2001 Lexus LS 430 Review

The fast, posh LS 400 sedan from Toyota's new Lexus luxury division immediately became a replacement for many big Mercedes-Benz sedans after being introduced for 1990.

Even trendsetters in tony areas such as Beverly Hills, Calif., soon felt it was silly to pay $20,000 or more for a Mercedes when many folks felt the LS 400 was nearly as good--although it was designed more for comfort than driving fun.

Some analysts felt the LS 400 should cost at least $10,000 more than its $35,000 list price--and that Lexus was underpricing it to get a strong foothold in the U.S. luxury car market. If so, that strategy was a resounding success.

Skeptics said the Lexus division lacked the heritage of established European automakers and thus stood no chance against venerable nameplates such as Mercedes-Benz. Boy, were they surprised--as was Mercedes.

The LS 400 was improved as the years passed; the LS 430 is the third generation LS sedan in 11 years, with the change in nomenclature coming from an increase in engine displacement from 4 liters to 4.3 liters.

The LS 400 forced Mercedes to lower prices and build cars more acceptable to a younger audience. At first, Mercedes grumbled because it had a stranglehold on the ultra-luxury sedan market. But it admitted here at a recent media conference that Lexus competition "forced us to wake up."

It's unlikely there would be such a variety of Mercedes models more oriented toward a youthful market and with more reasonable prices without competition from Lexus.

The 2001 version of the LS 400 is the $54,005 LS 430. The original LS 400 looked much like a big Mercedes sedan--and so does the LS 430, which strongly resembles its predecessor. Like Mercedes, Lexus takes an evolutionary approach to styling.

Japanese automakers and car buyers in Japan madly love gadgets, which they feel dramatize technical expertise. The LS 430 is loaded with such gadgets, which include a cruise control system that automatically maintains a preset distance from the vehicle ahead.

The few options include such things as $1,700 chrome wheels, $1,120 power sunroof and a $4,000 option package that contains a navigation system, power sunroof and heated front and rear seats.

It's hard to imagine the LS 430 during a Chicago winter without those seats. Happily, they're also available as a separate option for $880.

There's also a $12,290 Ultra Luxury option package that Lexus says makes the LS 430 "a viable choice for the chauffeur-driven executive market."

That package contains a long list of items including an air suspension with adaptive shock absorber control, front climate control seats with heat and cool knobs, rear cooler box, parking assist feature that sounds a buzzer if the front or rear of the car is getting too close to objects a driver can't see, water-repellent front door glass and even power closers for all doors.

Aside from such "bells and whistles," the LS 430 is a better car than its predecessor.

The LS 400 was plenty roomy, but the LS 430 has a more spacious interior without added outside bulk. It also has better handling to make it more competitive with European sedans.

The 115.2-inch wheelbase is three inches longer and helps provide a smoother ride and the roomier cockpit. Increased height also contributes to more passenger room.

In fact, the LS 430 has more passenger volume and a bigger trunk than the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan.

But styling has taken a step back. Lexus says the new model has a more muscular "chiseled" design. But the car looks rather chunky because it has the same length as its predecessor and a taller roofline.

The Mercedes S-Class, which has a very roomy interior, looks sleeker.

And European sedans from automakers such as Mercedes and BMW still are more fun to drive. Like the original LS 400, the LS 430 is designed more for comfort than driving kicks.

Safety items include side curtain air bags and front lower-body side air bags.

Horsepower of the four-camshaft V-8 remains at 290, but there is additional torque. The sophisticated engine has variable valve timing, and Lexus tuned it to provide more torque across a broad engine speed range to make the car more responsive under all driving conditions.

Fuel economy is pretty good, and the new model scoots to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. That's moving for a two-ton luxury sedan. It tops out at an electronically controlled 130-mph, but could hit 150 mph without such controls. However, the engine still is rather small and thus turns over at 3,000 rpm at 70 mph.

The five-speed automatic transmission upshifts seamlessly and downshifts decently--although a little too slowly.

The LS 430 generally is rather soft because, after all, most buyers don't expect it to be a high-performance sedan. But its suspension is firm enough to keep it nailed to the road during fast driving, and a Vehicle Skid Control system helps avoid skids under demanding conditions. Powerful anti-lock brakes haul the car down with aplomb.

A "Euro-tuned" sport suspension and bigger 17-inch wheels in place of 16-inch wheels are offered at no charge for those who want slightly sharper handling.

More than ever, the LS 430 is a viable alternative to top Mercedes sedans--if you don't mind sacrificing some driving fun for comfort. And it still costs considerably less, too.