Lexus LS

Lexus LS – What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 Lexus LS ranks 2 out of 6 Super Luxury Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 107 published reviews and test drives of the Lexus LS, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The Lexus LS offers one of the finest interiors available anywhere, and an options list longer than any of its major rivals. It’s powerful, but clearly trails European rivals in driving excitement.  In May, Lexus announced that it was temporarily halting sales of the LS due to a glitch in the car’s steering system.  Sales are expected to resume in June.

In the rarified class of Super Luxury Cars, every car does most things very well. Still, the Lexus LS has a distinct personality within that group. The only non-European entry, it offers the quietest, smoothest ride, the longest option list, and, to some reviewers, the most luxurious cabin. However, it can’t hold its own against its German rivals as a performance car.

The LS is driven by a powerful V8 engine (reviewers love its rumbling exhaust note, but you can only hear it from outside the car), and is available with a sport package that includes paddle shifters and a re-tuned, firmer suspension.

The LS is an outstanding highway cruiser and a lavish place to spend a commute, not an Autobahn-storming rival for Germany’s flagship sedans. For many, that will make it the best choice — the LS may be the best of the group at the things most owners need their car to do each day.

And its interior is simply opulent. All super luxury cars offer supple leather, but some reviewers say the grade of upholstery found in the LS is actually a step up from what other manufacturers build into their six-figure cars. Its cabin technologies also raise the bar, including what may be the best sound system available in a car, period.

But perhaps the most important note in its favor is the car’s value — the LS has the lowest starting price of any super luxury car.

Other Cars to Consider

Driving enthusiasts will want to consider the sharp-cornering BMW 7-Series, or the physics-defying Porsche Panamera, at this price point.

In terms of luxury, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a fitting rival, with its exemplary Drive Dynamic multicontour seats (they’re optional), and some reviewers say the Audi A8’s interior boasts craftsmanship equal to the Lexus.

Details: Lexus LS

For 2010, Lexus has made minor exterior changes — but even experienced auto writers say they’re hard to spot. A new sport package is offered, but while reviewers say it clearly firms up the car’s suspension and makes it sharper in the corners, it still won’t turn this car into a BMW.

The LS is available in a well-equipped base trim and extended-wheelbase 460L trim. A hybrid model, the LS 600h, is reviewed separately.

Be sure to check for current Lexus deals that may be available on a new LS.

• “LS base prices start below those of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Audi A8. It is less sporty and more comfort-oriented than those German rivals, but Lexus’ flagship is a Best Buy choice for its power, refinement, standard features, and optional gadgets.” — Consumer Guide
• “Lexus has been mildly – one could even say tepidly – updating many of its 2010 models with slight design revisions and new content to keep them fresh. The LS flagship gets some of these same tweaks, the most significant of which is a new Sports Package for rear-wheel-drive models that includes an upgraded suspension, 19-inch wheels and a unique body kit.” — Cars.com
• “The Lexus LS line may be the quietest, most serene luxury car available. It offers an excellent combination of comfort, space, quietude, and features. It’s also the most electronics-intensive luxury car we’ve ever experienced and, if it weren’t a Lexus, that would give us pause. The LS 460 offers all anyone might want in a luxury car, and at a price that cannot be considered exorbitant.” — New Car Test Drive
• “A top choice for a luxury sedan thanks to its blissful comfort, exceptional refinement and value. Maintaining the Lexus LS line’s reputation as an all-star are such exemplary traits as a silent and super-smooth ride, commendable engine performance, stalwart reliability and undeniable value among competing large luxury sedans.” — Edmunds
• “Lexus’s LS-series sedans have long been highly regarded for their effortless ease, brilliant silence, and impregnable build quality. They’ve also been disparaged for being somewhat soulless. Technology lies at the core of that praise and that criticism.” — Car and Driver

LS Performance – 8.8 (Very Good)

The Lexus LS is remarkably smooth, and requires little effort to drive, even in extended-wheelbase trim. But the car’s designers clearly had a different set of priorities than the engineers behind most of its European competition. The LS is a luxurious highway cruiser with more than enough power for any driving situation, but it lacks the sporty character of most Super Luxury Cars. A new Sport package adds a bit of fun, but still can’t match what BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi offer in this class. Read More

LS Exterior – 7.7 (Good)

Lexus has made subtle updates to the sheetmetal of the LS for 2010, but the car is still an obvious descendent of the first Lexus, the LS400 that appeared more than a decade ago. It’s one of the most conservative-looking cars in a field filled with conservative cars. A new sport package makes the look a bit more aggressive, with a muted dark grille and lowered side rocker panels — but the LS has always emphasized a quiet sense of presence more than a bold sense of style. Read More

LS Interior – 8.8 (Very Good)

You may be impressed with other aspects of the car, but you buy a Lexus LS for its opulent cabin. Lexus cars are known for their fine interiors, and the LS is at the top of the Lexus lineup. Its standard interior is lined in supple leather that some reviewers say is softer than that found in other six-figure sedans — but buyers who aren’t impressed can upgrade with interior options like a built-in refrigerator, Alcantara headliner and the best sound system found outside of a Rolls Royce. Read More

LS Safety – NA

The federal government has never published the results of any crash tests performed on the Lexus LS. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has performed only a front-impact test, but gave the LS its highest possible score. The LS offers a full suite of safety technology including a class-leading 11 airbags, and a new telematics system that will automatically contact emergency services in the event of an accident. Read More

LS Reliability – 10.0 (Excellent)

The 2010 Lexus LS reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power’s automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). In May, Lexus announced that it was temporarily halting sales of the LS due to a glitch in the car’s steering system.  Sales are expected to resume in June. Lexus covers its cars with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty. Like most luxury car builders, Lexus offers services beyond the standard warranty, such as roadside assistance.