2020 Lexus LS 500

The Lexus LS comes in 2 trims the LS 500 and the LS 500 F sport. The LS 500 comes in about $75,000 and the features on offer like 19-inch alloy wheels, an adaptive suspension, and Adaptive Cruise Control. Some of the luxury bits on offer are the 16-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated seats and heated steering wheel. The LS features a monochromic Twin-Turbo V8 engine with an optional All-Wheel-drive system for both trims. Also, this year debuts a brand new 24-inch heads up display.

Trims	LS 500	LS 500 F Sport
RWD	$75,300	$81,000
AWD	$78,220	$84,220
Features	19-inch alloy wheels	Additional features to LS 500:
	Adaptive Suspension	20-inch alloy wheels
	Heated Steering wheel	Exclusive Leather Upholstery
	Back-up Camera	28-way power-adjustable seats
	Lane Departure Warning and Blind-Spot
	16-way Power-adjustable heated and ventilated seats
	Adaptive Cruise control

The other prominent features on offer are the Lane departure warning and a backup camera. The LS 500F Sport gets a bigger set of wheels, where there are 20-inch alloy wheels and some exclusive leather Upholstery with 28-way power-adjustable seats.

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Although LS comes with two trims, we would suggest you go with the base trim. You have all the luxury you will ever need in a lifetime, just make sure to add the stunning audio upgrade and the Safety System+ A package.

Despite being powered by a twin-turbo core the LS 500 doesn’t disappoint us in terms of fuel economy. The Lexus manages to get around 19 MPG in city conditions and 30 MPG on the highway which is better than most cars in the full-size luxury sedan segment. Going for the All-Wheel-drive option drops the economy to 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.

Model	Lexus LS 500 RWD	Audi A8 L	Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan	BMW 740i Sedan
MPG (City)	19	19	19	21
MPG (Highway)	30	29	28	29
MPG (Combined)	23	22	22	24

All these help in getting a combined MPG of about 23 which by our terms is pretty much decent for the car. The BMW with its 3.0 L engine returns an economy of about 21 MPG in the city, 29 MPG on the highway and a combined MPG of 24 which is best in its class.

“There's an abundance of room for four passengers, though the low roofline gives the illusion of a tight cabin. It's easy to get into, but getting out is a little tricky. Many vehicle settings are located in virtual menus, and the infotainment controller is frustratingly difficult to use.”- Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

Fortunately, the interior is one of LS’s most bankable virtues. The cabin is well crafted and can ferry 5 people with ease. As for the quality, you will love the leather upholstery and the soft dash skin. The wood trim is particularly stunning and the absence of hard plastics makes it even savvier. The only thing which feels confining is the sloping roofline though it only feels so, in reality, you have a lot of headroom.

Lexus offers a seating capacity of 5 people like all its rivals. It gets the smallest passenger volume of 116.3 Ft. Cube and is not as roomy as other cars in the segment. The LS gets a headroom of 37.3 inches, a shoulder room of 58.8 inches and headroom of 41 inches in the front.

Model	Lexus LS 500 RWD	Audi A8 L	Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan	BMW 740i Sedan
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Passenger Volume (ft. cube)	116.3	121.9	122.5	122.3
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.3/58.8/41.0	37.2/59.1/41.4	39.7/59.7/41.4	39.9/59.2/41.4
Rear (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.3/56.4/38.9	39.1/57.8/42.9	37.4/59.1/34.1	38.9/57.7/44.4

Lexus’s rear seats are not bad either, you get a headroom of 37.3 inches, shoulder room of 56.4 inches and legroom of 38.9 inches in the rear. The facts might be impressive but rival cars are more impressed with their meticulous cabins. The most spacious car is the Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan.

Interior Features

• Front And Rear Cupholders
• Electrochromatic Inside Rearview Mirror
• Front And Rear Door Pockets
• Front And Rear Parking Sensors
• Electric Power Steering
• Rear View Camera
• Tilt And Telescopic Steering Wheel
• Universal Remote Transmitter (For Garage Door, Security System, Etc.)
• Transmission, Cruise And Audio Controls On Steering Wheel
• Heated Steering Wheel
• Interior Air Filtration

Infotainment

Lexus installed fills of features into the LS’s cabin starting with the 12.3-inch infotainment screen. The infotainment is backed with navigation, Wifi, and the Lexus Enform app suite. Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa also debuted this year. Although, Lexus equipped the IS with everything they didn’t quite figure out the way to implement things. They have an awkward laptop trackpad like controller ruins the experience.

Cargo Capacity

The LS gets a boot space of 16.95 cubic feet which is big, but not the best. If you are planning for a weekend getaway, this car can easily swallow all your suitcases. But the odd-shaped rear end will compel you to resort for odd methods to fit the extra luggage. Inside the cabin, you are welcomed by door pockets, a small bin under the front and rear armrest. Lexus did a great job but the best in practicality is BMW which gets a cargo volume of about 18.2 ft. cube.

