2025 Lexus LS assessment | CarExpert


That is the automobile that began all of it for Lexus – effectively, it’s the direct descendent of mentioned automobile.

Rewind all the best way again to 1989 (earlier than I used to be even born), and lots of will keep in mind when Toyota shocked the world with the unique LS400, a mannequin that then-Toyota Motor Company president Eiji Toyoda mentioned was to be “a automobile that’s higher than the perfect on the planet”.

The unique LS debuted the Lexus model, and spearheaded Toyota’s first foray into the premium auto house dominated by established German corporations BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and in North America by Cadillac and Lincoln. Certainly, the Lexus title is a mix of luxurious, export and US.

Greater than three a long time and a litany of further mannequin strains later, and the LS stays the jewel in Lexus’ passenger automobile crown. The LS mannequin designation denotes its flagship Luxurious Sedan standing alongside the LC coupe/convertible and the LX full-size SUV.

Whereas the Lexus LS doesn’t fairly command the highlight within the model’s steady it as soon as did – that’s reserved for the corporate’s SUV vary lately – it nonetheless represents the top of what the carmaker has to supply.

Does Japan’s unique flagship limousine nonetheless have what it takes to compete with the likes of the BMW 7 Collection and Mercedes-Benz S-Class? Learn on to seek out out.

Be aware: Our check car was an MY23 mannequin. Some working modifications have been utilized for 2024 – see article for particulars.

How does the Lexus LS evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Lexus LS towards equally sized autos.

Lexus LS cutout image

Lexus

LS

How a lot does the Lexus LS price?

The LS vary in Australia kicks off at $195,279 earlier than on-road prices, although the LS500 Sports activities Luxurious on check here’s a little dearer at $201,305 plus on-roads.

Mannequin Value earlier than on-road prices
2025 Lexus LS500h F Sport $195,279
2025 Lexus LS500 F Sport $195,875
2025 Lexus LS500h Sports activities Luxurious $200,699
2025 Lexus LS500 Sports activities Luxurious $201,305

To see how the Lexus LS strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability software

What’s the Lexus LS like on the within?

The all-black inside of our check automobile was reasonably uninspiring and demure, however the craftsmanship and a focus to element is top-notch, simply as you’d anticipate.

There’s leather-based and wooden nearly all over the place, and as you’d anticipate from a flagship product the design, construct and supplies high quality is first-class, however the consideration to element and craftsmanship right here actually is excellent, as evidenced by the meticulously constant stitching, panel gaps and the like.

Consolation up entrance is superb, because of the semi-aniline leather-trimmed seats which supply an enormous array of adjustment – 28 methods up entrance and 22 methods within the rear! – in addition to reminiscence, heating and air flow features.

You’re effectively supported by the supple cushions and bolsters, and there’s so greater than sufficient adjustment together with within the electrically-adjustable steering column to seek out the proper driving place no matter your form or measurement.

The LS additionally retains the tried and examined Lexus steering wheel with exhausting buttons, reasonably than the newer unit out of the likes of the NX and RX, which has fiddly touch-sensitive ones. It’s refreshingly old-school however has new tech.

It’s price noting our older MY23 press car had the older 8.0-inch instrument cluster reasonably than the bigger 12.3-inch panel that has been proliferating throughout the Lexus and Toyota lineups.

The color show features a digital singular dial that provides a number of completely different themes and configurations with adjustable widgets and readouts, however the newer and bigger show provides higher decision and much more configurability.

Shifting throughout, the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment show that got here as a part of the mid-life LS refresh is similar as you’ll discover in most Lexus and Toyota fashions lately,

Whereas pretty fundamental in design and structure, it’s far more user-friendly than the outdated Lexus in-house interface and provides a full suite of options and linked providers.

Highlights embrace wi-fi Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, DAB digital and native satellite tv for pc navigation.

You get a complimentary three-year subscription to Lexus Related Companies, which incorporates entry to options like SOS emergency name and auto collision notification.

