2022 Lexus LS 500 Review

Name: 2022 Lexus LS 500 Review
Brand: Lexus
Price: 61998 USD

Lexus LS 500 Sedan Exterior. Luxury Package Shown.

+157

The Lexus LS 500 does an admirable job as an executive sedan. It has an exquisite cabin filled with high-end materials, many premium features and good value in this prestigious segment. Unfortunately, its clunky user interface and slow-acting advanced driver aids keep the LS from truly rivaling the class leaders.

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2022 Lexus LS 500 Review

byDan Frio^{Reviews Editor
Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to Edmunds, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.},

rating written byTravis Langness^{Reviews Editor
Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.}

Pros

Library-quiet at highway speeds
Ride quality remains soft, supple and impervious to broken pavement
Interior features world-class build quality and artful materials

Cons

Touchpad-based infotainment is distracting to use
General lack of sportiness, ceding dynamic advantage to some German rivals
Gas pedal doesn't feel very responsive

What's new

New decorative metal trim option
Adaptive headlights now standard
Updated driver and safety aids
Part of the fifth LS generation introduced for 2018

Overview

As buyers assert their preferences for luxury SUVs, big, full-size luxury sedans have become a rarer sight. The 2022 Lexus LS remains the automaker's flagship canvas for tech, comfort and safety innovations, but it's getting lonely out there. The LS carries over largely unchanged for 2022, but there's been some tinkering behind the scenes. Revised suspension settings and components aim to improve ride quality and stability, the optional air suspension can adjust to ease cabin entry and exit, and recalibrated shift timing helps further refine driving and acceleration. The driver aids and safety features also receive enhanced radar and camera upgrades.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2022 Lexus LS 500 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$242/mo

$219/mo

Avg. Large Car

Calculate my fuel costs

There's also obsessive new detail, including optional ultra-fine metal foil trim called "Haku," made by Japanese artisans and meant to evoke moonlight on ocean waves. This joins the existing option of decorative cut-glass inlays (Kiriko glass) and hand-pleated fabric door trim available with the Executive package. This level of refinement sets the LS apart from its few rivals, including the Genesis G90, Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class once counted in this group, but its recent six-digit starting price puts it beyond the comparatively humble LS and its peers. Be sure to read our Expert Rating to see how the LS stacks up among the large luxury sleds.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Good

7.7

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.0/10

How does the LS 500 drive? You expect luxury sedans of this ilk to have decent power, and the LS 500's turbocharged V6 delivers. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph takes 5.7 seconds. That's an average time for a six-cylinder large luxury sedan. The 10-speed automatic shifts smoothly under hard acceleration but can be a bit slow to downshift if you suddenly go for a pass on the highway.

Braking is smooth and easy during casual cruising but doesn't quite offer the stopping confidence of competitors when slowing from higher speeds. The steering is appropriately light for a luxury sedan. You can dial in some extra heft by switching to a sportier drive mode. The latest LS has decent composure around turns, but it's still primarily a luxury cruiser.

Comfort

8.0/10

How comfortable is the LS 500? The optional adjustable air suspension produces a cushy ride on almost any road. Speed bumps are hardly noticeable. Only on severely broken pavement can the ride feel a little choppy. Large pavement dips can cause noticeable body movement. Road, wind and engine noise is virtually nonexistent.

Seat comfort is excellent, with the front seats offering a wide range of adjustments in addition to heating, ventilation and massage. The middle rear seat is pretty stiff and uncomfortable, though it's suitable for short trips.

Interior

7.5/10

How’s the interior? The interior looks and feels top-notch. Alas, the LS 500's challenging user interface limits our score. The addition of a 12.3-inch touchscreen for 2021 is a big improvement for the LS, but many vehicle settings are still buried in complicated menus. An easier-to-use button layout would help greatly.

There's plenty of space for four passengers, with lots of headroom and legroom. The driving position is excellent, thanks to a wide range of adjustability in the steering wheel and driver's seat. The large doors make getting into the cabin easy, but the wide doorsills make getting out a little tricky.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? The standard Lexus Enform app suite isn't very intuitive. Fortunately, Lexus also includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for smartphone integration. The optional 23-speaker Mark Levinson stereo provides excellent sound quality, even if its "crank it up!" power is a bit lacking. The LS has a voice command system but it doesn't recognize much in the way of natural language. Instead you'll have to use the system's series of prompts.

