2019 Lexus LS 500 F Sport AWD
Class: Premium Large Car
Miles driven: 699
Fuel used: 35.3 gallons
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | B- |
| Power and Performance | B+ |
| Fit and Finish | A |
| Fuel Economy | B- |
| Value | B- |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | B |
| Tall Guy | B |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 416-hp 3.5-liter |
| Engine Type | Turbocharged V6 |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Real-world fuel economy: 19.8 mpg
Driving mix: 35% city, 65% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 18/27/21 (city/highway combined)
Fuel type: Premium Gas
Base price: $84,420 (not including $1025 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Head-Up Display ($1220), Mark Levinson audio system ($1940)
Price as tested: $88,605
Quick Hits
The great: Sumptuous, high-quality interior; good selection of comfort and convenience features
The good: Dramatic styling inside and out; capable handling for a large car
The not so good: Some infotainment controls are tricky to use; occupant space isn’t outstanding for a flagship large car; ride quality isn’t as comfy as most class rivals
More LS price and availability information
CG Says:
And so we find ourselves at the top of the heap at last—at least as far as the Lexus LS 500 is concerned.
Consumer Guide has now tested three types of this premium-large-car entry since its 2018 redesign, and the latest—the F Sport with all-wheel drive—happens to be the most expensive one in the lineup. The 2019 model has a starting price of $85,545 including delivery. It buys a few chassis enhancements and specific interior touches that impart a sportier attitude than you‘ll find on the base LS 500 or 500h hybrid, both of which CG editors drove during the ’18 model year. (One thing that all three test cars had in common is all-wheel drive, which adds $3220 to the sticker price compared to their rear-wheel-drive companions.)
Test Drive: 2018 Lexus LS 500h
As expected for the second year of a new design, changes are few. All LS 500s add standard Apple CarPlay connectivity and Amazon Alexa functionality, which addresses one of CG’s complaints about the first-year cars. (Android smartphone users are still out of luck, however.) Expanded safety features are daytime bicyclist and low-light pedestrian detection; Road Sign Assist that reads stop, speed limit, and yield signs and displays them on a screen; and Lane Trace Assist, a lane-keeping aid that can trace the path of a vehicle ahead rather than solely relying on road markings for guidance.
The F Sport’s functional differences over the base LS 500 amount to larger ventilated brake discs with 6-piston calipers in front and 4-piston grips in back, sport tuning for the adaptive suspension, and Dark Graphite-finish 20-inch alloy wheels with all-season 245/45RF tires in front and 275/40RF rubber in back. Drivers view sliding instrument displays inspired by the erstwhile Lexus LFA sports car. For appearance and ambience, perforated leather adorns the interior, including the 28-way power adjustable front seats, heated F Sport steering wheel, and shifter knob. The headliner is done in Ultrasuede, and aluminum accent trim is found about the cabin and on the pedal faces. External signifiers are a mesh grille insert and lower-body aerodynamic enhancements.
For a rundown of other standard equipment, options, and accommodations, allow us to recommend CG’s LS 500 and LS 500h reviews. In general, heading into the F Sport test our consensus view of the LS was a car with a smooth, quiet ride; quality cabin materials; and ample rear legroom—albeit just for two adult passengers due to a substantial driveline tunnel. However, we had our doubts about the 10-speed automatic transmission’s willingness to downshift, and overall performance of the 416-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 used by all non-hybrid models.
After driving the F Sport, most of those judgements still apply. However, our assessment of the ride wasn’t as good. One editor who drove from Chicago to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, and back found that even in “Comfort” mode it was subject to abrupt impacts and annoying suspension reverberations instead of quickly leveling out. Another staffer felt the rear end kick sideways over a bump on the city expressway he drives daily, a surprise considering other test vehicles weren’t affected the same way.
The V6 is more powerful than the previous-generation LS’s V8. But power isn’t everything. While some of us feel the engine is capable of responsive acceleration, especially with the “Sport S” or “Sport S +” drive modes selected, others sense nonlinear power delivery—and miss the old V8. Fuel economy appears to be pretty sensitive to driving style. Our highway warrior whose distance run was 90 percent on open roads averaged a healthy 25.3 mpg, while the commuter with 55 percent city-type driving notched just 16.1 mpg.
Test Drive: 2018 BMW 740e xDrive iPerformance
At least we’re consistent in being no big fans of the LS 500’s central control of infotainment-system management. A console touchpad requires sweeps and taps through various menus and control points. It’s harder than it sounds when trying to drive at the same time, and it’s very easy to inadvertently change things with an unintended brush of the touchpad while reaching for the shifter or armrest. At least auto audiophiles still get a CD player, even with the optional Mark Levinson premium audio system.
Money isn’t everything, it’s long been said. With the Lexus LS 500, you don’t have to spend the most money to get the things that work best about it, and shelling out doesn’t guarantee that you get a car that is all-around better.
Test Drive: 2018 Cadillac XTS V-Sport
Future Collectibles: 2018 Lexus LC 500
Lexus LS 500 F Sport
