Whether it’s busy chauffeuring T’Challa around or simply trying to win over the hearts of luxury saloon buyers around the world, Lexus’ all-new LS flagship is without a doubt a very attractive car.
It’s not perfect, at least according to most reviews we’ve seen, but if you just focus on its design, comfort levels and attention to detail, you might just fall in love. That’s as long as you don’t expect it to handle as well as, say, a BMW 7-Series – but few cars in this segment manage to do that anyway.
A well-spec’d LS500h can get to $120,000. Does it justify that price? Doug DeMuro set out to discover just that.,
First, he discussed the car’s very expensive options list. What stands out the most is the Executive Package, a $23,000 option. You can almost buy a 2018 Toyota Camry with that money.
Well, the Executive Package does add Kirko Glass, hand-pleated interior door trim, perforated semi-aniline leather interior trim, a 28-way power driver’s seat, Ultrasuede headliner, Power Front seat buckles and heated rear seats, power reclining outboard rear seats, four-zone climate concierge, power side-window sunshades, a 7-inch touchscreen controller and rear-seat knee airbags. So yeah, it’s pretty luxurious, if that’s what you’re after.
Then there’s all the clever tech, like the advanced 360-degree camera system or the heads-up display that warns you about incoming cars when you pull up to an intersection.
On the road, despite only having a six-cylinder (a bi-turbo 3.5-liter V6 to be precise), the 2018 LS500h is pretty sprightly in a straight line according to DeMuro, who also pointed to the car’s excellent sound insulation and ride quality.
Does it make for a credible alternative to the 7-Series, A8? And if so, is it really wise to spend $120k on it? Click on the following video and find out.