2023 Lexus LS 500h Hybrid - Bottom Line Review

Each historic naval fleet has reserved raising the Admiral's flag for its most imposing vessel. On land, only the most imposing sedans have have been reserved for ferrying heads of state on highways. More recently, in this active lifestyle era, the Sport Utility Vehicle may have supplanted the sedan in intimidation. Yet, among prestige automakers, nothing says dignified majesty like a flagship luxury sedan.

Out of the Pacific Theater, it has been 30 years since the keel of lengthy Lexus LS flagship, which launched the Japanese luxury marque, was first laid down. The design might have been somewhat derivative. However, the immense development budget, including a detuned Formula One twin-cam V-8 symphony and benchmarking of the Mercedes Benz S-Class for half the price, was a direct hit against the European battlewagons. Following a launch of a fifth generation LS in 2018, Lexus' second hybrid electric flag bearer, the 2023 LS 500h AWD, has set sail.

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WHAT: 2019 Lexus LS 500h AWD 5th generation gas-electric hybrid flagship large luxury sedan, code name XF50 (GF50/55) replacing the LC600h XF40 UVF46 series. It uses the latest TNGA-GAL front-engine, rear drive modular platform.

Standard Hybrid Power: longitudinal 3.5L DOHC 32V DI gas V-6, 8GRFX engine with Atkinson cycling = 295 hp (220 kw), 258 lb-ft, 354 net system horsepower (264kW)

• parallel to:  1 x 650V synchronous AC hybrid starter generator = 8 kW
• 1 x 650V synchronous AC traction / regenerative charging motor = 132 kW (177) hp, 221 lb-ft
• electric supply battery: LiIon Polymer, 310V, 84 cells, 1.1 kWh = -20% weight of former NiMH
• Direct Shift 10 ratio CVT + planetary gear transmission = 3 planetary gears x 3-speed final drive electric power splitter + 10th final drive speed (L310F)
• All-wheel drive: Torsion center differential = 31:69 - 48:52 torque split

WHAT (A) STYLING DIFFERENCE: The 4-door luxury grand touring coupe, of late, has enjoyed it's own level of prestige, notably with the established German brands. The coup that the new LS 500h has carried out is the optical illusion of a Porsche Panamera derivative, while retaining full 2+5 cabin dimensions.

It's the savvy parking attendant who will muse that the heftier upper corner brows frame the "love it or hate it" overarching and deeply descending" corporate spindle grille with more imposing, even slightly sinister. Many sports coupes possess such a high beltline and acutely raked  windscreen. Sloped sided hood and flared quarter panels visually push the wheel arches to their extreme limits. The sloping rear glass melds with a tapering butt of the trunk bearing close on a fastback. A bulbous bumper is replete with dark plastic lower valance with corner chrome exhaust tips. The overall rear effect is fittingly derivative of another saloon with wings in its emblem: the Mk. I Bentley Continental Flying Spur.

WHY: New Pacific Theater fleet flagship sedan sails partly on electrons.

WHEN: On-Sale (in the U.S.) since Spring 2023

WHERE: Lexus new vehicle dealers

WHERE MADE: Tahara, Aichi Prefecture, Japan

WHERE TO: +1 Torsen center differential varies front/ rear traction from nominal 31:69 - 48:52 torque split = full time all-wheel drive. Snow presented zero challenges to the big LS.

HOW ROADWORTHY: Backing up a CVT with a varying ratio 4 planetary gear pack isn't such a bad thing. Under load acceleration in the 2023 Lexus LS 500h are more positive and certainly as smooth as good torque converter acts. More leisurely movement produces napping, then jumping to a gear too low. Such circumstances get the naturally aspirated gas V-6 part of the stew firing unexpectedly. A non-hybrid F-Sport non-hybrid twin-turbo V-6 stablemate does better at sheer road potency.

On the efficiency side of the equation, the 2023 Lexus LS 500h slightly disappoints, given Lexus' years worth of hybrid experience. Yet with a mere 1.1 kWh of electric energy, it has hardly a shock (pun intended) that the pure electric mode is good for Segway speeds.

