Lexus LS 500 2021 Review

Going against the trend of its European rivals, the 2021 Lexus LS 500 F Sport is the entry-level model rather than range-topper of the fifth-generation Japanese-built limousine line-up.

With a sticker price that starts at $195,953 plus on-road costs for either the standard twin-turbo V6-powered model we’re testing or the V6 hybrid in the LS 500 h, the F Sport trim sits under the more sumptuous Sports Luxury grade that costs from $201,078 plus ORCs with either engine configuration.

Whichever way you look at it, the LS 500 is more accessible than most of its primary rivals, including the new-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class (launching with the S 450 at $240,700 plus ORCs), the BMW 7 Series (from $204,900), Jaguar XJ (from $213,025) and the Maserati Quattroporte (from $210,990 plus ORCs). Only the entry-level Audi A8 50 TDI quattro is fractionally more affordable, undercutting the Lexus by a whisker at $194,500 plus ORCs.

Both the F Sport and Sports Luxury share a long list of standard features, including leather seat trim with heated and cooled front seats with 28-way adjustment, heated rear seats, a digital rear-view mirror, glass sunroof, colour head-up display and a 12.3-inch widescreen infotainment display with sat-nav, Bluetooth, smartphone mirroring for Apple and Android devices, DAB+ digital radio and a 23-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.

Yep, 23 speakers across 16 locations and a 16-channel, 2400-watt amplifier with just 0.05 per cent total harmonic distortion. I can’t tell you what that actually means but trust me when I say that the sound is absolutely amazing! Lexus has also implemented new cabin sound suppression methods to take full advantage of the audio immersion experience. 

The F Sport trim in MY20 guise tested here – the LS has since received an MY21 update – trades some of the Sports Luxury’s additional features, such as massage rear seats, rear entertainment, quad-zone climate control and ornamental wood finishes in the cabin, for a sportier appearance, both inside and out, and a raft of key handling upgrades.

On the outside, the F Sport can be identified by its unique front grille and larger air intakes in the front bumper, black accents and exclusive 20-inch alloy wheels.

Inside the cabin it has F Sport front seats with more support, a different shift lever and clock, heated dimpled-leather steering wheel, sports pedals, a digital instrument cluster inspired by the LFA supercar and Naguri aluminium trim highlights.

But it’s the items under the F Sport’s skin that give it a racier driving character, including wider rear tyres (275/45R20 compared to the Sports Luxury’s 245/45R20s), active anti-roll bars (which are only available in the non-hybrid model), rear-wheel steering and high-performance brakes.

And these are what I’m keen to test out on the track to see if it belongs there – or not!

According to Lexus LS chief engineer Toshio Asahi, the 2021 Lexus LS 500 F Sport is “designed to be the top runner in advanced safety technologies” and employs what Lexus calls an “Integrated Safety Management Concept”.

This philosophy focuses on optimising safety technologies for the main causes of traffic fatalities including accidents related to pedestrians, vehicle departures from roads and rear-end collisions.

As such, the Lexus Safety System+ is a combination of the latest semi-autonomous crash avoidance technologies that are essentially designed to help the driver firstly avoid an accident or lessen the consequences if in one.

The LS is equipped with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) that can detect other vehicles, pedestrians and the risk of an impact. Using a forward recognition camera and a millimetre wave radar sensor, if it determines the possibility of an impact is high, it will warn the driver and activate pre-collision brake assist by priming the brakes. If it then determines that impact is imminent, the brakes will fully apply and help lessen the severity of the impact.

This basically means it pushes the brake hard for you as it senses that you aren’t paying enough attention or it doesn’t trust that you’ll push it hard enough – which I’ve witnessed on countless occasions during my 25 years of advanced driver training!

It uses the same sensors for its all-speed adaptive cruise control (ACC), lane keep assist (LKA) with lane departure warning (LDW) and sway warning function as well.

With an extensive array of 10 airbags – the Sports Luxury has 12 with additional rear seat cushion airbags – the last line of defence is a strong one should all else fail.  

Powering the 2021 Lexus LS 500 F Sport is a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol powerplant that produces a very healthy 310kW of power and 600Nm of torque thanks to the advanced cylinder head that borrows technology learnt from parent company Toyota’s now-defunct Formula One program.

