LS Road Test: Lexus LS460 (2006)

[wltsm]

Assets
Superlative refinement, great new looks, limousine ride quality, it parks itself.

Drawbacks
Really rather soulless, engine lacks low down grunt, grabby brakes.

Verdict
Technocrats will love it, as will those who feel ride and refinement are the defining characteristics of the luxury car. It lacks only that critical sense of occasion.

(On sale in the UK in January. Prices have yet to be announced but expect them to start close to £60,000.)

Full Review

Source = 4Car

 

[Bozzor]

A little dissapointed that Lexus has chosen not to push its flagship closer to the Germans in onroad performance.

However...

The reality is that this car will sell like crazy, it will keep its existing base happy, though may not convince others to chnage. However, Lexus could easily build a car close to the Germans...but at the risk of alienating people who value pillow soft ride and isolation over feedback and ultimate grip.

This is a car for the traditional Lexus LS crowd, and it is a perfect bullseye in that regard.

 

[Osnabrueck]

This is a car for the traditional Lexus LS crowd, and it is a perfect bullseye in that regard.

I'll take it a step further than that Boz. It's going to please the LS base, that's for certain. But more importnatly, for the first time since its inception, Lexus has delivered an authentic style message that has some teeth.

It started with the RX, was refined with the IS and GS, and now is completely fleshed-out with the arrival of the ES and LS. The "L-Finesse" language finally means something, because it now permiates a significant part of the Lexus range.

So sure - it's another tight yet conservative LS. But this time, it has some context in the Lexus style hierarchy. This could conceivably be a car that impresses the neighbors and is viewed as something stylish which is something you couldn't say about preceding LS models.

Now when it comes down to details, Lexus still dropped the ball and fell victim to their conservative instincts. Namely - the interior is as drab and listless as any LS of the past. There's no style statement whatsoever once you get into the cabin. Just high quality this and that, and a pleasant ergonomic scheme that appears rather duff and insipid when contrasted against BMW's 7er or the W221 S-Klasse.

This isn't the flagship that it should be. The lack a fashionable interior still shows that Lexus has plenty to learn about fleshing out their luxury brand. But as outer impressions are concerned, the LS is finally something to be seen in, that bolsters the rest of the range with its family look.

Of course - there's plenty of refinement to be done when we consider models like the SC, the LX and even the GX. But those are niche models when compared to cars like the RX and ES, which are at the core of the Lexus fleet. There's finally something there that's not derivative or borrowed, and the LS is a key part of tying all that together.

 

[Mr. M]

A little dissapointed that Lexus has chosen not to push its flagship closer to the Germans in onroad performance.

However...

The reality is that this car will sell like crazy, it will keep its existing base happy, though may not convince others to chnage. However, Lexus could easily build a car close to the Germans...but at the risk of alienating people who value pillow soft ride and isolation over feedback and ultimate grip.

This is a car for the traditional Lexus LS crowd, and it is a perfect bullseye in that regard.

Maybe it can build a sporty version of the LS to capitalise on that & appeal to both the luxury buyers and the sporty buyers.

I'm more interested to see what's in store for the LS600h...

 

[Bozzor]

I think Lexus has decided to let the IS and the GS series move closer to the German marques in terms of their on road manners: more sporty, but still more conformat oriented than the Audis, BMWs and MBs, whereas the LS series is gunning after the 'old school' Cadillacs.

Sure, the new style looks pretty good outside; interior is pretty soulless and without any coherent style, but there is no doubt it will be working perfectly up until just before the Universe collapses on itself and that it is perfectly ergonomic.

The driver in me is disspaointed in this car: I was hoping Lexus would make the LS a real driver's car that would kick the Germans in the teeth. On that score, they have failed badly. But the invetsor in me is applauding a car that once again is going to keep Lexus at the leading edge of profitability. This car answers the questions more drivers ask. It is the perfect business case, rather than the perfect drivers car...

But, the LS600h, now I am interested in what that will deliver.

 

[SDNR]

You are right Bozzer, this car delivers what it's market wants ....but I thought Lexus' mission statement was to de-throne Mercedes-Benz -- if that is still the case then this wannabe is not cutting it. I don't think Lexus has taken much business away from Mercedes (the S class at least), it's Jaguar, Cadillac, Volvo, that have more to worry about.

