The Lexus LS, the luxury sedan that once took the world by storm is now in its 5th generation. It has eschewed some of the blueprints that got it to where it is today, no more boxy sedan body design, no more liquid smooth V8, no more isolation chamber cloud soft ride. Lexus undoubtedly pushed the industry on the elements of customer service, reliability, comfort and build quality, and all at a significant value to the Europeans who dominated the luxury sector. But the industry has moved, with the definition of luxury now a bit in flux. We see a much more performance and tech-oriented fascination sweeping the industry, not to mention intense electrification of powertrains themselves. That hasn’t fit well within the Lexus ethos that they so carefully crafted over the first 30 years of the brand. Reliability and durability typically meant using more tried and true vs. shiny and new. And smooth, quiet isolation chambers are often at odds with performance, despite a Lexus GS once (briefly) holding the title as the world’s quickest sedan.
The prior 4th generation LS, the LS 460, was on sale for 11 years, that’s basically 2 lifecycles in the automotive industry. What would Lexus have up its sleeve for the 5th generation? The LS 500 represents possibly the most substantial change in product generation for the LS, starting with the design. Lexus tapped a bit into the coupe-like design ethos we’ve seen in other sedans like the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, the Audi A7 and BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe, but really just a bit. While not as upright as it once was, I also wouldn’t call the shape of the LS as voluptuous as those others mentioned, let alone the jaw-droppingly beautiful Lexus LC coupe, with which the LS shares some of its bones. While the LS is not quite an eye-catching design study, it also no longer affords rear passengers with voluminous space. Think about how many S-Class sedans and 7 Series you see performing executive/black car-type duties. There’s still plenty of legroom in the LS, but the headroom is quite impacted by the new shape. This puts the LS in almost in a no-man’s land of possibly not being a sexy status symbol, but also no longer a terrific transporter or having the magnitude and presence of some of its counterparts. Sure the backseat was fine with our 3 year old in tow, but not sure how many people under the age of 40 are yearning for, or could even afford, the LS.
So who is the LS for? I’m not exactly sure. Like the design, the LS feels like it’s trying to do too much, while not quite hitting any of its marks. Yes, there’s plenty of power with the standard turbo V6 engine pumping out 416 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque through a velvety 10-speed automatic transmission. That’s fully competitive with what is typically on offer in an executive sedan, at least on the initial rung of the ladder, but the Europeans all offer an up-level engine (or two) that can really knock your argyle socks off. The handling of the LS and driving precision, while vastly improved over the last generation, is still not quite what I could call buttoned down and can’t mask its overall size and heft once the weight transfers during any corners. That said, this is readily the best-driving Lexus LS ever, for whatever that’s worth. Where I might yawn or get seasick in an LS 460, the LS 500 was pleasing to slide behind the wheel of, as long as you weren’t in a hurry.
The LS is a great grand touring vehicle. I could see this thing soaking up miles on the highway easily. Materials are soft and rich and the cabin is still relatively hushed inside. The advanced driver technologies were smooth and effective (and they’re going to level up in the 2022 model) and the air suspension on our tester helped cover expansion joints and the like, while the massaging front seats kept driver and front occupant happy. Despite offering multiple rear seat luxury accommodation package levels, I really don’t see the LS as a vehicle in which many will be driven around, given the packaging and headroom constraints back there. So perhaps it’s best for an empty nester couple that wants to stay in a sedan. Indeed there are even some functional elements that could help to that end. You can have the air suspension activate “access mode” which lifts the car to help with entering and exiting the vehicle (in an SUV it would typically have to kneel or sink down for that).
Tech wise, there are improvements inside. The infotainment screen in the LS has been pulled toward the driver with added the functionality of a touchscreen once again. It’s still a bit of a reach for even tall drivers, it’s a welcome return and allows owners to bypass the remote touch trackpad that’s still present. Lexus finally supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, however they do require the use of a USB in the LS. Screen quality, resolution and graphics aren’t dazzling, particularly apparent in the backup camera view. This is especially glaring compared to what we’re seeing elsewhere around technology investments. And that really makes the LS feel older than it is. The LS is only a few years into its product cycle at this point, but the interior is feeling dated even with the recent update. While the gauge cluster is digital, it’s almost comically small given some of the 10-12″ units being offered on even mainstream cars like the Hyundai Sonata. Sure the seatbelt buckles up front raise up to help you click in and then tuck themselves away by about an inch, but it’s really not a great party trick. LS also comes up a bit short in offering luxury points like heated armrests, something the last generation S-Class had in 2014.
At nearly $100,000 as tested, the LS isn’t exactly cheap, but it’s basically on par with where many BMW 740i’s or Audi A8 55’s are priced. Yes, the S-Class now STARTS at over $110,000, but the S-Class is still the sedan to beat, with sales in 2021 nearly quadrupling the LS. The Genesis G90 actually outsold the Lexus LS back in 2017, but has since slipped back below the Lexus, but an all-new G90 is headed Stateside soon and perhaps Genesis can knock the Lexus LS back down a peg or awaken the Japanese brand to compete with more fervor.
I wonder how many more years the LS will have to soldier on before it gets replaced by something new. LS sales have quickly dwindled after a very brief blip with the redesign in 2018, could the LS flagship sedan disappear altogether in lieu of something based on the stunning LF-1 Limitless concept from a few years ago? After such a long cycle with the LS 460, the LS 500 almost seems like an asterisk. The result of Lexus not yet being able to fully commit to something all-electric, yet not wanting to give up a flagship executive sedan. The LS 500 almost seems a bit cobbled together and not nearly the pinnacle of the brand that it typically has been. Even now the newest infotainment is launching on the NX. Will Lexus lead the charge in eschewing the sedan body in favor of something more modern with its next generation? Hopefully it finds a more focused identity of what its flagship can and should be and make Lexus amazing once again.