Moving away from the LS’s historical V8 power, the new V6 engine produces significant gains of 25kW and 107Nm over its normally-aspirated predecessor. The smaller-capacity engine is not only more powerful and fuel efficient, with a claimed average consumption of 9.5L/100km, it is physically smaller and lighter too which Lexus claims improves packaging and vehicle dynamics.

As you would expect from a company renowned for refinement, a key focus was applied to the engine’s smoothness, starting with a ladder frame support for the crankshaft main bearings which aids rigidity as well as redesigned engine mounts and electric wastegates for the twin turbos.

Lexus has chosen to develop its turbochargers in-house to control quality and turbine shape in an effort to minimise lag while water-to-air intercoolers keep the inlet charge controlled and also help with under-bonnet packaging. 

Initially developed for the LC 500, the LS 500 adopts the first 10-speed automatic transmission used in a premium passenger car. While it’s a conventional torque-converter-type gearbox, Lexus claims shift times can rival that of a dual-clutch transmission.

The LS 500 employs Drive Mode Select with five unique settings – Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport S, Sport S+ and Custom – that tailor the transmission, suspension and engine calibration for different characteristics with the car capable of covering 0-100km in 5.0 seconds when using Sport S+.

Before you even turn a wheel, the 2021 Lexus LS 500 F Sport impresses with its well-executed interior, the high quality of its materials and its precision to detail.

It has a cool ‘welcoming sequence’ that raises the car 40mm to help aid ingress, while the seat cushion and bolster and the steering wheel all dance together to change position to also improve access to the driver’s seat.

It is extremely comfortable with its smooth leather seat trim, soft and deep carpets and cool ambient interior lighting.

Being able to program the heated and cooled front seats, as well as the heated rear outboard seats, from the big screen in the centre of the dash is pretty cool, along with all the other bells and whistles including the ability to play media through the screen via CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, HDMI, Miracast, DLNA or an SD card.

There’s plenty of space for adults to travel in absolute comfort – whether they’re in the front or back seats – and loads of convenient storage options, but with only 480 litres of boot space and no option to fold down the second row it’s probably not a hauler for a young family. I think you knew that already…

On the road, the active noise cancelling adds to the serenity of the driving experience offered by the well-tuned adaptive suspension, which is super-plush in the Eco and Comfort modes and noticeably tauter in the Sport S settings to the point where it negotiates tight corners surprisingly well and shrinks around the driver, which is impressive for a big car that weighs over 2.2 tonnes. There’s no doubt the rear-wheel steering contributes greatly to that sensation.

With maximum torque produced between just 1600 and 4800rpm, there’s plenty of power available from the engine across the entire rev range no matter which setting you choose, and I personally preferred the quicker response offered in Sport S – even in everyday driving situations.

The big 400mm vented front brake rotors with six-piston callipers in combination with the rear vented 359mm units ensure adequate stopping power without a hint of fade – even on the track.

The 10-speed ’box is silky-smooth and, in reality, probably doesn’t need that many cogs as the engine has so much pulling power. But I guess the fuel economy benefits that come with it is the big winner there.

On the track, it didn’t feel as much like a whale out of water as I expected. It’s certainly fast enough in a straight line, and competent enough in the corners, but I reckon it could have been quicker with better traction from a limited-slip differential as I could fry the inside rear wheel at the drop of a hat which really affected the lap time.

I suppose that is understandable really as it’s not exactly built for the track – more a spirited road drive in extreme comfort.  

I think it’s pretty fair to say that as influential as the Lexus LS has been in improving refinement and reliability across the luxury segment ever since it was first released in 1989, it has always focused on its passengers rather than the driver.

Get behind the wheel of the 2021 Lexus LS 500 F Sport and the former philosophy hasn’t changed as it is pure class, with the kind of attention to detail that should command twice the price you pay for it and an audio system that is on par with any concert hall.

But the latest F Sport treatment has also added another dimension that well and truly brings the driver into the equation.

Is it sporty enough to become a super-limo? Well, a 67.33-second lap is our new reference for prestige heavyweights. So, yes, it most certainly is.

Disclaimer: Luke Youlden is a Bathurst 1000 champion, 2021 Porsche Carrera Cup series competitor, Tekworkx Motorsport mentor and chief driving coach, deputy chief instructor for the Porsche Experience and also works for Pilota Sportiva, whose clients include Audi Driving Experience and Volkswagen Group Australia.

How much does the 2021 Lexus LS 500 F Sport cost?     
Price: $195,953 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol
Output: 310kW/600Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 217g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested