2008 Lexus LS 460 Review
2008 Lexus LS 460 Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Serene ride, intelligent cabin design, top-notch materials, powerful V8 engine and slick eight-speed transmission.
Cons
- Base suspension allows too much body movement when driven aggressively on a twisty road, brakes can seem touchy at first.
What’s new
Apart from a new adaptive air suspension package (which also includes variable-ratio steering, 19-inch wheels and upgraded brakes) for the long-wheelbase "L" version, the Lexus LS 460 is unchanged for 2008.
Edmunds says
Giving up nothing in terms of performance, luxury or refinement to its peers, the 2008 Lexus LS 460 deserves as much consideration as any of the top European luxury sedans.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2008 Lexus LS 460 4dr Sedan (4.6L 8cyl 8A) 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
$284/mo for LS 460 Base
LS 460 Base
vs
$219/mo
Avg. Large Car
Vehicle overview
When the Lexus brand debuted nearly two decades ago, the luxury automaker offered just two cars. One was a midsize sedan that was essentially a reskinned Toyota Camry. The other was a large sedan that started its life as a clean sheet of paper.
That big cruiser was the LS 400, and along with a four-camshaft V8 and all the expected luxury features, it had impeccable build quality and a relatively low price tag. It also had a lot of German luxury brand executives choking on their Bratwurst as it burned its way up the sales charts and shamed their cars in terms of overall reliability. Perhaps most telling of this Lexus' success was how the sticker prices of its rivals began dropping as the LS gained popularity.
The 2008 Lexus LS 460 continues the flagship's tradition of utter refinement, eerily silent operation, a plush ride, respectable performance and strong value. Yes, the price has risen to the point that it is no longer quite the screaming bargain it once was. But without question, it remains a very intelligent purchase.
Last year's redesign, in addition to more power and more features, brought a long-wheelbase version to join the standard version. Dubbed the LS 460 L, this longer Lexus provides more legroom for rear passengers, making it ideal for those who prefer to be driven. Or perhaps for the children of Yao Ming.
The redesign also introduced the Advanced Parking Guidance System. The ultimate in gee-whiz technology, this option allows the car to handle the pesky task of parallel parking all by itself. In practice, it's impressive to witness, but it takes considerably longer than a skilled city dweller would take.
All said, the 2008 Lexus LS 460 proudly holds its badge high, thanks to a combination of luxury, performance, space and refinement. No longer simply an alternative, the LS is a fully qualified choice for a luxury sedan, just like traditional stalwarts the BMW 7 Series and the dramatically more expensive Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Granted, driving enthusiasts may find the LS a little passionless, but for the greater majority in this segment's demographic, this beautifully crafted luxury car merits serious consideration.
Performance & mpg
The LS 460 is quietly but very capably powered by a 4.6-liter V8 that makes 380 horsepower and 367 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control. In our testing, the LS 460 hit 60 mph in a swift 5.8 seconds -- a performance on par with its peers.
Safety
Antilock disc brakes, traction control and stability control are all standard, as are front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and knee-protection airbags for front passengers. Side-impact airbags for rear outboard passengers are optional. Models equipped with adaptive cruise control have a pre-collision feature that optimizes the car's safety systems for an impending impact by tightening the seatbelts and providing full power braking the instant the pedal is pressed.
In frontal-offset crash testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2008 Lexus LS 460 scored the highest rating of "Good."
Driving
Underway at high freeway speeds, the 2008 Lexus LS 460 is impressively quiet. Drivers and passengers will find themselves ensconced in a bubble of serenity. When one pushes the LS harder on curvy roads, however, it's apparent that Lexus did not design the car to be overtly sporty. Demanding drivers will find the standard suspension doesn't sufficiently stifle the excessive nosedive during braking and body lean through hard corners. Although the ride is plush most of the time, expansion joints on concrete freeways can cause some jiggling and the brakes, though powerful, can seem grabby in stop-and-go traffic until one acclimates.
Interior
Packed with so many luxury features, the LS 460 might seem a bit intimidating when you first slide behind the wheel. No worries there, as the various controls are simple and even the touchscreen navigation system can be quickly figured out without consulting the manual. The electroluminescent gauges are handsome and easily read.
The cabin is just as brilliant in an aesthetic sense. Rich wood trim is complemented by standard perforated leather upholstery, and the fit and finish is without peer. The trunk, for which Lexus offers a power lid-closing feature, can hold 18 cubic feet of cargo. Order the rear-seat climate control system (460 L only) and the capacity drops to just 12 cubes.
