2020 Lexus LC 500 Coupe Review: Gorgeous, Soulful, Imperfect

Design. It's the Lexus LC's USP. Where other luxury sports coupes like the Porsche 911 have built their reputation on things like handling feel and outright performance, the Lexus LC is incomparably striking in looks, bringing the concept car flourishes usually reserved for auto shows to our real-world streets. And where everyone else has begrudgingly embraced turbocharging, the people at Lexus have doggedly stood fast, endowing the LC with a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8. 471 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque is sent to the rear wheels via a ten-speed automatic gearbox, with no manual option available. Despite no assistance from boost, the LC manages an impressive 4.4 seconds in the sprint from 0-60 mph, although you may want to drive at a more leisurely pace to take in the admiring gaze of onlookers, many of whom will be convinced that this is either a concept car or an alien spacecraft.

What's the Price of the 2020 Lexus LC 500 Coupe?

Pricing starts at a not inconsiderable $92,950 before the $1,025 destination charge and other fees and taxes. We hit the Lexus online configurator and specced the LC 500 with active rear steering, a speed-activated rear wing, carbon fiber scuff plate, a carbon roof, carbon front lower valance, and a carbon trunk spoiler. We also added a heated steering wheel, 21-inch wheels, and a 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio upgrade. A color head-up display, parking assist, a Torsen limited-slip rear differential, and sport seats were also added, bringing the LC 500 to a fully-loaded price of almost $109,000 including destination and delivery.

2020 LC Coupe Exterior

Dimensions

2020 LC Coupe Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

Lexus makes a big deal of the LC 500's almost-perfect 54/46 weight distribution, and in a relatively heavy coupe, it's a good thing that the balance is so finely tuned. Although the LC is engineered to be more of a GT car than a track racer, the chassis is brilliantly adapted to the powertrain, keeping you planted in the corners. Taking bends feels almost instinctive, with the car wrapped around you and your hands keeping the LC pointed exactly right. The long hood doesn't extend so far ahead that you feel the need to turn-in before you arrive at a corner, and thanks to available variable-ratio steering and active rear-wheel steering, as well as a limited-slip diff, the LC handles brilliantly. The experience is a little unusual, as one would expect such a big and heavy vehicle to suffer in the corners, but the level of precision achieved, although not quite as sharp as in a 911, is astonishingly addictive. Despite this, it still manages to be comfortable and compliant when you encounter some rougher tarmac and absorbs bumps with ease. There is a hint of body roll, but not enough to diminish your confidence or scare you. It is possible to make this thing drift, but overall, the LC brings to mind the thought of an over-achieving GT car rather than an underwhelming blunt instrument in the bends.

2020 LC Coupe Interior

2020 LC Coupe Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

Verdict: Is the 2020 Lexus LC 500 Coupe A Good car?

Based on its breathtaking design alone, the LC 500 is arguably the best luxury sport coupe you can buy if you value admiring glances and gazes of wonderment. Literally, nothing else on the road throws such a big middle finger to restrained conventional design as this car does. Whether that is truly a good or a bad thing is up to the individual beholder, as not everyone is a fan of attention-grabbing bodywork and outlandish headlight and taillight arrangements. For us, it's all brilliant. As a direct rival for "proper" sports cars like the Porsche 911, however, the LC is nowhere near as visceral (engine tone notwithstanding) nor as dynamic as most vehicles in this segment can be. It lacks the finesse and deftness of ability that makes a sports car addictive to drive, but makes up for it with that intoxicating engine and a brilliant gearbox. So overall, the LC is nowhere near as lithe or dynamic in terms of outright performance as a 911, but it has character and buckets of it. The infotainment system is infuriating to use and could be a dealbreaker for most, but if you can look past it, the howling V8 and complex design should be more than satisfactory.

What Lexus LC 500 Coupe Model Should I Buy?

Since there's only one trim level available and it's well-equipped from the factory, we'd keep things relatively simple with the options. The Performance package at $5,960 adds a lot of extra athleticism to the LC 500 and is worth considering. However, you can't just have the package on its own and have to add bigger wheels, park assist, and an LSD. The standard 12-speaker sound system is more than powerful enough, so avoiding the upgrade will save some cash. Instead, spend $900 on the head-up display. All in, you're looking at $104,375 worth of beauty - including the destination fee.

2020 Lexus LC Coupe Comparisons

2020 Lexus LC Coupe vs Porsche 911 Carrera

If you want to spend over $100k on a luxury sports car, you don't necessarily have to tick any options to do it. The 2020 Carrera S arrives with a sticker price north of $113,300 before you've even picked your paint. However, this does mean a more spritely 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds (when equipped with the Sport Chrono Package). You also get Porsche's legendary handling capabilities and brilliant steering. It's the Porsche's outstanding ability in the corners that makes it a true icon, with almost nothing being as deft and as precise. On the inside, you get much of the same equipment that you'll find in the LC, including navigation, dual-zone climate control, and W-iFi. However, where the Porsche is focused more on ergonomics, precision, and unbeatable handling, the LC wipes the floor with it for visual presence, flair, and extravagance. If you want a proper sports car that you can abuse hard and push limits with, the 911 is still the best. But for a more comfortable and visually arresting automobile that makes an occasion out of every drive, the LC 500 is truly in a class of its own.

2020 Lexus LC Coupe vs Lexus RC F

If you like the idea of a naturally-aspirated V8, radical design cues, and Lexus build quality, you may want to consider the more hardcore RC F. This performance version of the small Lexus coupe is a rival to the BMW M4, and although only one hp more powerful than the LC 500, it's almost 380 lbs lighter. Although being a little shorter from end to end as well as a little thinner, it has almost double the cargo space of the LC, with 10.1 cubes compared to the LC's 5.4. You also pay less for a base variant, with the starting price coming in at under $65,000 and the all-out Track Edition costing just under $97,000. However, this does mean a much more Manga-esque body comes with it. Where the LC 500 looks perfectly sculpted and worthy of a museum, the RC F just looks insane with wings and vents sprouting from all over the car. So which is better? Well, the RC F is far stiffer and therefore less comfortable, but it's also more competitive and dynamic. Do you want a cruiser or a track weapon? Given the choice, we'd stick with the LC 500 and all its GT essence.