Lexus LS 500
How it looks when you see on the street: Lexus introduced the LS to the US market in 1990— then the pinnacle of new 90s luxury. The 1990s are certainly back in culture and while the most recent Lex hasn’t been updated since 2020, it holds on to some of that classic big-body cache in its current exterior design language. Lexus has had a sold thirty year ascent into the pantheon of luxury. Over the summer Brooklyn Library debuted Jay-z’s off-white 1993 Lexus GS 300, a sporty mid-sized luxury sedan that’s become a modern classic, and was immortalized in tracks such as “Empire State of Mind” and earlier in “Dead Presidents II.” The GS was first sketched out by Giorgetto Giaguaro in 1989, and was coveted as a symbol of status and being on the up and up on hot new cars. While the GS was being dreamed up Lexus released the first LS, a swipe at the benchmark Mercedes-Benz S Class at the time. The GS was discontinued in 2021, leaving the LS as the keeper of the Lexus full-size sedan status symbol, which has its own flair.
How it makes you feel when you get in: Sometimes a car is balm for a bad day. The current LS had that effect on me. I test drove the LS on a day that I had received some devastating news. That moment in the Lexus where I pulled away brought me a sense of peace — the seats ever-so comfortable the dash so tailored to my driver’s experience. The LS insides offer comfort. The UX appears on a 12.3 inch screen and touch driven, offering Amazon Alexa, Apple CarPlay, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Backseat riders have a small screen and separate climate controls.
How it drives: True to the Enya-like vibe of the interior, the LS has a sailing sensation produced by its 3.4-liter V6 that is boosted by twin-turbochargers to make 416 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque to make ample power for cruising, the kind of cruising where troubles are left in the rearview. On rocky surfaces the Lex handles its weight with grace.
Space for people and things: It’s a full-size sedan that is true to its proporition making room for the big bags, big people, and big-balling lifestyle that harkens back to its aspirational origins.
What to compare it to: Genesis G90, Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
How much does it cost: The starting price is $80,000, but properly optioned up to luxe standards, its more like $100k. The options here are actually quite creative including the Executive Package, which adds Shiatsu massage and a movable ottoman. And there’s the package that includes the Kiriko glass.