The 2023 Lexus LS 500 Is Right here To Save The Luxurious Sedan
Are sedans useless? Have we rolled over into a brand new period of both coupés (as mentioned by Jeremy Clarkson) or SUVs? Fortunately, manufacturers like Lexus are nonetheless making the case for the tycoon saloon, particularly with the 2023 Lexus LS500 AWD F Sport.
Within the ’80s the minds at Toyota needed to create one thing to go nostril to nostril with the luxurious, spacious, quiet sedans of Germany. The reply to this was to create the LS sedan and, thus, the Lexus marque on the similar time. The primary era was a blocky design with two-tone paint, RWD, and a V8. It was principally pushed by outdated individuals in Florida (or a minimum of, that was the vibe.)
Lately, nonetheless, the fifth-generation LS has developed right into a extra aerodynamic, gas environment friendly machine even swapping the V8 for a twin-turbo V6 with sufficient type to win a Met Gala award. That mentioned, new comers just like the Genesis G90 provide worth and luxurious. Lexus tossed us the keys to see if the LS nonetheless stands on the high of the category for fans or if it nonetheless holds on to that ageing Floridian stereotype.
Key Options
- 3.4-liter Twin-Turbo V6
- 20″ Wheels
- 10-Velocity Computerized
- AWD
- Lexus Interface With 12.3″ Touchscreen
Specs
- Make: Lexus
- Mannequin: LS
- Section: 2022 Sports activities Sedans
- Engine/Motor: Twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 / 3.5-liter V6 hybrid
- Horsepower: 354-416 hp
- Torque: 350-442 lb-ft
- Drivetrain: Entrance-engine, RWD / AWD
- Transmission: 10-speed computerized / 4-speed computerized CVT
Professionals
- Excessive Fashion
- Extraordinarily Snug
- Beats Most Opponents On Worth
- Highly effective Engine, Sufficient Enjoyable To Drive
Cons
- Lacking Tons Of Commonplace Options (i.e. No Commonplace Heated Rear Seats)
- No V8
- Rear Headroom Can Be Tight
The Lexus LS Exterior Is Styled Like An Artwork Faculty Thesis Mission
Anybody who has seen a Lexus previously few years will inform you, the styling makes an announcement. The fifth-gen LS has been comparatively unchanged since 2017. However in 2020, Lexus did some pushing and pulling giving it a facelift worthy of a Hollywood Oscar. We cherished the 2023 IS500 after we reviewed it and people styling cues are current right here. Not like the small IS, Lexus has stretched and tightened the design of the 2023 LS 500 to match the lengthy, lean physique. This design places the LS in a very totally different class in comparison with its full-size luxurious sedans rivals. The BMW 7-Sequence, as an illustration, seems to be down-right boring subsequent to this factor, to not point out prices almost $20,000 extra.
Our 2023 Lexus LS 500 AWD had the F Sport bundle ($88,545 as examined) which added some further styling goodies. The distinctive entrance bumper and grill, F Sport badges, and 20″ Darkish Vapor (what a reputation!) chrome completed wheels and accents solely added to the already hanging lean traces. It is the standout sedan within the C-suite company designated parking zone. The lengthy traces coupled with the lengthy nostril and excessive belt line give the LS a extra swept-back silhouette than you would possibly count on from a full-size sedan. The 2023 Lexus LS 500 consists of LEDs throughout, and some F Sport badges close to the A-pillar. It does not yell F Sport, and we appreciated that.
No V8, However A Nice Twin-Turbo V6 For The Lexus LS 500
Regardless of seems to be that beat the rivals, if horsepower is your thought of luxurious, then Lexus falls behind. There are solely two powertrain choices, a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 with a 10-speed computerized good for 416 hp, or a hybrid choice utilizing a 3.5-liter V6 with two electrical motors for 354 hp. The hybrid, value noting, is round $36,000 extra. That is alot of inexperienced to go inexperienced. And if you need an enormous V8 just like the twin-turbo model within the Maserati Quattroporte, you may have to look elsewhere.
The F Sport trim on this case is extra of an look bundle, although it does add a sport-tuned adaptive variable suspension Sport S+ modes that made us smile after we bought heavy on the pedal. Value noting, nonetheless, in a automobile with a lot soundproofing we’ve got a hunch Lexus pipes within the clear engine word via the speakers–something a variety of different manufacturers do as nicely.
