Lexus LS 500h
FIRST DRIVE Hybrid power compromises Japanese brand’s flagship
Hybrid version of luxurious new S-class rival driven
LEXUS isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to the fifth generation of its flagship, the LS. The Japanese brand has given its Mercedes S-class and Audi A8 rival a new platform, adapted from the chassis first seen on the LC sports GT, and a heavily revised hybrid set-up.
There’s now just one wheelbase, but it stretches 35mm beyond the previous longwheelbase variant, and four-wheel drive continues to feature in the range.
We tried a twin-turbo V6 petrol LS in Issue 1,502, but UK buyers will be offered only the hybrid. It mixes a 295bhp 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with a pair of electric motors, giving a combined output of 354bhp; enough for the four-wheel-drive model to reach 62mph in 5.4 seconds.
The efficiency figures are respectable, but not stellar. An all-wheel-drive LS 500h manages combined economy of 39.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 161g/km, but its petrol engine will work in its favour when it comes to company car tax, of course. Lexus is offering four trim levels on its flagship model in the UK, but it’s the range-topping Premier version that we’re driving here.
It piles on the standard kit, with Shiatsu massage tech on the front and rear seats, an ‘ottoman’ feature which moves the front passenger seat to deliver up to a metre of legroom for one of the rear cabin occupants, and Lexus’s latest suite of safety features.
On the road the LS 500h is best suited to urban driving, where a gentle approach can deliver smooth and refined performance from the hybrid powertrain. Push harder on the open road and the system sends the revs skywards and allows a fair bit of electric motor whine through to the cabin. Things quieten down once you’re cruising; you’re more likely to hear wind rush from the A-pillars than any engine noise or tyre roar.
In the most part the LS’S ride is supple enough, but sharp road imperfections can make their way through to the cabin. And on twistier roads, the LS feels every bit of its 2.4 tonnes; it’s neither happy to switch direction quickly nor able to deliver much feedback through the steering wheel.
Inside, there are some exquisite design details, but the user experience remains a mixed bag, with an infotainment system which, while improved over earlier versions, is still too fiddly to use. It also lacks Android Auto or Apple Carplay support, which is unforgivable when these features are standard on many superminis these days.