Model	Lexus LS 500 RWD	Audi A8 L	Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan	BMW 740i Sedan
Volume (ft cube)	16.95	14.2	16.3	18.2

“The 2020 Lexus LS is a cut or three above when it comes to its gorgeous interior. Compared to the devilish Lexus LC coupe, the 2020 LS 500’s charms are subtle. Its exterior pushes the envelope in some ways, but peddles restraint in others”- The Car Connection

Design and Styling

This Lexus has a remarkable bodywork that bears a strong resemblance to the Aston Martins of the bygone eras. The design incorporates subtle body lines that charm the viewer through the LS and do not have the intense extroverted styling like its fellow stablemate the LC. But don’t let the quiet demeanor frame an opinion for you, the LS has so much more to offer.

Dimensions and Weight

The Lexus LS weighs over 4707 lbs. which makes Lexus the heaviest car of the lot. The LS has a length of 206.1, a width of 74.8 and a height of 57.5. The LS has a ground clearance of 6.5 Inch which is best among its rivals. The long-wheelbase gives it a wider turning radius but that’s the case with every other car in the competition.

Model	Lexus LS 500 RWD	Audi A8 L	Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan	BMW 740i Sedan
Curb weight(lbs.)	4707	4464	4630	4195
Length(in)	206.1	207.3	206.5	206.6
Width(in) (w/o mirror)	74.8	76.7	74.8	74.9
Height(in)	57.5	57.9	58.7	58.2
Ground clearance(in)	6.5	4.9	5.0	5.8
Wheelbase(in)	123.0	122.9	124.6	126.4
Track width(in) F/R	64.2/64.2	64.7/64.4	63/63.2	63.4/64.6

Speaking of the wheelbase, this Lexus gets a wheelbase of 123 inches, which is not the best in its class but fair enough to make the car stable at high speeds. The Audi A8 is the biggest car compared to all the rivals. The A8 has a length of 207.3 inches, a width of 76.7 inches and a height of 57.9 inches, the Beemer has a wheelbase of 126.4 inches and it’s the longest among all its rivals. Overall, the LS is well built and qualifies the luxury sedan market.

Exterior Features

• Panorama Glass Roof
• LED Headlamps W/Adaptive Front Lighting System
• Alloy Wheel Locks
• Door Edge Guards
• Door Edge Film By 3M
• 20" Split 10-Spoke Alloy Wheels W/Vapor Chrome Finish
• F SPORT Rear Bumper Applique
• Rear Bumper Applique
• 20" Split 5-Spoke Forged Alloy Wheels W/Polished Finish
• 19" Split 10-Spoke Alloy Wheels W/High Gloss Finish

Naturally, the Lexus LS comes equipped with plenty of cutting-edge safety features. The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) helps keeps the car stable at high speeds. Other safety features include Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning system, Airbag Occupancy Sensor, and Back-Up Camera.

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Emergency Sos
• Intuitive Park Assist Front And Rear Parking Sensors
• Blind Spot Monitor Blind Spot Sensor
• Lexus Safety System+ Forward Collision
• Lane Departure Alert (lda) w/Steering Assist Lane Keeping Assist
• Lane Departure Alert (lda) w/Steering Assist Lane Departure Warning
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor
• Driver And Passenger Knee Airbag
• Rear Child Safety Locks
• First Aid Kit
• Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -inc: Rear Center 3 Point, Height Adjusters and Pretensioners
• Back-Up Camera

The LS also features advanced driver assistance systems like Park Assist Front and Rear Parking Sensors, Blind Spot Monitor, Forward Collision, Lane Departure Alert (lda) w/Steering Assist Lane Departure Warning.

The Lexus gets Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags, Dual Stage Driver and Passenger Front Airbags, Curtain 1st and 2nd Row Airbags, Driver and Passenger Knee Airbag. All these are further supplemented by the chassis engineered with crumple zone and passenger cell.

Audi A8 Vs Lexus LS

Audi comes at about $82,500 which is $7500 higher than the Lexus. The A8 features a smaller engine than the Lexus, also, it lacks the necessary power to beat the LS 500, though its athletic nature makes the most of it. However, the A8 offers a more spacious cabin with ample legroom and better cabin space than the Lexus, on the other hand, Lexus delivers a bigger cargo bay. So, if you want a spacious yet athletic car then the Audi A8 is the car for you.

BMW 740i Sedan Vs Lexus LS

The same story continues, the Beemer is bigger, more spacious, and practical than the Lexus. Though you will need some schooling to get the hang of all the features in the Beemer. The 7 series gets a smaller engine than the Lexus, however, it pulls a treat with more entertaining driving characteristics implying it has better steering, potent optional engines, and better brakes. However, the Lexus LS interior feels more special.

Lexus took every bit of luxury from their warehouse and bolted on to the IS. You might not be flabbergasted with horsepower but it sure is impressive and gives a tough competition to its Europeans rivals. As for the styling, Lexus always has a way of overdoing themselves, though you won’t find the hypercar styling like on the LC here. The best part of the IS is Lexus’s soundproof cabin and cutting edge technology. The interior’s suave styling and supple leather upholstery break the so-called European monopoly over luxury cars. Getting down to practicality, the tailgate can swallow all your cargo bags without breaking a sweat.

There might be traces of futurist styling but its still the good old Lexus from the inside with Toyota’s reliability as its beating heart.