Name: Lexus LS (2018 - present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Lexus LS
Rating: 49

Summary

The Lexus LS is a large executive saloon of a similar size, luxury and price to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series and Audi A8. The current model is the fith-generation LS, which arrived in the UK in early 2018.

Lexus only offers the LS with one powertrain option in the UK, the automatic petrol-hybrid LS 500h. Customers can however choose between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models.

The Lexus LS has received rather mixed reviews from the UK motoring media, with verdicts ranging from below average to good. Review scores have improved markedly since the model’s 2021 facelift, which brought a number of improvements to ride quality and interior refinement, but journalists still generally conclude that there are more capable luxury saloons available for such a high-end price tag.

What Car? concludes, “The Lexus LS is well equipped and distinctive, but too flawed in key areas to recommend.” Like many other outlets, What Car? points out that the 3.5-litre V6 engine fitted to all LS models can feel coarse, and is ill-suited to the saloon’s heavy frame.

The Telegraph found this powertrain issue to be the Lexus LS’s downfall. “The strained hybrid driveline adds so much weight that the air suspension struggles to maintain a decent ride quality and the vaunted economy isn’t desperately good.”

Putting aside its performance inconsistencies, it is inside the cabin where the LS excels. Auto Express affirms, “The Lexus LS is oozing with technology and driver assistance features, there are some stunning intricate design touches, and on the strength of this drive, the cabin feels even more beautifully screwed together than ever.”

Fleet World agrees, and add that the LS is “a desirable blend of reliability, safety and economy”, but concede that its European rivals still have an edge, particularly those with plug-in hybrid variants.

As of January 2024, the Lexus LS holds a pretty low New Car Expert Rating of E with a score of 49%.

More Lexus ratings, reviews, news and features

Lexus LS highlights

Impressive interior quality
Plenty of on-board tech
Brand’s reputation for reliability
Spacious cabin

Lexus LS lowlights

Limited range of models
Rivals have more boot space
Ill-suited engine
Very expensive, base price and up

Key specifications

Body style: Large executive saloon
Engines: petrol-electric hybrid
Price: From £92,770 on-road

Launched: Spring 2018
Last updated: Summer 2020
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express+

Model reviewed: 500h
Score: 6 / 10
“The Lexus LS is oozing with technology and driver assistance features, there are some stunning intricate design touches, and on the strength of this drive, the cabin feels even more beautifully screwed together than ever.”
Read review

Auto Trader+

Model reviewed:
Score: 7.6 / 10
“The Lexus LS 500h is a hybrid-powered luxury flagship offering a distinctively Japanese alternative to German giants like the Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series and Audi A8.”
Read review

Autocar+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“When you’ve finally digested everything the Lexus LS is and begin to concentrate instead on what it does, the car’s appeal as a luxury product unravels a little. This is a relatively heavy car with a powertrain ill-suited to moving its mass in suitably low-effort style.”
Read review

Car+

Model reviewed: LS 500h
Score: 6 / 10
“With great visual design and an original and beautifully made cabin this is a proper Lexus, but a hybrid drivetrain no longer counts for much when the main rivals will all soon offer plug-ins which will get you from your office in W1 to Heathrow on electric power.”
Read review

Carbuyer+

Model reviewed:
Score: 6.8 / 10
“The Lexus LS 500h luxury saloon can’t compete with the refinement, technology and performance offered by its rivals.” (Andy Goodwin)
Read review

Carwow+

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The Lexus LS takes eye-catching interior design to a whole new level but it isn’t as high-tech as most German alternatives, nor as comfortable.”
Read review

Driving Electric+

Model reviewed: LS 500h
Score: 5 / 10
“The LS 500h makes for an interesting alternative to the big German luxury saloons, but falls short on fuel-efficiency and can’t match rivals for driver appeal.”
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Eurekar+

Model reviewed: LS 500h
“From the outside it’s a sleek executive saloon ideally suited to the company chairman or high flying executive. Open the doors and, in contrast, there’s an interior of style and glamour with a touch of show business. The Lexus LS 500h has design features which set it well apart from any other car.”
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Evo+

Model reviewed: LS 500h
Score: 5 / 10
“While it delights in some areas, the Lexus LS is too inconsistent to trouble German rivals overall.”
Read review

Fleetworld+

Model reviewed: LS 500h
“There’s certainly much to commend in the LS 500h, as it provides a comfortable and luxurious travelling experience, and is a desirable blend of reliability, safety and economy. But this is a tough segment of the market and its European rivals have an edge, particularly those with plug-in hybrid variants.”
Read review

Honest John+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The Lexus LS is longer and lower than the previous generation, with a striking new exterior incorporating the unmistakable corporate Lexus grille. The car is built on an extended version of the rear-wheel drive GA-L platform that also underpins the Lexus LC coupe.”
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Motoring Research+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The LS represents the pinnacle of Lexus engineering and technical might, it’s just a shame the hesitant powertrain remains the weak link in an otherwise impressive package.”
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Parkers+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.6 / 10
“Flagship Lexus LS does grand luxury in a different way”
Read review

The Telegraph+

Model reviewed: LS 500h Premier AWD
Score: 6 / 10
“Lexus has chosen its own idiosyncratic path in the sleek but space-hungry interior design, poor connectivity and a strained hybrid driveline, which adds so much weight that the air suspension struggles to maintain a decent ride quality and the vaunted economy isn’t desperately good.”
Read review

Top Gear+

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“22nd Century limo looks, stunted by 1980s powertrain response. The BMW Lexus LS is the ultimate left-field choice.”
Read review

What Car?+

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The Lexus LS is well equipped and distinctive but too flawed in key areas to recommend.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

No safety rating

As of January 2024, the Lexus LS has not been crash tested by Euro NCAP. If and when it is put through its paces by Euro NCAP, we will publish the results here.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of January 2024, the Lexus LS has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of January 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Lexus LS to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the LS, we’ll publish the score here.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Hybrid models	32 mpg	E	30 – 35 mpg	D – E

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Hybrid models	203 g/km	D	182 – 216 g/km	C – D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	49	E	49 – 50	E – F

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£384	C
Year 2	£1,019	D
Year 3	£1,601	D
Year 4	£1,941	D
Year 5	£2,419	D
Overall	£7,364	D

It’s probably not surprising that a £100K luxury saloon like the Lexus LS will also be expensive to own and run, which is shown above in whole-life costs provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

Despite hybrid assistance, the fuel economy is very poor, while road tax and insurance are also at the expensive end of town. Servicing is average for the first year, but gets more expensive very quickly after that.