Lots of standard safety features are present. But the adaptive cruise control is slow to react to traffic and overly conservative with its following distances. The forward collision mitigation system is by far the most sensitive of the systems. You might find it overly so. Our test car applied the brakes in an aggressive fashion on one occasion even though there was no object ahead.

Storage

8.0/10

How’s the storage? The LS 500's trunk is one of the largest in the class. It accommodates plenty of luggage, though its trapezoid shape (it tapers inward near the rear seats) can be somewhat limiting. With bins under the armrests and cutouts in each door, it has plenty of places for small items inside.

For installing child safety seats, there are two easy-access anchors on each of the outboard seats. But reaching the upper tethers for car seats can be tricky since they're set far back on the rear deck and there's not much clearance between them and the roof.

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

How’s the fuel economy? The rear-wheel-drive LS 500 has an EPA-estimated 22 mpg combined (18 city/29 highway). With all-wheel drive, that number drops to 21 mpg combined. These figures are about average for an executive sedan with a V6. Our all-wheel-drive tester achieved 21.9 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation route, indicating that EPA's estimate is realistic.

Value

8.0/10

Is the LS 500 a good value? The Lexus LS offers many of the same decadent features as its German rivals but at a lower cost. The price of our test vehicle, with a considerable number of options, was just shy of $100,000. In general, you get a lot for your money. The cabin is full of top-notch materials and build quality is excellent. Our test car had no perceivable panel gaps or trim inconsistencies.

The LS 500 comes with a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty, along with complimentary roadside assistance for four years/unlimited miles. Lexus' warranty coverage is about par for the course.

Wildcard

8.0/10

The gaping maw up front is of questionable taste. But once you get inside the LS, it's hard not to be awestruck. Interior design and materials selection are exceptional. It also feels the part when you park it at upscale shopping or dining locations. Is it fun to drive? Ehh, no. This is a sedan meant to be enjoyed as a smooth and luxurious cruiser.

Which LS 500 does Edmunds recommend?

There's just one trim level, but numerous bundled and stand-alone options let you tailor the LS to potentially extravagant levels (the top Executive Package alone costs nearly a third of the car's retail price). If you're not shuttling VIPs, we suggest outfitting the LS with the adaptive air suspension, the Safety System+ A package for its expanded driver aids, the Mark Levinson audio system and, if you're feeling indulgent, the panoramic sunroof. That's a very nicely equipped Lexus for about the price of its base-trim BMW rival.

2022 Lexus LS 500 models

The 2022 Lexus LS 500 comes in only one trim but offers a bevy of stand-alone options as well as option packages that allow buyers a fair amount of customization. Only one powertrain is available: a turbocharged V6 engine (416 horsepower, 442 lb-ft of torque) mated to a 10-speed automatic. The LS can be had with either rear- or all-wheel drive. Standard feature highlights include:

LS 500
Comes well equipped with:

LED exterior lighting
Adaptive headlights
19-inch wheels
Adaptive suspension
Hands-free power trunk
Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut)
Sunroof
Leather upholstery
Heated steering wheel
Power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation
Power rear sunshade
12.3-inch touchscreen
Navigation system
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
Proximity key with push-button ignition
12-speaker audio system
Front and rear parking sensors

Lexus' standard advanced driver aids, known as Safety System+ 2.0, include:

Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Lane keeping assist (steers the LS 500 back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front, even down to a stop, and can also react to traffic signs and set speed)
Blind-spot monitoring

Lexus offers several option packages that add luxury and extra performance for the LS 500. Major ones to look for include:

Lexus Safety System+ A package
Contains additional driver assistance, such as:

Enhanced adaptive cruise control with lane change assist (uses additional sensors to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles and can change lanes automatically when the turn signals are activated)
Front cross-traffic alert (warns if a vehicle in front of you is about to cross your path while you're pulling into traffic)
Enhanced automatic emergency braking (adds active steering assist to help swerve around obstacles)

F Sport package
Bolsters style and performance with:

Unique exterior trim
20-inch wheels
High-performance brakes
Sport-tuned adaptive suspension
Special instrument panel design
Perforated leather interior
Simulated suede headliner
Upgraded sport front seats
Heated rear seats
Aluminum interior trim

Dynamic Handling package
Available only with rear-wheel drive and the F Sport package, this adds:

