2020 Lexus LS 500 Test Drive Review: Japan's Ultimate Limo

The first Lexus LS debuted in 1990, taking the world by storm as Japan's first legitimate answer to the dominant German options like the BMW 7 Series or Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Not only was the LS properly luxurious, but that luster didn't fizzle out over the course of its ownership period. Unlike the German cars, which required heavy maintenance and expensive parts, the LS was built to stand the test of time.

30 years on and the LS now lives in its fifth generation. Called the LS 500, it arrived on the scene for the 2017 model year and remains mostly unchanged for 2020. Even though not much is new, the LS now faces stiff competition from a new Audi A8, facelifted BMW 7 Series and Genesis G90, and the looming threat of an all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class. We tested a 2020 LS 500 AWD to see if Lexus remains competitive in the world of full-size, executive luxury sedans.

What's the Price of the 2020 Lexus LS?

With such high levels of standard specification, a potent twin-turbo V6, and all the safety tech you could possibly need, the Lexus LS should surely carry a six-figure asking price? Not so, as pricing for the 2020 model starts at as little as $75,450 for the base LS 500 in RWD guise. Stepping up to the sportier F Sport derivative sees an MSRP of $81,450 while opting for all-wheel-drive on either derivative pushes the asking price up by $3,220. Pricing for the Inspiration Series hasn't officially been published yet - we suspect an 'if you have to ask…' attitude - but it's expected to start at around the $97,665 mark, with the AWD version edging ever closer to the six-figure barrier, before options. Prices exclude Lexus' delivery, processing, and handling fee of $1,025.

Handling and Driving Impressions

Let's not mince words, the LS is a big beast. It weighs just under 5,000 pounds with AWD, but it never feels quite so portly. The steering is shockingly direct and the adaptive variable air suspension settles down when you chuck it into a corner. Yes, there will be plenty of body lean, but once the suspension settles, the LS hustles around corners as if it were a much smaller sedan. Lexus has included an abundance of drive modes ranging from Eco to Sport+, most of which feel nearly identical to each other. Sport+ unlocks some piped-in engine noise, which provides some additional thrill to the driver.

If we are being honest, it feels like Lexus was confused with what it wanted the LS 500 to be. Every LS prior to this felt like they had one purpose only: to provide unmatched luxury and comfort with no regard for driving pleasure. With the LS 500, it feels like Lexus took a turn to the German side by trying to engineer in some driving enjoyment. And while this helps the LS 500 feel like less of a snoozer from behind the wheel, we aren't sure if it was worth the trade-off.

Don't hear what we aren't saying. The LS 500 is still an exquisitely quiet and comfortable car. But taking it over some of Florida's torn up highways, we could feel the chassis and suspension struggle to keep our and our passenger's heads from bouncing around. This would be fine in a BMW or a Mercedes. Those are supposed to be somewhat sporty. But the LS is supposed to be a sofa on wheels - a bastion for drivers who'd prefer all traces of road feel be erased from existence. This is by far the most "fun" LS Lexus has ever built, but we aren't sure if that's such a good thing.

Verdict: Is the 2020 Lexus LS A Good car?

Objectively speaking, the 2020 Lexus LS 500 is an outstanding car. It is only when the car is viewed against other high-dollar luxury sedans that you begin to see chinks in the LS's armor. Unlike its predecessors, the LS 500 is not devoid of driving feel and is now one of the more enjoyable vehicles in its segment. We would like to see Lexus introduce a faster version to fully flesh out this experience, and this desire could be rectified with the upcoming LS F.

On the flip side of this argument, we wonder what the LS 500 might have been like if Lexus didn't attempt to make it sporty at all. The LS 500 is, crucially, not so comfortable that it eliminates all imperfections in the road, nor is it so fun that we'd ever want to blast down a canyon road in it. It feels like the engineers were torn with what they wanted the new LS to be and it ended up falling somewhere between plush cruiser and executive sport sedan. Since the LS still has the built-in advantage of Lexus reliability, we would still recommend it as a long-term ownership experience over a comparable German sedan.

What Lexus LS Model Should I Buy?

Buying a 2020 Lexus LS 500 isn't too difficult because there aren't a baffling number of trim levels, though there is a staggering amount of configurations to choose from. We'd opt for the standard LS 500 without going for the F Sport trim, as an LS is meant to be comfortable and the F Sport package takes away from that without offering a significant bump in performance. We'd also recommend sticking with RWD for better fuel economy, unless you plan to drive the car in a cold-weather state.

With the configuration selected, we'd select most of the options found on our tester: Adaptive Variable Air Suspension, 20-inch wheels, 24-inch head-up display, the Executive Package with Kiriko Glass, Mark Levinson Audio, Panomara Glass Roof, Panoramic View Monitor, and Heated Wood Steering Wheel. The only option we'd omit is the Lexus Safety System+ A. We found the active steering assist to be intrusive and it couldn't keep the car centered in the lane without swaying back and forth. As tested (minus the Safety System+ A), our test car would ring in at $112,970.

2020 Lexus LS Comparisons

2020 Lexus LS vs Lexus ES

Starting at nearly half the price of the Lexus LS, the ES is a more traditional full-size sedan, albeit one riding on a FWD chassis with a shorter wheelbase, and much less tech. It also gets a less powerful V6 engine sans turbochargers, developing 302 hp to the LS 500's 416 hp. However, despite being born of a completely different ethos, the ES is wonderfully plush, rides sublimely, and has masses of rear-seat legroom. It has an almost identical trunk to that of the LS, making it practical, too, while the weaker engine rewards you at the pumps with 26 mpg compared to the 23 from the LS. But for the extra money, the LS is vastly more luxurious, with more comfortable reclining, heated, ventilated, and massaging seats, and more opulence, despite similar legroom in the rear of the cabin. It's better in almost every metric; however, if you can't afford the LS, the ES feels vastly more luxurious than its lowly $40k price tag might suggest. Think of the ES as an LS on a budget.

2020 Lexus LS vs Lexus GS

While the ES is an anomaly in the Lexus lineup, the GS is a more traditional take on being the junior sibling of the LS, riding on a RWD platform with optional AWD, and fitting in more with the rest of the established executive committee made up of the E-Class and 5 Series. But it makes do with a naturally aspirated V6 that only develops 311 hp, it's slower to 60 mph, and it consumes the same 23 mpg as the larger LS. It's substantially smaller, and rear-seat passengers will be far more cramped in the GS, while in the LS they can stretch out and enjoy the ride. That's really the crux of it, as the GS is built for those sitting in the front seats, while the LS is built for those who like to be chauffeured about in utmost luxury. If you'll be behind the wheel more often, then the GS is a much better choice, and one that's $24,000 cheaper, too; but if you've got a personal driver and you like the finer things in life, the LS is leagues ahead of the GS.