My time with the LS500 yielded no points with the wi-fi Apple CarPlay, which might’t all the time be mentioned for different multimedia methods which supply this function.

Nonetheless, I’m positive Android customers – together with colleague William Stopford – can be very pissed off on the lack of wi-fi Google smartphone connectivity.

The LS inside hasn’t gone the best way of its German opponents in eradicating bodily buttons, which for a lot of can be a refreshing change in right now’s luxurious market.

Matte completed and with a beautiful smoothness and heft to their motion, the varied exhausting buttons and dials for every part from the local weather management to audio quantity and the sunshades all work seamlessly.

There’s additionally minimal piano black trim scattered all through the cabin, in contrast to in some newer Lexus merchandise, which suggests your LS gained’t shortly fall sufferer to yucky fingerprints and smudges.

Storage is respectable, with two cupholders residing below a folding lid beside the shifter, whereas the under-armrest storage and door bins provide satisfactory house for free gadgets.

Even the decrease sections of the cabin are completed in smooth plastics or padded leatherette surfaces with contrasting topstitching.

It’s additionally price noting that from MY24 onwards the LS added a wi-fi smartphone charger with built-in holder, so you may hold your cellphone juiced whereas it stays linked wirelessly to the infotainment system.

In case you go for the Sports activities Luxurious variant you’ll need to be within the again seats extra so than up entrance, as a result of they provide the cool high-end limousine appointments you don’t actually see outdoors this class of car.

You get powered rear seats which might be virtually like cinema chairs, with the passenger-side rear pew even getting an ottoman in case you modify the entrance seat ahead, providing enterprise class journey. That mentioned, there’s not the palatial form of legroom you would possibly anticipate within the rear.

Fold down the centre armrest and you’ve got contact controls for the rear seat heating and air flow, in addition to some therapeutic massage and adjustment toggles, along with controls for the rear sunshades and rear leisure system.

There’s four-zone local weather management accessible by way of mentioned touchscreen as effectively, and you’ll hook up units to the unbiased rear screens by way of Bluetooth or HDMI. There’s even a Blu-ray participant (keep in mind these) and an SD card slot.

Different enjoyable highlights embrace ceiling-mounted self-importance mirrors with lights, and the aforementioned retractable sunshades can block out each the rear windshield in addition to each rear-side home windows.

Maybe one gripe is the actual fact the small moonroof doesn’t let as a lot gentle in as a panoramic unit, however if you wish to go incognito this blacked-out inside with shades and minimal roof glass is probably going preferable.

Additional again, there’s a wholesome 440 litres of cargo capability beneath the electrically-operated bootlid, with a form that mysteriously appears to be like purpose-shaped to swallow a set of golf golf equipment.

The LS does and not using a spare wheel, and as an alternative rides on runflat tyres.

Dimensions Lexus LS500 Sports activities Luxurious
Size 5235mm
Width 1900mm
Peak 1450mm
Wheelbase 3125mm
Cargo capability 440 litres

To see how the Lexus LS strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability software

What’s below the bonnet?

Each the LS500 and LS500h get a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, although the five hundred straps on two turbochargers whereas the 500h tacks on a hybrid drive system together with a lithium-ion battery and electrical motor.

Specs Lexus LS500 Sports activities Luxurious
Engine 3.5L V6 twin-turbo petrol
Energy 310kW at 6000rpm
Torque 600Nm at 1600-4800rpm
Transmission 10-speed computerized
Drive kind Rear-wheel drive
Weight 2210kg – tare
0-100km/h (claimed) 5.0 seconds
Gas financial system (claimed) 10.0L/100km
Gas tank capability 82 litres
Gas requirement 95 octane premium unleaded
CO2 emissions 227g/km
Emissions normal Euro 5

To see how the Lexus LS strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability software

How does the Lexus LS drive?

In case you’re turning into more and more bored with legacy manufacturers attempting to alter their formulation an excessive amount of, the Lexus LS500 Sports activities Luxurious tends to remain true to the corporate’s roots.

