Lexus LS 460 2007 Review

What we liked
>> Extremely refined and powerful engine
>> Smooth silent auto transmission
>> Great value with long list of features

Not so much
>> Fiddly dash controls
>> Small boot for the size of car
>> Conservative styling

Overall rating: 4.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 4.5/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 4.5/5.0 
Safety: 4.5/5.0
Behind the wheel: 4.0/5.0 
X-factor: 3.5/5.0

To do so, the then newly-formed luxury arm of Toyota, felt the best way to establish its credentials and take on the Germans was with a large flagship sedan. And in many ways it was a strategy that worked. More recently, with a wider range including the small IS, midsized GS and RX and LX SUVs, Lexus has grown locally to be the number three luxury brand, selling over 7000 cars last year.

And while the LS may only account for less than five per cent of the company's volume, it remains its most important standard bearer and as such is seen as representing the pinnacle of the company's achievements in technology, comfort, refinement and features.

With the fourth-generation LS going on sale on May 1, there is plenty of evidence that this philosophy continues. Longer, wider and sitting on a longer wheelbase than the previous generation, the new LS460 boasts a world-first eight-speed automatic transmission, a new V8 engine, air suspension, and a comprehensive array of comfort and convenience features.

That high level of equipment starts on the outside with 19-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof and entry via a keyless system that uses a smart card slightly smaller than a standard credit card.

Even the doors close automatically with a refined solid thunk that the company says has been tuned to sound like a solid wooden door against a doorframe.

Inside, as you would expect, everything is power operated from the rear and rear side sunblinds, through the windows, mirrors, heated steering wheel and seats. The premium leather trimmed seats are all electrically adjustable -- including the two outboard rear seats --  and heated and ventilated, while the climate control system is a four-zone unit with separate controls for each of the front occupants and rear passengers.

Entertainment is provided by a superb 450-watt 19-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound six-stack CD system and a DVD player with a rear roof-mounted 23cm screen.

To ensure you don't get lost, sat nav is also standard.

Unlike many of its rivals, Lexus has eschewed the menu dial to control the various comfort and convenience functions having instead a large 20cm touch screen in the centre stack flanked by 15 (count them!) buttons. Although the buttons are reasonably large, changing anything still requires a degree of concentration and button prodding that means it can't be done on the move.

Although only 300cc bigger than the LS430's (more here) eight, the new engine generates 35 per cent more power with claimed maximum outputs of 280kW at 6400rpm and 493Nm at 4100rpm.

With a range of high tech features, the V8 is capable of moving the LS460 from standstill to 100km/h in a claimed 5.7sec while the official combined fuel consumption is listed at a relatively frugal 11.1lt/100km.

Contributing to both performance and economy is the new eight-speed automatic transmission that Lexus claims delivers about an eight per cent improvement in fuel economy over the previous car's six-speed auto.

With increased use of aluminium within the transmission, Lexus has been able to keep weight increases to just under 10kg while fitting the gear sets into the same sized casing as the old six-speed.

Gone is the previous generation's double wishbone suspension too, with the new car featuring a multilink configuration with continuously adaptive air suspension that features three switchable modes. In Lexus' biggest market, the US, this is offered as an option and wasn't available when the car was first launched there in 2006, but the Australian subsidiary wanted it as standard and so delayed the car's local launch until now.

Lexus claims the new suspension has reduced body roll by a substantial 30 per cent compared to the previous LS430.

The electro-mechanical rack and pinion steering also features variable gearing that can change the steering ratio by up to 30 per cent. At low parking speeds, this means just 2.4 turns lock-to-lock, while at high speeds gearing is changed to 3.5 turns lock-to-lock for better precision.

PACKAGING
Competing against the likes of BMW's 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class, the Lexus LS460 is a big car and bigger than its previous incarnation. While the overall length has risen by just 5mm to 5030mm, the wheelbase has increased by 45mm and the width by the same, resulting in significantly more interior space, says Lexus.

And there is certainly no shortage of room. Up front the multitude of seat and steering column adjustments means you can achieve your perfect driving position, while if it is the rear where you like to spend your time, there is plenty of head and legroom and again, the availability of recline and sliding seat adjustments.

The front and outboard rear pews are very comfortable and supportive but the nature of the 40/20/40 split rear seat means that the centre spot is essentially just a space for the drop-down centre armrest with its HVAC/audio/DVD controls. Trust us, the fifth seating position is very much a short-term affair.

The extra space in the rear along with the extra air-conditioning unit has also substantially reduced the boot size. The LS460's luggage compartment has shrunk to just 400 litres compared to the previous car's 573-litre space.

