Introducing the 2020 LS 500, Lexus is letting loose. With its astounding build quality and dependability, the original Lexus LS stunned the world at a price that was less than that of a comparable Mercedes-Benz or BMW at the time.
One of the first LS models amassed 1 million miles, demonstrating how durable they were. But because people buy luxury cars for irrational reasons, Lexus needed to create vehicles that could win over customers emotionally as well as rationally.
The LS received more expressive exterior and interior styling for the 2018 model year, giving it a distinct personality that previous iterations of this large sedan lacked. In order to keep up with competitors like the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the LS also received a tech and performance upgrade.
A 2020 Lexus LS 500 with all-wheel drive and the optional F Sport performance package served as our test vehicle (rear-wheel drive is standard). The car cost $89,555 when it was tested, which is about $13,000 more than a base model.
Interior and exterior
The 2020 LS 500 makes a valiant effort to avoid being monotonous, much like other recent Lexus models (and those of parent company Toyota). The LS 500 distinguishes itself in a way that its German competitors do not, from the enormous “spindle” grille to the headlights that appear to have been created by Zorro. The exterior of the 2020 model also functions as a cohesive whole, in contrast to the previous-generation LS, where many of these styling additions were made after the fact.
Even better is the interior. With aluminum trim pieces flowing across the dashboard and hand-folded pleats on the doors, it not only has a unique appearance but also high-quality materials. Nearly everything you touch is made of leather or real metal. On our performance-oriented F Sport test car, Lexus omitted the customary wood trim, but it is an option.
Additionally, the inside is vast, but that is to be anticipated in this context. Although the Lexus is roomy, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Audi A8 provide more headroom in the front and back, respectively. Additionally, the BMW 7 Series has a larger trunk and greater legroom in the front than the Audi.
German competition can’t compare to the LS 500 in terms of uniqueness.
Driver assistance, tech, and infotainment
Lexus hit the mark on design but missed the mark on technology. A 12.3-inch central display panel and a digital instrument cluster are also part of the infotainment system (our test car had the optional head-up display as well). Although the display visuals were legible and crisp, the uncomfortable Remote Touch Interface trackpad is used to control everything.
The user must move the mouse around the screen like on a laptop when using this interface. The trackpad is still challenging to use while driving even though Lexus has made considerable advancements over earlier versions (the most recent version includes handwriting recognition).
Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility are included with the LS as standard features, however Android Auto is not. It’s likely that Android Auto will be added to the LS in the future. The technology was offered to several Lexus cars for the 2020 model year. However, Lexus hasn’t outlined a concrete date.
Unlike most other new automobiles, Lexus did still come with a CD player, which is a unique feature. Lexus obviously has a penchant for retro media because the SC 430 was the final vehicle sold in the US with a cassette player.
The Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 suite of driver assistance features is standard on the 2020 LS 500, as it is on the majority of the Japanese automaker’s other models. This features lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automated high beams, lane sign recognition, autonomous emergency braking, lane tracing assist, and lane departure warning with modest steering inputs. The 2020 LS 500 also comes standard with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking assistance.
When compared to other luxury automakers, the driver aids are somewhat rudimentary. For instance, while the Audi A8 can detect changing traffic lights, the LS can only detect stop signs (in 30 cities with the necessary infrastructure, at least). Even the smallest of highway curves proved difficult for Lane Tracing Assist, which swerved drunkenly from one side of the lane to the other. The adaptive cruise control has difficulty holding a predetermined speed. It relied too much on engine brakes to slow the car down when going downhill, allowing the speed to gradually increase by a few mph before finally decreasing down. The experience you get with one of the German alternatives is a low-resolution version of this.
Driving knowledge
When the driving assistance systems are disabled, the 2020 Lexus LS 500 is at its best. The LS 500 demonstrates how far Lexus has come in terms of the driving characteristics of its vehicles, which have been gradually becoming better.
