The Lexus LS sedan is one of few cars that have attained instant high-line status--and kept it.
Introduced for 1990, the first Lexus LS sedan was called the LS 400. It was a good example of rolling hedonism designed to satisfy demanding luxury-car buyers--and to lure them mostly from costlier, full-size Mercedes-Benz sedans.
Lexus was Toyota's new upscale brand with no history--let alone a prestigious one such as Mercedes'. So industry analysts, and possibly even Toyota, weren't entirely sure the LS 400 would be a success, despite its impressive speed, smoothness, reliability and Mercedes-like styling. It also had the front-engine/rear-drive setup of pricey European cars.
Millionaire auto dealer and Indianapolis 500 race car team owner Roger Penske was convinced the LS 400 would be a winner after test driving a prototype model in Japan in August 1988. He quickly signed up to sell the car, which had been under development since late 1984.
Penske made the right move. The $35,000 LS 400, which some rivals said should have cost about $10,000 more, soon became the car to have, even in the poshest areas such as Beverly Hills, Calif. To some, it seemed silly to pay more for a Mercedes, although the LS 400 was designed more for comfort and less for outright performance, compared with a Mercedes.
The LS 400 was the flagship Lexus model and continually was improved as the years passed, although it retained the same engine and basic styling.
The LS 400 became the LS 430 for 2001, when the size of the car's V-8 was increased from 4 liter to 4.3 liters. Horsepower remained the same at 290, but the larger engine allowed more torque at lower rpm for better responsiveness to the throttle foot.
The LS 430 also offered a futuristic cruise control system that maintained a safe distance from vehicles ahead.
The wheelbase was made longer and the roof became taller for more interior space. The LS 430 still looked like an LS model. But those physical changes made the slab-sided car appear to be rather chunky--or more solid, depending on one's viewpoint. That's partly because the car's overall length remained the same at 196.7 inches.
In any case, the LS never has been a thing of beauty like the older BMW 7-Series top-line sedans, although the added room of the LS 430 doubtlessly has been appreciated.
Many cars can't provide a coefficient of drag below .30, but the LS 430 has an extremely low .26 drag coefficient, which results in scarcely any wind noise at highway speeds and improved fuel economy. The figure even drops to .25 with the available air suspension.
New for 2003 are standard 17-inch wheels, which replace 16-inch ones. The ($890) heated/cooled front seats and ($500) front-rear obstacle detection system are newly offered as separate options, instead of being put only in the Ultra Luxury or Custom Luxury packages. Also, those "climate control'' front seats now have perforated leather trim. (Regular leather is standard.)
The LS 430 can be ordered with a bunch of costly option packages, which provide such things as heated rear seats, rear air conditioning, a navigation system and even a power rear sunshade. Stand-alone options include an $1,100 power sunroof and $1,700 chrome alloy wheels.
The standard equipment list contains a vast array of comfort and convenience items. Safety features include anti-lock all-disc brakes with a brake-assist feature, front-side and curtain-side air bags and an anti-skid system. A $1,215 Lexus Link assistance service also is offered.
The LS 430 radiates luxury, with top-grade interior materials and body panels measured to a thousandth of a millimeter for flush fits. The paint is flawless, and there's extensive use of anti-chipping paint on lower body panels; Lexus wants the LS 430 to be driven daily--not tucked away as a fair-weather weekend car.
The LS 430 always has been designed more for luxury and comfort than driving kicks. But the sophisticated four-camshaft, 32-valve V-8 propels the heavy 3,945-pound car to 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds, although the smooth five-speed automatic transmission is a bit slow to downshift. Estimated fuel economy is 19 mpg in the city and 25 on highways.
The brakes are strong, and the suspension provides a magic-carpet ride and good handling. An available no-cost "Euro-tuned'' suspension offers sharper handling. The Ultra Luxury Selection package equips the LS 430 with the air suspension system for slightly smoother going, along with adaptive shock absorber control (Adaptive Variable Control), which allows driver control of shock absorber settings for relaxed or hard driving.
The quiet, luxurious LS 430 interior is plenty roomy for four tall adults, and the electroluminescent instrumentation is easily read under all lighting conditions. However, ordering options such as the $5,730 navigation/Mark Levinson sound system package complicates the working of some controls.
The trunk is large, with a low, wide opening for easy loading.
Keeping a luxury car competitive in an increasingly competitive luxury vehicle market isn't easy, but Lexus has done a good job with its LS sedan. The fact that the car was pretty good to start with has made the job easier.
LEXUS LS 430
Price:
$54,925
Likes:
Very smooth and refined. Swift. Smooth ride. Good handling. Larger tires.
Dislikes:
Bland styling. Elaborate controls. Not a sports sedan despite potent V-8.