Lexus LS Review 2026

January 2017

Fifth-generation lexus LS launched

Powered by a twin turbo 3.5 litre V6 developing 415PS and 600Nm torque. 10 speed automatic transmission. Initially no hybrid version.

Stretched LC platform is 35mm longer than previous LS limo with a wheelbase of 3,125mm.

Car is 5,235mm long x 1,900mm wide x 1,450mm high. Sits on 19-inch or 20-inch wheels.

Latest generation of Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) helps achieve an outstanding ride and handling balance. This system implements co-operative control of all vehicle sub-systems – braking, steering, powertrain and suspension – to control the car’s basic longitudinal, lateral and vertical motion, as well as yaw, roll and pitch.

The new platform lowers the car’s centre of gravity by placing most of the mass, including the engine and passengers, in a more central and lower position in the chassis. Special braces in the engine compartment and stiff aluminium suspension towers are among a series of features that help bolster the strength of key chassis structures.

An all-new 3.5-litre V6 engine has been designed specifically for the new LS, giving both high power and excellent fuel efficiency.

The engine offers V8-level power without sacrificing fuel economy and minimising noise and vibration. The output figures of 415PS and 600Nm of torque represent sizeable gains compared to the previous V8. The engine’s long stroke and optimised stroke-to-bore ratio contribute to high-speed combustion and the efficiency of the twin turbos, helping the LS post a projected 0 to 60mph acceleration time of 4.3 seconds (with all-wheel drive).

The 2017 LS is the first luxurious saloon car to feature a 10-speed torque converter automatic transmission. The wide bandwidth afforded by the 10 closely spaced ratios is ideal for all forms of driving, helping provide an optimal gear for all conditions.

Five new wheels have been produced for the 2017 LS, including new 19-inch and 20-inch designs. The 20-inch premium wheels have a brilliant look, created with an electroplating technique known as spluttering. All but one of the designs feature a hollow rim structure that helps reduce resonance generated by the tyres.

New seat designs, including 28-way power front seats with heating, cooling and massage functions, exemplify this approach. The organically shaped dashboard design clusters information displays at a uniform height to support the “seat-in-control” layout – the driver can operate all systems without having to change their posture.

The serenity of the cabin provides an ideal stage for the standard premium audio system, or the 3D surround-sound Mark Levinson system, featuring in-ceiling array speakers. The package includes a more inviting graphic user interface; its next generation remote touch control is designed to mimic smartphone operation and can also support handwritten input. In addition to a 12.3-inch navigation display, the LS can incorporate an optional 24-inch colour head-up display – the largest in the world – that projects a variety of information into the driver’s forward line of vision.

December 2017

Lexus LS launched in UK

Offered exclusively as a petrol-electric hybrid featuring the Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid System that made its debut this year in the LC coupe, the 2018 LS is available in four equipment grades: LS 500h, LS 500h Luxury, LS 500h F Sport and LS 500h Premier. All-wheel drive will be available for the Luxury and Premier models. On-the-road prices start at £72,595.

The LS 500h base model comes with 20-inch cast alloy wheels, ultra-slim triple-LED headlights with Automatic High Beam, Lexus Premium Navigation with a 12.3-inch EMV display and 12-speaker audio system, dual-zone climate control with nanoe air quality control and a 360-degree Panoramic View Monitor with pedestrian alert. The front seats have 20-way power adjustment, smooth leather upholstery and integrated heating and ventilation.

The LS500h Luxury benefits from four-zone climate control with Climate Concierge and nanoe technology, a bespoke 23-speaker Mark Levinson QLI Reference Surround audio system and integrated heating and ventilation for both front and rear seats. Fine semi-aniline leather upholstery and 28-way front seat adjustment are also included in the specification.

The LS 500h F Sport amplifies the new model’s dynamic capabilities, both in its exclusive styling and its sophisticated vehicle control systems. On the outside it’s distinguished by its dedicated alloy wheel design and lower-profile tyres, spindle grille with intricate mesh pattern of L-motif elements, visible black brake callipers stamped with the Lexus name and jet black plating details for the side sills, front bumper and boot lid.

In the cabin the three-spoke steering wheel and shift selector have a perforated leather finish and there is an F Sport combi meter with a moving ring design that uses display technology first developed for Lexus’s LFA supercar. The F Sport seats are finished in smooth leather. On the technical front the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management is extended to include control of the F Sport’s Variable Gear Ratio Steering and Dynamic Rear Steering.