Back inside though there are plenty of storage cubbies -- each with a damped lid that opens at the same speed and in the same direction as all the others -- and good sized door bins.

With such an array of features, there is no shortage of buttons across the dash and surrounding the centre screen and although many are reasonably intuitive (Lexus claims every operation requires no more than three steps) it is still not user-friendly enough to be operated on the move. 

SAFETY
Being the range-topping model in the Lexus line-up, there is little missing from the 460 in terms of safety kit.

Apart from the stiffer and stronger body, active features include every available electronic acronym you might imagine. The latest generation Vehicle Dynamics integrated Management (VDiM) system controls such things as the anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control, air suspension, adaptive damping and variable ratio steering to ensure "seamless integration" and an ability to make it very hard to get the car going somewhere you don't want it to.

Should that actually happen, there is a radar-based pre-collision system that will stiffen the dampers, apply brake assist to ensure maximum braking pressure and potentially pre-tension the seatbelts. 

If the crash occurs, you will be well protected with no less than 10 airbags -- front, side and kneebags for driver and front passenger, side airbags for rear passengers and full-length side curtain airbags.

COMPETITORS
As number three in the luxury market, Lexus has the two big Germans -- numero uno Mercedes and BMW at number two -- very firmly in its sights. And this is not just with the LS, but with its entire range.

However, in contrast to its rivals, Lexus does not offer a base car and endless lists of options so what you see is what you get. As a result, the company has taken the pricing high ground and while it pitches the LS460 against Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series models, it is priced against lesser-engined and lower-spec variants of the German cars.

Against the market leading S-Class, the LS is priced closest to the base model $187,900 200kW/350Nm V6-engined S 350 while the nearest equivalent BMW is the $183,000 225kW/390Nm 4.0-litre V8-engined 740i.

Other models that the Lexus competes against include Audi's A8 (with the LS460 sitting price-wise between the 3.2-litre V6 and 4.2-litre V8 models) and Jaguar's $175K 224kW/420Nm 4.2-litre V8 XJ8.

ON THE ROAD
Lexus has built its image of luxury on the ability to build bullet-proof cars (Ed: not literally... Yet!) that are comfortable, extremely refined and well-equipped. On the flip side, its brand values have never been about driving excitement or distinctive styling and while the new LS460 makes advances over its predecessor in these areas, it is still pretty much business as usual.

Not that there is anything particularly wrong with that -- there is definitely a market out there that likes its luxury transport to be silent, cocooning and a respite from the corporate stresses of the world. To the customer looking for this sort of ambience, the LS460 will appeal.

From the minute you slip into the driver's seat and the door latches itself with a refined and quiet thunk, you feel like you have stepped into another realm -- where senses are subdued.

Press the starter button and you can hear the V8 purring, but it is a very quiet purr. Likewise the visuals that surround you -- there is plenty of leather and wood and everything electric and high-tech you might imagine. That said it is still all rather conservatively laid out for function rather than form.

And it's function rather than any real character that comes out in the drive experience too. Squeeze the accelerator pedal and there is no doubt about the strength and refinement of the engine and transmission as the car moves off the line with an urgent thrust. It will keep pulling right through the rev band continuing to deliver power to the rear wheels in a seamlessly linear fashion as the eight-speed auto silently and almost imperceptibly shifts through the ratios.

The ride quality with the suspension set to comfort is well-controlled and cosseting and the silence inside the car -- unless you are milking the excellent sound system to its fullest capacity -- is almost eerie.

Head into the hills on a tighter twisty C-grade tarmac, switch the air suspension and adaptive dampers to sport mode and the car delivers a handling capability that belies its size and visage.

With the transmission locked down to third via the sequential manual shift lever, the engine is delivering its best between about 4000-6000rpm for very solid and enthusiastic throttle response. At the same time, the discernibly firmer suspension does a great job of keeping the car sitting flat and composed on the road while the steering weighs up with a more direct response -- although it still lacks the sort of feedback you might want.

Grip is assured and the intervention of the various electronic nannies is subtle. Alas, while the LS460 is eminently capable of being pushed on a bit, delivering a very competent ride/handling compromise, it still never feels entirely involving. It's almost like the car is well up to the task but it is not exactly going to encourage you to take it on.

After a short media launch drive through the Yarra Valley east of Melbourne, we can vouch the LS460 is remarkably assured, competent and luxuriously refined transport but it still lacks any real emotional appeal. Perhaps the company's upcoming F series range of AMG-style models will help fill this 'experiential' void.

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