2024 Lexus LS500 Sports Luxury review

09/27/2024 10:00 AM

2024 Lexus LS500 Sports Luxury

Ever since the first LS was released in Australia, the Lexus brand, and the LS model specifically, has come to symbolise everything that is luxurious about the premium Japanese manufacturer. Its ability to separate, elevate and create a distinction between it and parent company, Toyota, has been masterful. If you don’t believe me, try telling a Lexus owner they are driving a Toyota.

Also, like S-Class for Mercedes-Benz, or 7 Series for BMW, the Lexus LS is undoubtedly the vehicle that showcases the very best the brand can deliver. In truth, any Lexus delivers a luxury experience, but there's something about the LS that makes the statement even more strongly. It could simply be that in Japan, the luxury sedan is still the ultimate status symbol – despite the growing weight behind the SUV takeover.

Aussies don't love large sedans as much as they used to – we know that simply by looking at the sales charts. Sure, we love what they define and what they are, but we don’t love them enough to buy them in big numbers. SUVs – in all their various shapes and sizes – sounded the death knell for the large sedan, and that shows no sign of slowing down. However, in the luxury space, large sedans remain popular and desirable. 

On the driving experience alone, you're left wondering why more Australian buyers don't consider a large sedan – especially when they are as competent in an all-round sense as the Lexus LS. There's no doubt this segment with its hefty price tag isn't for everyone, but if you're looking at an SUV above 150 grand, you should absolutely divert to a large sedan as part of your consideration set, because the sense of luxury is still a strong point.

How much is a Lexus LS500?

The LS range is an easy one to decipher, with two models (one hybrid, one non-hybrid) and two grades for each. The LS500h or the LS500 we're testing here can both be had in either F Sport or Sports Luxury guise. Pricing starts from $195,279 for the LS500h F Sport, the next step up being LS500h Sports Luxury, which starts from $200,699, while the LS500 F Sport starts from $195,875 and the LS500 Sports Luxury we're driving here starts from $201,305. All those prices are before on-road costs. 

Our test vehicle has no options added, meaning you will just need to factor in delivery and drive-away costs to work out how deep your pockets need to be. Indicative drive-away pricing at the time of testing in NSW was $223,684. 

How big is a Lexus LS500?

The Lexus cabin is, when compared to the other vehicles in this segment, up with the very best. Personal tastes might extend to the type or brand of leather a European manufacturer uses, or the appearance of some of the design features, but in regard to comfort, quality, fit, finish, and the soft-touch surfaces, the LS is nothing short of exceptional. 

For mine, sedans, especially at this level, still make the ultimate luxury statement, and the LS does that whether you're in the front or rear seats. The front seats have huge electric adjustability and functionality, the steering wheel is electrically adjustable, and the seat itself is like a leather armchair you'd have in your TV room at home.

It's comfortable, firm enough without being too firm, and not too squishy that you sink into it either. Lexus has a habit of delivering genuine seat comfort regardless of the model, and it has done that once again with the LS. 

Forget harsh or scratchy plastics, there are none of them. Anywhere. Every touch surface feels premium, and there's a muted classiness to the cabin in general, which is reflected by the choice of materials. The door pockets are useful, as is the centre console box, which is big enough to store whatever you need to hide away. Even the smaller detail of being able to hide the cupholders when you're not using them shows attention to detail. 

In the second row, you'll be sitting in a seat more akin to business class on a plane than something that has four wheels and negotiates a run through traffic to work. The outboard seats in the second row recline, and are heated and cooled. Regardless of how tall the front occupants are, there's so much room back there, it's almost silly. Even if you've got four adults in the car all taller than 185cm, there's plenty of space and comfort on offer. 

Second-row occupants get their own HDMI screens as well, along with specific headphone jacks so they can watch whatever they want without annoying anyone else. The built-in sunshades are a clever addition, and while you can fit three across the second row, I prefer to think of the LS as a four-seat limousine. There’s 480 litres available in the boot, too, which is useful if you are touring four-up.

