2021 Lexus LS500 Review
2021 Lexus LS500 AWD
Price as tested: $101,000
Specs: 3.5 Liter Twin Turbo V6
416 HP / 442 TQ / 20.8 MPG
0-60: 5 seconds
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Guy who did stuff: Yousef Alvi
Media: Manufacturer and Myself
This 2021 Lexus LS500 review is my third complete rewrite. Why? Because this is a vehicle that resets your expectations depending on your viewpoint. Let me explain further:
If you approach this vehicle, the way the specs are laid out (twin turbos, over 400 hp and a 10 speed gearbox) you think ‘ooo sporty!’. You drive the vehicle with that mindframe of ‘ooo sporty’ and it kind of fails apart. The unfortunate part is that ‘ooo sporty’ stuck with me for the entire week I had the vehicle. So I attempted to find something, anything that would quantify that ‘ooo sporty’ Inception-esque idea I had but the more I dug…the more frustrated I became with the LS.
It wasn’t until a full week after it’s departure I came unto a revelation. If you drive the LS500, like a Lexus LS of yesteryear…then it all falls into place beautifully. Drop kick that ‘ooo sporty’ attitude to the curb and the Lexus LS500 is a serene, coddling and relaxing luxury vehicle.
Let’s go ahead and break it down:
The Great
Welcome to one of the best interiors ever fitted to a Japanese vehicle. This, along with it’s stablemate the LC, represents the creme de la creme of Japanese interior design, quality and craftsmanship.
The equivalent E-Class’ interior is full of so much tech that there is a cold sterility to it. The LS on the other hand is warm, inviting and something you just sink into and go ‘ahhhh’.
Then your eyes gaze upon the flowing design that goes from door card to dashboard to door card and you realize something else. That this isn’t an interior per se…this is a rolling stylistic exhibit! It is such a work of art that it deserves its place in MOMA along with your driveway.
The Good
The twin turbo V6 delivers gobs of lucious midrange torque that will squeeze your head back into the headrest.
It’s economical to boot! Getting 20.8 MPG in my heavy footed testing.
The ride quality is well…uhhh…Lexus like. Which means, it’s beautifully compliant in every scenario it may encounter, from twisty roads to undulating pavement. The LS is never unsettled.
The Bad
While the front seats are comfortable, supportive and stellar looking…their position is too high. Even with it’s billion way adjustability, the LS’s seats do not go low enough in the cabin and long legged people like myself feel like we are riding on the LS rather than in the LS.
The Ugly
Even with approaching the LS as a luxury vehicle instead of a ‘sport’ luxury vehicle…there are still some outstanding issues that need to be addressed:
Transmission: The 10 speed automatic can be best described like a 3 year old. You can give all the suggestions you want…it is still going to do want it wants, when it wants. Using the paddles is a worthless endeavor with it will take a full 1.5-2 seconds (oh trust me…I counted) for it to actually shift.
Now if you’re thinking: ‘Just leave it in full Auto…dummy’. Well, I tried that and regardless of drivemode, if you need the LS to downshift…it won’t. It will stick to that gear it is in like a chewing gum in your hair.
I wish I could say it’s just the LS but the LC has the exact same issue as well. I can only pray that the upcoming IS500, which will use the same transmission, is tuned differently because it’s unacceptable the way it is now.
Cameras: The LS is blessed with a bazzillion different cameras…which all have a resolution of a Motorola Razr from 2001. During the day it is grainy, dim and lacks any detail but at night it is borderline useless. If it is raining AND at night…just you use mirrors because all bets are off.
Infotainment: Everyone hates Lexus Enform for a reason and coupled that with a touchpad interface makes everything just that much worst. Thankfully the LS has a touchscreen to save yourself from crashing into a ditch.
Gauge Cluster: Now 99% of the gauge cluster looks great! That 1% is the submenu’s pixelated resolution that just looks old.
Overall:
As I said before, it’s all about how you approach the LS to how you will react to it. Drive it like a LS from yesteryear and it will respond quietly, compliantly and beautifully comfortably. Even up to 5/10ths the LS is direct, agile and quick. Anything more than that then it falls apart.