• -1 Toggle-style center console shift selector = finding neutral is unnerving upon entering the car wash conveyor

The new 2023 LS 500h registers at slightly over two and a half tons. Losing two engine pistons resulted in mere 100 pound paring from the former LS 600h. A lighter relocated LiIon battery and optional air spring multi-link suspension deliver sharper turn in with less roll than recalled in the XF40 series. Rear squat on hard throttle is minimal. Light steering heft is joined by dull surface response. It is easy to imagine rear occupants sipping from goblets which would exhibit nary a ripple irrespective of the surface. Brake disc surfaces are appropriately massive to counter the mass, though pedal feel is spongy.

HOW FAR: 23 combined miles per gallon; 12% < EPA estimate

HOW BIG/ LITTLE: The XF50 2023 Lexus LS 500h is offered exclusively in long wheelbase and nearly fills a 20 foot long garage, but rear knee room trails the transverse layout Lexus ES sedan.

•  √ Individually power reclining, massaging, climate controlled 2nd Row airline seats accommodates 6 foot adults; √ 1st Row passenger seat powers forward & clamshells creating 2nd Row right seat ottoman
• -1 Short, nearly unusable middle 2nd Row seat cushion with intrusive-when-stowed center infotainment loaded armrest; -1 Long hood, sharp raked windshield & backlight hinder outward visibility (remedied by Digital rear-view mirror)

• By Comparison
  • LC 500h wheelbase: 123'- inches = 1.4" < Genesis G90 AWD
  • LC 500h 2nd Row legroom: 38.9"- inches = 1.1 > Genesis G90 AWD
  • LC 500h trunk space: 15.0 cubic feet = 4% < Genesis G90 AWD

HOW USEFUL: Fastback profile full size sedans, already compromise trunk space. What's worse is that the 2023 Lexus LX 500h's battery hybrid system obviates a trunk-to-cabin pass through. However, the entirely soft carpeted trunk liner ensures that premium luggage will be cossetted.

• √ Proximity power trunk open & close; √ Chrome steel recessed floor anchors; √ Over-sized front ceiling soft-hinged sunglass caddy; √ Large mouse-fur lined glove box; √ 1st Row center armrest dual side access lid
• -1 No trunk to cabin cargo pass through; Narrow trunk aperture

HOW SAFE: √ 10 airbags; √ IIHS Top Safety Pick +; √ Bird's Eye view surround camera; √ Sonar front & rear Park Distance Control, √ Blind spot, rear cross traffic & lane departure warning ; √ Driver Attention alert; √ Auto parking brake hold; √ Auto high beam headlamps; √ 10.0" Heads-Up display; √ Rear view mirror video camera feed

Partial Autonomous Driving: √ Full adaptive cruise control, √ Lane Keep, Trace Assist, √ Forward Collision avoidance braking; √ Traffic jam assist + adjacent traffic avoidance braking; √ Active parking assistance, parallel & perpendicular

• Teammate Advance Drive Level 2.0 Semi-Autonomous hands-free closed access highway driving
  • LIDAR supported, navigation mapping integration, spoken interventions
  • -1 Frequently de-activates and re-activates

HOW PEOPLE FRIENDLY:

In Asian markets, the Lexus LS 500h is revered for executive chauffeuring. To that end creature comforts for occupants, particularly in the rear, do not disappoint. Dark ash panels with crossed streaks on the door cards mimic marble pieces. Tufted leathers are quite supple in their own right, but the Mark Levinson door audio speaker grilles mimic pebbled hides all their own. All apertures and the precision switches extol effortless precision action. Tucked seams and contrast stitching exhibit measured consistency. Carpeting is not much less soft than genuine lambswool.

If the latest Lexus flagship sedan is embracing futurism in ambience then it is decidedly 2001 A Space Odyssey inspired. There are the racy illumination streaks running the span of the middle dash into the door cards dark while the instrument cluster and media screen welcome display imitate a deep space quasar. On the topic of displays, while the old Lexus Remote touch pad infotainment UX has been ditched, the LS has avoided the march to a conjoined monolithic glass panel for traditional separate LCD instrument cluster and touch media displays.