All versions of the new LS 500h are equipped with Lexus Safety System+ active safety and driver assistance systems, including Pre-Collision Safety, Dynamic Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition and an Adaptive High-beam System (Automatic High Beam for the entry-level model).

January 2021

Updated Lexus LS priced from £78,900

The 2021 Lexus LS 500h is now on sale to UK customers, benefiting from design and technology advances that deliver improved refinement, comfort and safety.

To improve the car’s drivability, the level of assistance the battery provides to the electric motor and its operating range have been increased, particularly in “normal” driving – when the driver’s applying moderate pressure on the accelerator pedal and only low G-forces are generated. This means acceleration is smoother and more linear and less effort is needed to move faster. That makes for more comfortable driving around town, on winding roads and uphill gradients.

Because the battery is providing greater support, the petrol engine can run at lower rpm, which makes for even quieter operation.

Comfort levels have been raised, too, with a series of technical and design adjustments. These include changes to to the Adaptive Variable Suspension on the entry-level LS grade, more rigid anti-roll bars and a reduction in vertical stiffness of the run-flat tyre.

In the cabin, new padding has been added to the seat cushions and the upholstery has deeper seams to improve body-holding performance and absorb vibrations.

Lexus takes all the effort out of parking with its first fully automated Advanced Park System, provided as a standard feature on the LS Takumi. It is also the first Lexus system and the first in the luxury car segment to have a memory function that will recognise and store details of spaces the driver uses regularly, such as home or office, making the parking process even easier.

It goes further than any previous Lexus parking assistance technology by controlling steering, throttle, brakes and transmission to execute safe and accurate manoeuvres. As well as being smooth and precise, it also operates promptly – quicker than systems on competitor models.

After drawing up alongside a parking space, the driver engages the system which then uses clearance sonars and the Panoramic View Monitor camera to gain a 360-degree view of the area and any obstacles. It calculates the most efficient and safe parking manoeuvre, suppressing the vehicle’s speed if clearance is tight. The live image and clear graphics on the central display keep the driver informed of the vehicle’s path and any obstacles.

It will also operate regardless of whether the space is marked out with lines, or if there are no adjacent vehicles.

The new LS adopts the BladeScan Adaptive High-beam System first seen on the Lexus RX luxury SUV. Fitted as standard to the F Sport and Takumi models, and included in the LS Premium Pack option, it provides a wider and more consistent field of illumination than standard LED headlight systems.

The LS Takumi is equipped with a new digital rear-view mirror, which uses the rear parking camera to provide a clear rearward view, unobstructed by headrests or passengers. It also gives a clearer image in night-time driving or poor weather, and it can be adjusted for brightness and up/down, left/right scaling.

The 360-degree Panoramic View Monitor, standard on all versions, has gained a pedestrian detection function. The motor assistance to tighten the seatbelts during the Pre-Collision System’s operation (in addition to the pretensioners) has been increased.

The 2021 LS is equipped with the Lexus’s latest generation multimedia system, with increased functionality and HMI changes for more intuitive operation.

A new 12.3-inch touchscreen is located on top of the instrument panel and positioned closer to the driver so that it is within easier reach. The functions now include smartphone integration using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, so the driver can access their favourite apps for navigation, entertainment/information and messaging through the car’s multimedia system.

The touchscreen functions include a new call-up switch to give instant access to frequently used controls, such as adjustment of the seat and steering wheel heaters.

Exterior styling changes to the 2021 Lexus LS project added strength, with a reshaped front bumper and a dark metallic finish for the inner surfaces of the spindle grille mesh. The headlamps are housed in slimmer, triple-projector units that accommodate the new BladeScan system (details above) and the daytime running lights are arranged in a new “L” motif. New contrast black and bright machined finish 20-inch alloy wheels are featured on the Takumi grade model.

Lexus has developed advanced paint technology to produce a new shade, Lunar Silver, that provides a flawless finish with a near mirror-like shine. This can be combined with a new Nishijin and Haku interior trim option (Takumi grade) that uses traditional Japanese metalwork and weaving techniques for ornamentation applied to the inner door panels and handle surrounds.

The on-the-road prices for the 2021 Lexus LS are provided below.