The engine, a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 416 horsepower and 424 pound-feet of torque, is located under the hood (and a large plastic engine cover). With either the optional all-wheel drive on our test car or the rear-wheel drive as standard, the V6 is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Rear-wheel-drive vehicles, according to Lexus, will reach 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. In other words, this 4,900-pound car accelerates faster than a standard Porsche Cayman. It is also equal in speed to the V8-powered BMW 750i and faster than the base models of the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The Germans do, however, offer various models of their large cars that have more power and acceleration.
Lexus hit the mark on design but missed the mark on technology.
Our test vehicle was a F Sport model with larger brakes and adaptive suspension to enhance handling. Although F Sport models don’t receive as many upgrades as full-bore Lexus F models, the LS 500 managed to get by with what it had.
The F Sport suspension made the car reasonably agile in corners, but it never stopped feeling like the big, heavy sedan it was. The engine felt like it had a couple more cylinders and was among the punchiest turbo six-cylinders we’ve ever experienced. If large automobiles are like boats, then this one is closer to an ocean liner than a guided-missile cruiser.
The ride wasn’t as smooth even in regular mode as we’ve come to expect from vehicles in this category. That might have been due to the suspension adjustment and the 20-inch wheels on our test car. However, it appeared that the trade-off between handling and ride quality was adequate.
Fuel efficiency and safety
2020 Lexus LS 500 cars with all-wheel drive, like our test vehicle, are rated at 21 mpg combined (18 mpg city, 27 mpg highway), while those with rear-wheel drive do marginally better at 23 mpg combined (19 mpg city, 30 mpg highway). The ratings are relatively close to those of the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class in their gasoline configurations. Over the course of a week, we averaged 15.5 mpg (per the trip computer in the car), but in cities, the average fell to around 11 mpg.
Additionally, Lexus sells an LS hybrid with up to 28 combined mpg, although with significantly fewer horsepower than the non-hybrid version. Plug-in hybrid powertrains with even better fuel efficiency are available from Mercedes, BMW, and Audi.
If large automobiles are like boats, then this one is closer to an ocean liner than a guided-missile cruiser.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have not given the 2020 Lexus LS crash test ratings (NHTSA). That’s usually the case with high-end, limited-production vehicles like this one.
A four-year, 50,000-mile basic warranty and a six-year, 70,000-mile powertrain warranty are also provided by Lexus. Peerless dependability, on which the LS gained its reputation, is still a strength for Lexus.
How DT would set up this vehicle
The F Sport package may cost an extra $6,000, but it looks like a wise addition. Upgraded brakes are always a boon on a vehicle this heavy, and the adaptive suspension makes the handling more lively. A noteworthy improvement over some other luxury cars’ overstuffed sofa cushions are the front seats that come standard on F Sport versions. These seats are comfy but heavily reinforced. Our fictitious LS model would be finished with the head-up display ($1,200) and 23-speaker Mark Levinson audio system ($1,940).
Our view
Although competitors offer superior technology, the 2020 Lexus LS 500 features a strong turbocharged engine and a well-designed cabin that provides for a really opulent experience. The cumbersome trackpad interface needs to go, and Lexus needs to improve the driver assistance features. Although plug-in hybrids are now offered by Audi, BMW, and Mercedes, the original LS hybrid was one of the first conventional luxury automobiles to incorporate electrification. The F Sport model is sportier than the top-of-the-line German sedans, but not quite as sporty.
Lexus gave the LS a personality, but now the vehicle needs a technological boost. The infotainment system and driver assistance features are the most lacking, although a full-bore F performance variant, plug-in hybrid, or all-electric powertrain options would also be wonderful to see. With such modifications, the LS would go from being an excellent car to a fantastic one. Even so, the Lexus LS 500 will accelerate like a rocket ship while keeping you completely comfortable. That will undoubtedly appeal to a lot of potential customers.
Do you need one?
Yes. The 2020 Lexus LS is a luxurious vehicle with character.
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