√ Automatic heated & cooled 23-way driver, 16-way front pax power seats, w/ 2-setting memory; √ Driver's redundant pax seat operation; √ 2nd Row outboard heated & cooled seats; √ 4 power windows w/ full up/ down express; √ Rear door front & cross controlled power sunshades; √ Rear backlight power sunshade w/ reverse auto retract; √ Puddle lamps at each door; √ 2nd Row remote front pax seat pitch adjust; √ 2nd Row headliner outboard illuminated vanity mirrors; √ Power tilt & telescoping heated leather + wood steering wheel; √ Auto climate control x 4 zones, √ 1st Row moon roof

Cool Gizmo(s): √ 7.0" Fighter jet hood instrument cluster binnacle + flanking drive mode twist stalks; √ Floating door armrests, handles; √ Power reclining airline outboard rear seats + twin headliner vanity mirrors;  √ 2nd Row center armest = embedded touch LCD screen for climate, seat position, front pax seat pitch adjust & overriding audio controls; √ Illuminated safety belt receivers.

Details Done Right:  Alcantara headliner & pillars; √ Brushed aluminum tipped switches, knobs; √ Genuine dark ash wood veneers; √ Contrast stitched, semi aniline Nappa leather surfaces; √ Power tilt & telescoping heated leather & wood steering wheel; √ Exposed stitched leather dash cover & hinged ceiling pull handles; √ Stainless steel door, headliner audio speaker covers; √ 1st Row aquamarine illuminated rocker panels; +1 Climate temperature thumbwheel adjustment

Nearly Non-Descript: -1 Fixed color (white) ambient cabin illumination

HOW CONNECTED: √ new for '23 Lexus Human Machine Interface UX center dashtop tablet 14.0" -inch landscape HD LCD capacitive touch infotainment screen; √ Adaptive voice command interaction & Bluetooth hands-free communications; √ GPS Cloud based Navigation w/ real time re-routing, √ Google POI, OTA updates; √ Lexus Interface wireless device apps = Apple Music, Amazon Music, Amazon Alexa, Doppler weather, Traffic Updates; Siri Eyes; USB-C x 5, USB-A x 1, 115 VAC x 112V x 1 ^{(2nd Row)}

HOW "APP" -LICABLE: Lexus Human Machine Interface infotainment designed to be very voice interactive via "Hey Lexus" wake-up phrase hence more streamlined (vs. previous Lexus Enform architecture); √ Google browser search; √ Driver profiles x 5, personalized operation, comfort convenience & infotainment settings, portable (to other equipped Lexus Interface equipped vehicles); √ Driver digital key card (via wireless device app)

Audibly Speaking: 23 speaker, 2400 Watt, 16-channel 7.1 DTS HD radio 30GB jukebox Mark Levinson + Clari-Fi streaming audio, HD radio

• +1 Pretty close to the acme of mobile high fidelity; Accurate imaging; Percussion timpani replicate Mother Nature's rumble of thunder.
• +/- No more CD player or Lexus Media Display remote mouse or touchpad control
• -1 Touch screen could benefit from absent haptics feedback

By Subscription:

√ Sirius XM satellite radio (1 year trial); √ Safety & remote connect (1 year trial); √ Digital Key & Drive Connect (3 years trial); √ AT&T 4G LTE Wi-Fi (2GB trial)

HOW MUCH: $114,090 = as tested 2020 Lexus LS 500h AWD

WHAT'S MISSING: Sharper high speed turn-in; Panorama glass roof, 2nd Row picnic tables & video screens; More fully baked Advanced Drive semi- hands-free autonomy.

ANY COMPETITION:  BMW 745 e: +1 plug-in hybrid pure electric range, cabin IT; Mercedes-Benz S560e ; +1 PHEV, driver assist technology, high speed stability