To me, Lexus has always been for elitists - someone who cares way too much about what other people think. They are purchased by those who are willing to grossly overpay for a rebadged Toyota to impress his neighbors and coworkers.
But the Lexus LS460, which was redesigned two years ago, has received excellent reviews from experts and consumers, and has even been called a “good value.” At a starting price of $64,000, that’s quite a feat. So what makes this big luxury sedan worth a minimum $64K? Is it really overpriced, or have I been wrong all along? More importantly, is it still a Toyota with a fancy badge? We have a 2009 Lexus LS460 for a week to find out…
What better way to test out a luxury cruiser than taking it a long trip? We’re taking the LS460 from our home base of Raleigh, NC to the beaches of Buxton, NC and back - five hours each way. The LS460 weighs a rather hefty 4605 lbs - loaded up with AWD and other accessories, four men and their weekend luggage, the total weight must have topped 5500 pounds. Despite the excessive weight, we got a respectable 24.7 mpg average from the 357 hp 4.6-liter V8, even with all the extra bathroom and smoke breaks. The adaptive air suspension kept the ride smooth and comfortable, while Sport mode stopped the suspension from getting too floaty. A huge trunk ensured we had enough room for all of our luggage with enough room left for a body, if we felt the need.
Rear seat passengers didn’t complain about comfort or space, as they had their own A/C vents, plush seats, and plenty of leg room. If it was winter, they even had their own heated seats back there, and front seat dwellers had heated and cooled seats, which is nice in 95-degree weather. If you’re especially concerned about your rear seat passenger’s comfort, Lexus offers an LS460L - a long-wheelbase model which adds 8 inches to the length so your passengers can really spread out. Want to get really fancy? Get the $10,000 Executive Class Seating package with rear seat recliners, leg massagers, alcantara headliner, rear-seat infrared temperature sensor, four-zone climate control, rear-seat air purifier, wood-trimmed table, DVD entertainment system, rear sunshades, and rear seat cool box. Then start wondering when you didn’t just get a Bentley instead. Oh, right…the $100K price difference.
If you like to drive instead of ride, you might be disappointed. While the 4.6-liter V8’s 357 hp and eight-speed automatic transmission are mated together perfectly and provide an incredibly smooth drive, the car does everything else for you. Driver and front passenger memory remembers everyone in the family. The proximity key and push-button start means you never have to touch the key fob. The auto-closing doors correct you if you don’t close the door completely, and the trunk lid opens and closes itself with the push of a button. Adaptive front HID lighting makes sure the turns ahead are well-lit, and automatically turn themselves on when it gets dark. Rain-sensing windshield wipers whisk away water without me needing to interfere. Want to take it a step further? Get the LS460 that parks itself. No more backing in and out of a parking space because you lack parallel parking skills. Some people love not having to worry about anything but driving. Having to close the trunk by hand is sooo 2008.
It’s not all bad news for drivers though - the drive is ultra-smooth, steering is light and easy (but not overboosted,) and your ass won’t hurt after being inside for 10 hours straight (trust me.) Our Lexus LS460 had the optional $3500 AWD layout, which helps keep the car on the road in inclement weather. The perfectly adequate standard sound system includes 10 speakers, auto sound leveling, 6-disc in-dash changer, and standard auxiliary plug for MP3 players. If you’re a true audiophile, opt for the 450-watt 19 speaker surround sound system fit for a recording studio. Our LS460 tester came with the $3115 nav system with bluetooth, backup camera, and satellite radio, and the built-in LCD screen is amazingly high-res.
Except for the IS-series, Lexus’ design seems to have always appealed to boring old people. The LS460 continues that trend without too much excitement on the exterior, but even for us young-folk it’s not totally boring. Some slightly more aggressive design elements keep it fresh, and the interior is attractive without being overly exciting. There are no swooping lines inside, but the overall feel remains modern, with attractive gauges and logical placement of controls.
Our 2009 Lexus LS460 came out to a total of $72,281. It’s a base model with AWD, the overly priced $3,115 nav package and $825 Luxury Value Package which includes heated and cooled front seats and heated rear seats, headlamp washers, parking assist, and the one-touch open/close power trunk and door closers. The power trunk is my only annoyance with the car, which took too long to open. After pressing the open button, you need to stand there and wait a few extra seconds for the trunk to slowly open itself. If you’re as impatient as I am, forgo this option.
Overall, I enjoyed the Lexus LS460 more than I expected. It helped make our 500+ mile trip comfortable and pleasant, and around-town trips were made with ease. The $72,281 asking price is rather high, however, especially when you consider other cars such as the 2009 Hyundai Genesis Sedan, which offer similar pleasantries at a much lower price point. In fact, you could buy two of the V8 Hyundais for the same price as one LS460. You won’t get some of the luxuries, the ride won’t be quite as pleasant or quiet, but it’s close.
The biggest thing Lexus has going for it in comparison is brand name. Many simply aren’t willing to give up the Lexus badge for a Hyundai. Compare it to direct competitors such as the BMW 7-Series or Mercedes S-Class, however, and the Lexus comes out looking like a bargain.
Let dealers compete for your business and have the upper hand in negotiations before going into the dealership by getting a free quote at Yahoo! Autos.
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