The F Sport trim on this case is extra of an look bundle, although it does add a sport-tuned adaptive variable suspension. Lovely aluminum steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters and numerous drive modes work in tandem to dial in no matter your journey requires: errands or twisty again roads. Lexus, like many different luxurious manufacturers, affords an eye-popping checklist of choices that common individuals such as you and me would count on for them to incorporate. To entry a lot of these packages, nonetheless, it’s important to depart the F Sport trim and go for the bottom LS 500. Then begin your spending. Plenty of spending. For example, you may go for the $7,800 Dynamic Dealing with Bundle which provides rear-wheel steer, energetic stabilizers, and variable gear-ratio steering.
General, the 2023 LS 500 F Sport AWD dealt with higher than we anticipated for the dimensions, almost 5,000 lbs. It is a cruiser able to tackle a whole bunch of miles of freeway with out sporting you out, however has sufficient punch and energy to not bore you round city.
The LS 500 Inside Overwhelms With Supplies, Fashion, And Choices
Lexus is aware of how one can separate themselves from the pack and that’s with design. They don’t seem to be the quickest or maintain the identical stage of badge pedigree {that a} Mercedes-Benz S-Class brings. Nonetheless, opening the solid-but-not-too-heavy door on the 2023 Lexus LS 500 overwhelms with magnificence. Our Circuit Purple inside was minimal but additionally very complicated, like an artwork faculty thesis mission. Suede, leather-based, chrome, gloss-black, aluminum, and glass are all layered on high of one another from the middle console to the doorways. It’s extremely intricate. You’ll be able to even go for the hand-folded from a single piece of material, door trim. Why? Lexus.
One of many first issues we observed was that they’ve lastly performed away with the foolish observe pad setup (thanks!) and opted for a large 12.3-inch touchscreen with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android. Their new infotainment additionally makes use of pure speech recognition which means you may management among the capabilities with “Hey, Lexus.” After all the LFA-inspired gauge cluster and drive mode selector carry over into this luxo sedan in a similar way to the smaller IS and GS.
If you happen to get bored speaking to your automobile, a minimum of spend a while perfecting your seat. Our 2023 Lexus LS 500 F Sport supplied a mind-blowing 28-ways of adjustment. The F Sport trim seats with embossed logos on the headrest even have a bucket-like design providing extra bolstering. Being a luxurious sedan supposed for both the driving force or the rear-seat passengers, Lexus affords some goodies for these using with you as nicely. They get self-importance mirrors and ample legroom. In addition they get management over the rear sunshade and entrance passenger seat making certain a snug experience to your passengers. It was so roomy and quiet, in actual fact, I used it as my workplace after I interviewed Richard Rawlings for an article.
As luxurious because the 2023 Lexus LS 500 is, we’re a bit confused by how a lot was optionally available or not noted. There have been no rear seat heaters, aspect sunshades, or local weather management for instance. No 360 diploma overview digital camera. The LS had wi-fi Apple CarPlay, and so forth. however not wi-fi charging. The speaker system was a $1,940 improve, pano glass was an additional $1K, and the head-up show was an additional $1,220. And for these wanting pure luxurious, the Government Bundle with Kiriko glass raises your price ticket by $23,380. After all that is rear-seat management screens and reclining choices akin to the Lexus LX 600 Extremely Luxurious.
Higher Than Ramen
The excellent news is that the 2023 Lexus LS 500 is a superb alternative for full-size sedan followers. It shines in relation to design, driver expertise, and it is priced nicely beneath the rivals. Plus Lexus continues to win reliability awards, one thing most rivals cannot declare. Nonetheless, you may quickly meet the rivals price-point or exceed it with all the additional goodies you’d need (slash count on) at that stage. And there’s no V8 choice. Lexus places the ball in your courtroom in relation to the way you need to outline luxurious. They have a tendency to take a quieter strategy and for a lot of, that can land precisely them the place they need to be. General, the 2023 Lexus LS 500 remains to be a winner. Even when Lexus does not take a cue from our LS Wagon render, we count on the luxurious sedan that began the Lexus moniker to proceed to be flying down highways and rolling into gated communities for a very long time to return.