 

[Merc1]

The car is high quality no doubt, but it is as dull as dishwater both inside and out. It looks like a huge boxcar on small wheels and the interior is just the same theme as before, as much beige leather that can be crammed into a space and as much plastic looking wood as possible. The car is rather "insipid" as others have stated here. It is for folks who don't know what real style is and love having all the latest gadgets and a plush, uninvolving ride.

M

 

[Bozzor]

Well, I think Lexusw wanted to sell more cars than MB...and by that measure in the US market at least it succeeds. The LS ia a car for a certain demographic and it fits it perfectly. However, I do feel an opportunity has been missed. Lexus could have done much more with the interior style. External styling is great though, very clean, elegant and purposeful.

 

[Osnabrueck]

You're right Boz. The S-Klasse and 7er function as the pinnicle of luxury-style within their respective brands, and to that effect, the LS has missed an opportunity to wow the public with genuine style credentials. Nothing about the interior smacks of sophistication or "wow, that's new."

What's worse - a car's interior will remain fundamentally unchanged for the entire product lifespan. So that means Lexus is effectively married to a conceptually 2nd class interior until year 2013, or so. Now, think about that. 2013 is a long, long time from now.

The E65 7er is already nearing the twilight of its lifespan, yet the interior comes off more fresh and contemporary than that of the LS.

Lexus has produced a far better flagship than the previous LS, but they've yet to master the art of making their flagship really BE a flagship.

 

[EnI]

The E65 7er is already nearing the twilight of its lifespan, yet the interior comes off more fresh and contemporary than that of the LS.

So true. And mind that in two years (Fall 2008) F01 7er is coming: with ultra-luxurious, modern, fresh, ultimate elegant-dynamic interior. Interior design is orgasmic - I was told. While Ver. 2.0 iDrive will be a huge improvement - more user friendly, programmable, with "Bookmarks" / "Favourite functions / controls" menus, many shortcuts, iPod-like user interface, additional steering wheel controler, etc.

I like the pretentious line said by a BMW IT engineer: "Compared to the new F01 7er the system in W221 S-class will look like a DOS vs. Windows XP"

 

[Bozzor]

I am trying to look at this Lexus from the perspective of a traditional Lexus buyer...and in that way, it does seems to make sense. The interior is not threatening and does not require any retraining by the overwhelmingly +50 LS crowd.

But again, Lexus has missed an opportunity to do something remarkable. The new GS has a good interior, which looks greta and works even better. But the LS simply seems to be a hodgepodge without style.

But still, I will reserve judgement until I actually sit inside the car and see perhaps a different wood combination. Apparently, the car's ride is perfect: the S class MB is at times caught out by some very bad roads and it's suspension simply gets confused, maybe the Lexus does not suffer from that. It will be an interesting comparison though.

 

[Yperion]

"Compared to the new F01 7er the system in W221 S-class will look like a DOS vs. Windows XP"

DOS was a great operating system, very stable and easy to use.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

But again, Lexus has missed an opportunity to do something remarkable. The new GS has a good interior, which looks greta and works even better. .

I disagree Bozzor. I drive a new GS300 to work everday, and there are MAJOR ergonomic flaws in the interior. While the touch screen is great, the arrangement and placement of various other controls is very poor. Our E-class is much much better in this regard and the interior looks vastly more elegant than the GS.

I think Lexus has got it a bit wrong with the LS's interior also. Theres a huge plethora of buttons and it all looks a bit too overwhelming. I don't think Lexus has grasped the psychology of interior design yet, an area MB has mastered to a T. The S interior relaxes whereas the LS seems to overwhelm.

 

[Snake Vargas]

Still, it depends if it's easy to use. Maybe, with their own reasoning, they decided to stay away from the "looks good but doesn't work so well" integrated controller school of thought that's all the rage these days in Germany.

It might appeal well to the Lexus clientele, who may not be as interested in working to know the car, instead just settling in and being comfortable. Speculation, but you get the idea.

Either way, I'd have to own and drive one to find out for sure. That's not likely to happen.

 

[Bozzor]

Just seen some photos of the LS460 interior with different color schemes and well, does not look that bad. Not as good as BMW/Audi/MB ones, but still pretty acceptable. The road tests so far seem to bear out the Lexus philosophy as working in the real world. But the car rolls a lot: clearly it is not trying to challenge the Germans on their own turf, but offers something different to appeal to different buyers.