Does the Lexus LS500 have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

The 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen is the broad centrepiece of the interaction between driver and LS. Lexus listened to feedback, too, and sharpened up the controls and the response of the system, meaning it’s an easy (and good) one to use. You also get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with built in satellite navigation if you prefer not to use your smartphone. The 23-speaker Mark Levinson audio system is a cracker too.

As part of changes rolled out in 2023 the infotainment system has been updated to the latest generation system found in models like the RX, NX, and LX. It deletes the old console-mounted touch controller for a responsive touch screen with a wide range of voice commands. Controls for the rear sunshade, seat heating and cooling, and heated steering wheel now reside in a much more accessible switch panel where the touchpad used to be.

In the second row, there are dual 11.6-inch screens for the rear-seat occupants, with HDMI inputs, which ensures occupants will be kept entertained on longer road trips.

We found the wireless Apple CarPlay connection to be bulletproof on test, and the proprietary satellite navigation system also worked well. Previous criticisms of the infotainment software are no longer relevant, with this new system revised and vastly better to use.

The wired connection remains for Apple users if you want it, and for Android users whether you like it or not. I actually prefer a wired connection, but many of you will prefer the wireless connection when it’s available.

Lexus provides three years of complimentary access to Lexus Connected Services, which allows a paired smartphone to check details like fuel level and vehicle location, review details of recent trips, send navigation destinations to the car remotely, set up guest driver profiles, and more.

Is the Lexus LS500 a safe car?

The LS has not been crash-tested by ANCAP. Not uncommon at this expensive end of the market, but that means we can't report on the results of the usual crash tests.

The cabin is equipped with 12 airbags including the usual front, side (front and rear), and curtain airbags along with knee airbags for front seat occupants, and additional rear seat airbags specific to the Sports Luxury mode to provide additional protection with the seats reclined.

What safety technology does the Lexus LS500 have?

The LS500 has 12 airbags, autonomous emergency braking, which features a high-speed, radar-based system, pedestrian and cyclist protection, intersection assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign assist, rear auto braking, adaptive headlights and a panoramic parking camera system. 

How much does the Lexus LS500 cost to run?

Speak to any Lexus owner and the one thing they will rave about is the ownership experience. There's a good reason for that too. Lexus Australia is aware that at the luxury end of the market, looking after your owners, retaining them, and ensuring priceless word of mouth is the way forward, and that's exactly the way the brand tailors its treatment of owners.

Buy the LS and you get Lexus's regulation five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, but the key addition to that is three years’ complimentary membership to the brand's premium 'Encore Platinum' experience. That includes three years’ access to Lexus on Demand loan vehicles (of you wanted to switch to s party coupe or capable SUV for a weekend away) a service loan car, Ampol fuel discounts, valet parking and airport lounge access (where available) and a range of invites and special offers.

Lexus offers a five-year capped-price service program. The price for the first five years of servicing is $795 per year (due every 12 months or 15,000km). That's sharp considering the heady space the LS sits in. 

The LS500 costs $3781 per annum to comprehensively insure. This total is a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

Is the Lexus LS500 fuel-efficient?

Lexus claims a combined fuel-use figure of 10.0 litres per 100 kilometres, and with an 80:20 city/freeway mix on test, we used 12.8L/100km, which is acceptable for a vehicle of this size. On the highway specifically, the live reading sat in the 9-10L/100km on test. Expect the LS to be surprisingly efficient on a long-haul road trip out on the open road.

On that note, the LS requires premium fuel and has a decent 82-litre tank, so you won't be stopping too often for fuel when you are on the road unless you need to. 

What is the Lexus LS500 like to drive?

The driving experience – in any Lexus really – but somehow more starkly delivered in a sedan, is sublime. It's a potent reminder of why the sedan is such an enjoyable way to undertake any drive. Whether it's the slog to work in traffic or a longer drive out exploring the country. Buyers place such a premium on the ride height of an SUV these days that many are blind to the driving enjoyment that comes behind the wheel of a sedan.

