2018 Lexus LS 500 AWD

The 2018 Lexus LS 500 sedan has been thoroughly redesigned.

Price: $78,220

The Lexus LS 400 upset the luxury sedan market in America when introduced 28 years ago because it matched Cadillac and, mainly, Mercedes-Benz in most areas for less money. You were considered somewhat of a chump in Beverly Hills if you didn’t buy an LS 400.

I was there, atop a mountain near Los Angeles, when the LS 400 was introduced to the media. It was clearly a luxury car, with conservative but somehow imposing styling. But then, Mercedes and Caddy sedans were no things of beauty, either. Both automakers now offer rather rakish sedans, and so now does Lexus with its 2018 LS 500.

The new longer, lower, wider LS comes with rear- or all-wheel drive (AWD). It is Lexus’ ultra-luxurious flagship luxury sedan and is a big car with a 123-inch wheelbase and 206-inch overall length. It provides plenty of room for four large adults. The trunk is huge, although there are no flip-down rear seat backs.

The LS 500 is very good in most respects, but has been given distracting controls (even for the seat heaters) and a lot of gadgets that the automaker apparently feels luxury car buyers want. Operating the dashboard screen is tedious and distracting, and the touch pad for audio and navigation systems is frustrating. Rear passengers have a much simpler set of optional controls for such things as reclining seats and audio and climate controls. Interestingly, two heaters in the rear seats are located in the shoulder and lower back areas to warm these specific areas without warming a person’s entire body.

Such attention to detail characterizes the new LS 500.

This new Lexus has a coupe-like silhouette that’s almost radical for a Lexus sedan, with a stretched, ground-hugging look. Its new platform gives it more agility and control, compared to previous LS models. Steering is quick and handling is impressive, with the stiff platform enhancing handling, ride smoothness and cabin quietness.The new platform lowers the car’s center of gravity by placing most of its mass, including the engine and occupants in positions more centralized and lower in the chassis.

The latest generation Lexus chassis control technology features a “Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management” system that controls the anti-lock brakes, traction control, vehicle stability control, variable gear ratio steering and dynamic rear steering. The AWD system with a limited slip center differential also helps traction and agility.

While the plush, super quiet LS 500 is no sports sedan, it feels somewhat like one if a driver selects the Sport-Plus driving mode. Other modes are Comfort, Normal and Econ. I found Comfort or Normal are the best settings for most driving, although the ride doesn’t get uncomfortable in the Sport-Plus mode, which is fine for fast driving on curvy roads. However, it causes occupants to feel the bumps more.

My test car had the optional adaptive variable air suspension, which enhances ride quality. The LS 500 with this suspension reminded me of 1960s American luxury sedans such as Buicks and Oldsmobiles, which just glided over bumpy roads. The new LS is lower than previous versions so Lexus has equipped the air suspension with an access function. Activated by unlocking the car with its smart key, access mode automatically raises the car and widens the seat bolsters to “welcome drivers behind the wheel,” as Lexus puts it.

This is the first LS without a V-8, but its twin-turbocharged 416-horsepower 3.5 liter V-6 has more power and more torque than the outgoing V-8. Lexus says can do 0-60 m.p.h. in 4.6 seconds, with a top speed of 136 miles per hour. Chances are few buyers will miss the V-8.

The 2018 LS twin-turbo V-6 works with the first-ever 10-speed automatic transmission for a premium passenger car, having debuted in the racy Lexus LC 500 two-door. The most rival sedans offer are 9-speed automatics, even Audi, BMW, Cadillac and Mercedes. The new 10-speed shifts smoothly and seamlessly and helps provide strong acceleration and higher fuel economy. It can be quickly manually shifted via steering wheel paddles for certain driving conditions. However, presumably in the interests of safety, changing from one gear to another gets notchy if a driver rushes shifting.  

The LS comes in various forms, including as a hybrid, with prices ranging from $75,000 to $82,730. I tested the $78,220 version with all-wheel drive. It delivers 18 miles per gallon in the city and 27 on highways, while the rear-drive version gets 19 and 29. Premium gas is needed for its 21.7-gallon fuel tank. The hybrid LS 500h hybrid, which I didn’t drive, has 354 horsepower and provides an estimated 25 city, 33 highway and hits 60 m.p.h. in a claimed 5.1 seconds.

Safety features include 10 air bags, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, all-speed dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with lane keep assist, smart stop technology and electronic brake force distribution. Optional is a front cross-traffic alert system to help prevent collisions at intersections by detecting forward cross-traffic vehicles to the left and right of the LS’ front end up to a distance of 164 feet. I found this feature to be distracting in heavily traveled urban areas, but see where it can be very useful.

All seats are comfortable, but the front seats are especially supportive. Combining electric motors with a new pneumatic control system allows fine adjustment of the entire seat with minimal weight and bulk. A good example of gadgetry.

The interior is definitely upscale, with plenty of leather and premium wood trim. Features include a Lexus 12-speaker premium sound system and a one-touch open/close power tilt-and-slide moonroof. My test car had an optional quilted-stitch perforated special leather trim

With options, my test LS 500’s bottom-line price was $102,640, even without adding the $995 delivery charge.  The extras included front cross-traffic alert, road sign assist, an extra-wide 24-inch heads-up display, 23-speaker Mark Levinson audio system and power side-window sunshades. Who’s behind those Foster Grants?

The Lexus LS 500 comes just in time to fire up the luxury sedan wars when so many people are bypassing sedans and turning to SUVs and crossover vehicles.