It might put on ‘500’ and ‘Sports activities’ badging in its title, however the flagship LS is refreshingly centered on consolation and refinement, whereas additionally nonetheless being pleasant to steer in case you occur to be the motive force.

Energy supply from the twin-turbo V6 is buttery clean, as is the silky engine word, with the 10-speed computerized seamlessly shifting via its many ratios. It’s bought some punch too, quoting a brisk 0-100km/h time of simply 5.0 seconds.

Bury your proper foot and it’s definitely fast, however such is the insulation from engine noise in addition to the graceful linearity of acceleration that you could possibly be fooled into considering it’s a bit of lazy – till you have a look at the speedo.

The LS claims a faster 0-100km/h sprint than the BMW 740i (5.4s) regardless of costing over $70,000 much less, whereas the straight-six powered S450 4Matic quotes an an identical 5.0s dash, helped by its all-paw traction.

As you’d anticipate, refinement and sound insulation generally is superb, with minimal highway and wind noise permeating the cabin even on coarser blacktop. Flip up that thumping 23-speaker Mark Levinson encompass sound system and the surface world ceases to exist.

Steering really feel is superbly fluid and linear as effectively, with response fast sufficient to make this 5.2m Japanese limo really feel keen and nimble, whereas additionally speaking what’s taking place below the entrance tyres reasonably effectively.

It rides superbly too, no matter whether or not you’re wafting via the internal metropolis or cruising alongside an undulating nation freeway.

The LS’ normal air suspension and adaptive damping do an ideal job of protecting the cabin remoted from lumps and bumps of all sizes and intensities, regardless of rolling on massive 20-inch alloy wheels and low-profile 245/45 R20 tyres.

In Sports activities Luxurious trim, the LS is clearly geared in direction of consolation extra so than outright sportiness and dynamics – get the F Sport in case you’re a eager limo driver – however there’s nonetheless a pleasant steadiness between consolation and engagement.

The bent six seems like a Toyota V6, in that it has a clean word however is pretty uninspiring, and the LS cabin is so effectively insulated that you simply barely hear it until you’ve buried the loud pedal to the firewall.

Lexus’ driver help methods have additionally been effectively honed over time, with the Lane Tracing Help and adaptive cruise management methods combining to facilitate intuitive semi-autonomous help for freeway stints, and there’s principally each different function you could possibly consider included as normal.

The nifty tri-beam adaptive LED headlights provide a matrix-style excessive beam and wonderful front-facing illumination, whereas the array of cameras and sensors alongside the surrounds means parking this Japanese limo isn’t too exhausting.

To see how the Lexus LS strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability software

What do you get?

The LS is on the market in additional driver-focused F Sport trim or the extra chauffeur-style Sports activities Luxurious trim – the latter is on check right here.

2025 Lexus LS F Sport tools highlights:

  • 20-inch F Sport alloy wheels
  • Run-flat tyres
  • Excessive-performance brake bundle
  • Moonroof
  • F Sport exterior bundle
  • Tri-beam bi-LED headlights
  • LED daytime working lights
  • Fingers-free bootlid
  • Auto soft-close doorways
  • 12.3-inch TFT driver’s show
  • 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
  • Apple CarPlay – wi-fi
  • Android Auto – wired
  • DAB+digital radio
  • 23-speaker Mark Levinson audio
  • Acceleration Sound Management
  • Lively Noise Management
  • Electrical rear sunshade
  • Good entry, begin system
  • Good Key Card
  • Head-up show
  • Digital rear-view mirror
  • Twin-zone local weather management
  • 28-way energy modify entrance seats
  • Heated, ventilated entrance seats
  • Heated rear seats
  • F Sport heated steering wheel
  • F Sport leather-accented trim
  • F Sport entrance seats, shift lever, clock
  • Wi-fi cellphone charger
  • Adaptive Variable Suspension – lively damping
  • Air suspension with Entry Mode Management
  • Dynamic rear seating

LS Sports activities Luxurious provides:

  • Removes F Sport exterior, inside styling
  • 20-inch alloy wheels – distinctive design
  • Ventilated rear seats
  • Rear seat leisure system
  • 22-way energy modify rear seats
    • incl. ottoman – passenger aspect
    • incl. therapeutic massage perform
  • Electrical rear-side sunshades
  • Rear cooler field
  • Quick access auto elevate entrance seat buckle
  • 4-zone local weather management

To see how the Lexus LS strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability software

Is the Lexus LS secure?

