic glass roof ($1,100), illuminated door sills ($450), rear bumper applique ($95) and a carpeted trunk mat ($130). Total as-tested with delivery and destination fees? $94,990.
Lexus gave this LS an interior that’s as swoopy as the outside, with the idea of having a futuristic theme. The good news is that some old-school touches, like an analog clock, remain. I also find that the recently updated Toyota/Lexus infotainment system is miles better than what it replaced. There are still just enough knobs and buttons to avoid too much user-experience frustration.
The biggest problem is that the headliner felt a bit low - I felt a little cramped in the car, mostly in terms of headroom. Legroom was better, but the spacious cabin of LSs past was missed.
Fuel economy is a not-great 17 mpg city/27 mpg highway/21 mpg combined.
I will miss the LS, for however long it may or may not be gone. I do hope that if Lexus brings it back, it can give it some of the original’s spaciousness and quietness while still keeping the F Sport touches that make the car that much more fun.
A future LS will likely be an EV and/or a hybrid, and perhaps more crossover-ish in stance. The former doesn’t bother, the latter rankles. Here’s hoping that the next LS is a worthy successor to what was once an iconic flagship.
Until then, this is a nice, if not perfect, send off.
Images: Tim Healey
About The Author
Tim Healey is an experienced automotive writer and editor from Chicago. He has covered automotive news at Consumer Guide Automotive, Web2Carz, AutoGuide, and was the managing editor at The Truth About Cars. Tim is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association. You can find him on Facebook, X/Twitter, and on LinkedIn.
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