Variable-ratio steering and four-wheel steering (can enhance the car's nimbleness in turns or when parking)
Active stabilizer bars (minimize body lean during hard cornering)
Active rear steering

Interior Upgrade package

Upgraded leather upholstery with quilted stitching
Upgraded driver's seat with massage functions
Simulated suede headliner
Wood trim
Heated rear seats

Luxury package

Contents of the Interior Upgrade package
Upgraded front passenger seat with massage functions
Four-zone climate control
Power-adjustable outboard rear seats
Power side window sunshades
7-inch touchscreen controller for rear passengers

Executive package

Contents of the Luxury package
Upgraded outboard rear seats with massage functions
Upgraded butterfly headrests
Right rear passenger seat recliner with footrest

Executive package with Kiriko glass

Hand-pleated door trim
Decorative cut-glass trim

Stand-alone options for the LS 500 include an air suspension (it can adjust the vehicle's ride height), a panoramic glass roof, intricate interior wood or metal ("Haku") door trim, four-zone climate control with an advanced cabin air filter, a 23-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, a head-up display, a digital rearview mirror and a heated wood-trimmed steering wheel.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2022 Lexus LS 500.

5 (53%)

4 (22%)

3 (8%)

2 (7%)

1 (10%)

4.0

45 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Love mt 2018 LS500 AWD

BJOSE, 03/24/2019

2018 Lexus LS 500 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 10A)

Awesome car. I moved from a 2016 GS350. what a difference in interior quality! LS500 is undoubtedly leaps above the GS. Don't get me wrong... GS is a great car in its own class. But the LS is a much better car. I was thinking of BMW 540 and Benz E450. in the end, when I test drove those vs the LS500, I realized that I love the LS better than the other 2. and the peace of mind that comes …

Expected Smoother Ride

Richard Rogers, 02/16/2019

2018 Lexus LS 500 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 10A)

The best part of my car is it’s stunning exterior. It’s beautiful, and the inside is great too. I don’t like the ride, for a Lexus. They come with No Flat tires because there is no spare tire. These tires give it a rougher ride then regular tires and cost about $1500 each. Today, I got so sick of the ride, I changed them out for $275 Michelin tires which makes the ride much more …

Life ain’t a trial run.. go for it

Pursuit of Excellence , 12/29/2019

2020 Lexus LS 500 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 10A)

Ok. The touch pad is a little tricky. The rest of it hits the mark..I just traded the Mercedes S class for the LS and granted they are different machines but Luxury is Luxury..Absolutely no buyers remorse and driving the Lexus still makes me feel like a unadulterated spoiled brat...it all works for me..

Dream Drive and Dependibility

Linda J, 01/01/2020

2020 Lexus LS 500 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 10A)

Have had both BMW and Mercedes and both were mechanically horrible, and certainly not comfortable. These are strictly performance cars living on that reputation. If you are looking for true LUXURY then you need to look elsewhere. My definition of luxury is comfort, soft leather, 28 way adjustable seats, easy entrance and exit, beautiful exterior and interior, and knowing I'll be able …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2022 Lexus LS 500, so we've included reviews for other years of the LS 500 since its last redesign.

See all 45 reviews of the Lexus LS 500

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2022 LS 500 Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$76,100
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$242/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	17.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the LS 500 models:

Lane Trace Assist: Works with adaptive cruise control to detect and follow the path of the car in front for semi-automated driving.
Lexus Safety System+ 2.5: Groups together a suite of features that includes lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control and more.
Active Steering Assist: Applies corrective steering action to avoid or minimize an imminent front collision if the driver doesn't react in time.

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2022 Lexus LS 500 Review

2022 Lexus LS 500 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2022 Lexus LS 500 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which LS 500 does Edmunds recommend?

2022 Lexus LS 500 models

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2022 Lexus LS 500.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Love mt 2018 LS500 AWD

Expected Smoother Ride

Life ain’t a trial run.. go for it

Dream Drive and Dependibility

2022 LS 500 Highlights

Safety

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2022 Lexus LS 500 Review

2022 Lexus LS 500 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Lexus LS 500 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which LS 500 does Edmunds recommend?

2022 Lexus LS 500 models

Most helpful consumer reviews

Love mt 2018 LS500 AWD

Expected Smoother Ride

Life ain’t a trial run.. go for it

Dream Drive and Dependibility

2022 LS 500 Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2022 Lexus LS 500 info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Lexus

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Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2022 Lexus LS 500 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl Turbo 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}