The Lexus LS hasn’t been crash examined by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.

Customary security options embrace:

  • 10 airbags
  • Lexus Security System+ 3.0
    • AEB incl. pedestrian detection, flip help
    • All-speed adaptive cruise management
    • Blind-spot monitoring
    • Cross-traffic alert – entrance, rear
    • Lane Hint Help incl. Curve Pace Discount
    • Highway signal help – pace indicators solely
    • Sway Warning System
  • Adaptive excessive beam
  • Superior Park Help
  • Parking help brake
  • Pedestrian sensing security bonnet
  • Protected Exit Help
  • Tyre strain monitoring

Sports activities Luxurious provides:

  • Further rear seat cushion airbags (12 airbags complete)

To see how the Lexus LS strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability software

How a lot does the Lexus LS price to run?

The LS is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee and can also be topic to Lexus’ premier Encore Platinum possession program.

Servicing and Guarantee Lexus LS500 Sports activities Luxurious
Guarantee 5 years, limitless kilometres
Roadside help 5 years
Service intervals 12 months or 15,000 kilometres
Capped-price servicing As much as 5 years or 75,000 kilometres
Whole capped-price service price $3975 – 5 years

Whereas the LS’ yearly service pricing of $795 appears a bit expensive over 5 years, it’s price noting the Lexus Encore Platinum program offers you entry to very unique provides and advantages that even basic Lexus homeowners don’t get.

Examples embrace the On Demand program, which lets you borrow a Lexus car free for as much as eight days from chosen airports if you journey, airport lounge passes, and valet parking vouchers at choose buying malls.

To see how the Lexus LS strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability software

CarExpert’s Tackle the Lexus LS

It will not be the point of interest of the Lexus vary anymore, however I’m glad the LS nonetheless exists.

Because the world strikes in direction of higher-riding autos, notably within the premium and luxurious segments, the basic three-box sedan physique model now has a extra unique, area of interest enchantment – and it appears to be like actually attractive in elongated full-size limousine type.

The LS is ignored by not solely many limousine consumers and chauffers, but additionally most top-end Lexus clients, who extra sometimes go for an LX or LC. Towards its direct rivals it’s very area of interest, with simply 11 items discovering Australian properties in 2024, making its BMW and Mercedes-Benz equivalents about 4 instances as fashionable.

However that’s under no circumstances an indicator of its functionality or competence, because the LS is each a lot as lovely to drive and stay with. Spec it proper and it ought to flip loads of heads, too.

For me, given its meant goal, the LS500h V6 hybrid makes extra sense in Sports activities Luxurious spec, because it’ll seemingly spend extra time in bumper-to-bumper site visitors within the metropolis, or no less than congested suburban/airport freeways throughout peak-hour, the place it could lower gas consumption in half.

I feel the fantastic thing about the LS is the actual fact you must be ‘within the know’ to need one and purchase one. This isn’t only a tarted up Toyota Camry or black cab particular; that is an unique, high-end product that you simply order within the again room of the dealership.

The demure specification of our check automobile isn’t actually to my style, however the luscious crimson and blue paint choices obtainable, in addition to the tan and crimson inside leather-based choices, could make this automobile really feel very particular.

Even higher, there’s the choice of matching wooden trim and even the attractive Kiriko Glass ornamentation that’s distinctively Japanese and in contrast to something you’ll see on the choice record for a 7 Collection or S-Class.

Then there’s the value. Sure, $200,000 is some huge cash, however you may pocket the $40,000-$70,000 you’ll save from not shopping for an equal German limousine and spend it on designer equipment or a luxurious vacation.

Inquisitive about shopping for a Lexus LS? Get in contact with one among CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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