Review
/5
- Pros:
- More equipment than you can imagine
- Excellent reliability
- Extremely comfortable
- Cons:
- Poor resale values
- Expensive to insure
- More desirable rivals available for less
reviewed by Carbuyer
"The Lexus LS is comfortable, loaded with equipment and extremely reliable; it's the most luxurious Japanese saloon around but is available with only one engine."
At a glance
- The greenest
- 600h L Rear Seat Relaxation Package 4 4dr
£100,086 - The cheapest
- 600h L 5.0 V8 4dr
£90,636 - The fastest
- 600h L Rear Seat Relaxation Package 4 4dr
£100,086 - Top of the range
- 600h L Rear Seat Relaxation Package 4 4dr
£100,086
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Conceived as the pinnacle of Lexus's car-building know-how, the hybrid-engined LS is Lexus' flagship model. It's packed with hi-tech equipment, offers a huge amount of passenger space and is one of the most comfortable cars on the road. Pitched as a limousine for environmentally aware company chiefs, the LS can run on electric power alone at low speeds. The bland looks won't appeal to all, but build quality is sublime and Lexus has an unrivalled record for reliability. The hybrid system, with its V8 petrol engine and electric motor, offers buyers an alternative to buying a diesel-engined rival, and fuel economy is quite impressive for a car of this size.
Drive
Powerful engine is quick and refined but gearchanges and handling let it down.
The 5.0-litre V8 engine has a hearty 439bhp, so it's certainly quick. The engine is very smooth and ideal for cruising along the motorway. The Lexus' eight-speed automatic gearbox lets it down though, as gear changes aren't anywhere near as smooth as the engine, and it often struggles to find the right gear. A four-wheel-drive system means that the LS has plenty of grip, but it's not designed to be driven hard, as you become aware of its huge size when travelling at speed on narrow roads - the Lexus is most at home on a relaxed cruise.
Comfort
Hushed, comfortable, and flagship versions offer reclining rear seats.
This is the trump card for the LS. It offers an exceptionally smooth ride and is supremely comfortable - it's good enough to square up to the Mercedes-Benz S Class, which is widely considered the best luxury car . There's virtually no wind or road noise, and the electric motor can power the car up to 30mph without needing the petrol engine, so it's even more hushed around town. The ride is superb in every respect. Flagship versions even offer rear chairs that recline like a business class airline seat.
Reliability
Ultra safe, and extremely well built
A total of ten airbags, stability control and a tyre pressure monitoring system are just part of the safety package. Adaptive cruise control helps to maintain a safe distance from the car in front, while the pre-crash sensor system prepares the car for an impact before it actually happens. A lane departure warning system is also available, which alerts the driver if the car is veering out of its lane. Lexus was voted the best manufacturer in 2010's JD Power Satisfaction survey, which proves that the LS is exceptionally reliable.
Practicality
Electric motor eats up boot space but cabin is spacious and LS can virtually park itself.
A 330-litre boot is acceptable for a medium-sized hatchback, but not for a car the size of the LS. The electric motor eats into the boot space significantly, as does the moveable seating system for back-seat passengers. Rivals like the Audi A8 (510 litres) are much better. The Lexus makes up for this with a useful cabin, as there's plenty of space inside the armrest and the door pockets are also pretty big. A park assist feature is available, which means that the car can steer itself into a parking space, leaving the driver to apply only the accelerator and the brakes.
Value for money
More expensive than rivals but spec list wants for nothing
The LS is very expensive, and you can easily buy a more traditionally desirable badge - like a Jaguar XJ or even a Maserati Quattroporte - for less. The trade-off is that you won't get anywhere near as much standard equipment on another car. There's virtually nothing missing from the spec sheet of the LS, as you get a voice operated sat-nav system, electric rear blinds, air-conditioned rear seats, a six-disc DVD player and much more. Resale values are not good, though, as the Lexus loses a big percentage of its value when it leaves the forecourt.
Running costs
Hybrid engine keeps fuel consumption low
For a car this big, the running costs aren't too bad. The electric motor helps to ease fuel economy and emissions, so the LS offers 30.4mpg and 218g/km. Annual Road Tax costs £235, which isn't bad considering the size of the car and its huge petrol engine. Insurance is very pricey, though - the LS sits in group 50, which is the most expensive insurance group of the lot.
*Our monthly finance prices are updated on a regular basis, but due to the dynamic nature of the market are not guaranteed accurate. You can always confirm the monthly finance price with FinanceAcar.