Whereas the LS was previously built around an impeccably smooth V8, modern demands and expectations have not left it immune to the inevitable downsize. As such, this model is powered by an effortless 3.5-litre, twin-turbocharged V6 engine that makes 310kW and 600Nm, and sends that power to the rear wheels through a 10-speed automatic. 

If driving, and the driving experience as a whole, gets any smoother, we're yet to sample it. There is something undeniably stress-free about how the LS tackles any situation, at any speed, on any road, via a beautifully matched driveline. The LS we're testing sits at the top of the model grade tree, and it feels like it. 

What's most interesting, even for a traditionalist or someone who loves the sound and potency of a V8 engine, is the way in which the V6 propels the big LS. On paper, or on the move, the only thing you'll miss is the exhaust note that only a V8 can provide. In terms of the power delivery, turn of speed, roll-on acceleration and general effortlessness, the V6 is a stellar performer. And, with all that said, the engine note is still enjoyable up near redline. If you're less of a purist who just wants luxury, the hybrid is the LS you should buy. 

Something you'll enjoy if you're driving an LS for the first time, or stepping up from an older model, is how tight and responsive the LS feels. We're not talking Toyota GR86 levels of feedback here, but you will be surprised how engaging the drive experience is. The engine is punchy, quite down low, with that raspy note up at redline, and there is that feeling you used to get from the old V8 as you run to redline.

While some of you may prefer the snappiness of a dual-clutch transmission, we love the inherent smoothness of the traditional torque converter automatic. In this car, for this segment, it's the best transmission to have. 

The steering is likewise excellent for a vehicle of this length, with just the right amount of electric assistance, and the front end always feels under control. The LS feels sportier and more direct that you expect it to, which makes for a fun drive if the mood takes you.

The ride is, as expected from Lexus, consummate on any surface. Lexus has once again delivered impressively in regard to comfort, without any of the dull floating or wafting. However, the LS does feel like it's floating – over nasty road surfaces specifically – but not in a way that detracts from the driving experience. If there's to be the perfect blend of comfort and control in a large vehicle, this might well be it. 

Its 20-inch wheels and run-flat tyres don't make that job easy, and even with adjustable air suspension under the skin, it's difficult not to be impressed with what Lexus has achieved. If you're on a country road and you encounter a nasty pothole you can't avoid, you'll feel it through the chassis, but it's only the biggest hits that register. 

Chassis insulation and refinement on the move are also excellent. There's that beautiful sense of calm you get in a truly insulated cabin, as soon as you close the door, and almost nothing that's going on outside can interrupt that sense of calm either. With the windows up and the exceptional audio system playing your favourite tune, you can barely hear the engine, wind or road noise, even on coarse-chip freeways at 110km/h. 

Should I buy a Lexus LS500?

The way we see it, you can't investigate the luxury segments unless you take Lexus into consideration. The build quality, technology, standard inclusions, and ownership experience demand it. As such, if you're looking for a luxury sedan, the LS is one you should take a very close look at. 

The hybrid is the more frugal choice, claimed to cut fuel use effectively in half, but there's a level of driving enjoyment the non-hybrid LS delivers, which is at odds with the limousine-like perception of the segment. Whichever drivetrain suits your desires, the LS is the consummate large luxury sedan – which is nothing less than what we expected from Lexus. 

How do I buy a Lexus LS500? The next steps.

The next step on the purchase journey is to check the Lexus website for stock of your preferred LS model. You can also find Lexus cars and SUVs for sale at Drive Marketplace. The simplicity of the Lexus LS range means you’ve probably already decided which is the model for you.

We strongly recommend visiting a Lexus dealer to book in for a test drive before committing because personal needs and tastes can differ. That’s even more relevant in this luxury segment, when you take into account the premium nature of the Lexus experience. Find your nearest Lexus dealer via this link. We'd also recommend test-driving the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series and Audi A8 to cross-reference the best in the segment.

If you want to stay updated with everything that’s happened to this car since our review, you’ll find all the latest news here.

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