2008 Lexus LS 460 models
The 2008 Lexus LS 460 is a large luxury sedan that comes in two versions: the standard 460 and the extended-wheelbase 460 L. Standard features on the LS 460 include 18-inch alloy wheels, adaptive xenon headlights, a sunroof, leather seating, wood trim, dual-zone automatic climate control, power and heated front seats, keyless ignition, Bluetooth connectivity and an audio system with a six-CD changer and an auxiliary audio jack.
Optional packages bundle features such as a hard drive-based navigation system (with real-time traffic and a backup camera), cooled front seats, a 19-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound audio system, satellite radio, park assist, the Advanced Parking Guidance System (which allows the car to parallel-park itself with no driver input) and adaptive cruise control. Some of these features come standard on the 460 L.
The L version also offers an adaptive air suspension package (which also features variable-ratio steering, 19-inch wheels and upgraded brakes) and the Executive Class Seating Package. The latter drops rear seating capacity to two, but adds a fixed console with cooled storage; reclining power seats with heating, cooling and massage; a DVD entertainment system; and full dual-zone rear climate control.
The Toyota Tacoma's In-Dash Speaker Is an Industry First
Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
3.5 out of 5 stars3.5/5Above Average
#12 out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Cars
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Lexus LS 460 from 2008-2022.$552/yr
vs. $729/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).1.07x/yr
vs. 1.74x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).13.9%
vs. 14.7%
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2008 Lexus LS 460.
5 star(84%)
4 star(12%)
3 star(1%)
2 star(3%)
1 star(0%)
56 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
My 3rd LS
Jim L., 02/06/2016
2008 Lexus LS 460 4dr Sedan (4.6L 8cyl 8A)
We bought it used with 66k miles on it in Aug 2013. Now has 72k and nothing has went wrong. We also have an 02 LS430 with 112 on it and the only thing that broke was the driver window regulator. Way way more reliable than the 7 BMW and one MB S class we have previously owned. The car is super quiet and gets great mileage on the highway. The Mark Levinson in my 08 is much better … than the ML sound in the 02. The stereo is absolutely fantastic! The other thing I like is it has a chain driven timing belt so no more expense of replacing the timing belt in the previous generation. I highly recommend this car. UPDATE FEB 2018: Still totally reliable at 82000 miles. The only complaint is the vinyl used on dash and doors. The driver door armrest has cracks in it. All the vinyl gets super sticky when in the sun. The 2007 models had a recall for it but not the 08 models for some unknown reason. I wish Lexus would add the 08's to this fix as it obviously a poor choice in material by Lexus. Check online for complaints about this.
5 out of 5 stars
Overall great, needs a few improvements
Lexus Lover, 03/28/2009
2008 Lexus LS 460 4dr Sedan (4.6L 8cyl 8A)
First off this is my fourth Lexus. The car is great as far as comfort, handling, and performance. My major complaint is the difficulty of modifying the navigation system while the auto is in motion. I understand the safety ramifications, but when you have a passenger in the front seat this should be disarmed. I was pleasantly surprised with the gas mileage...I've actually hit 33 … miles per gallon with this car, which to me is unheard of with this large of an engine (and considering how fast I drive). The navigation system is not logical. The Acura RL I recently traded in was very intuitive, this one, the driver actually has to arrange his thoughts before hitting the "talk" switch.
5 out of 5 stars
Finally luxury at it's finest!
Q, 04/06/2019
2008 Lexus LS 460 L 4dr Sedan (4.6L 8cyl 8A)
My wife did extensive research on this car & convinced me that I would love this car, she was right! Going from owning Cadillac cars there is NO comparison. This is luxury at it finest. I couldn't own this car brand new at $90,000 but 10 years later at $9,000 it beats ANY Cadillac that I've owned in the past!
4.88 out of 5 stars
2008 LS 460
ken, 11/15/2009
2008 Lexus LS 460 4dr Sedan (4.6L 8cyl 8A)
We went with the Black, with Tan Interior. Great car, I get total strangers coming up to me and telling me what a great looking car I have. That never gets old. Rides great, very comfortable, easy to use nav, love the back up camera and sensors, door auto close and trunk auto open and close, heated and cooled front seats and heated rear. Fair gas mileage, about 17 in town and 19 on … Highway. This is well worth the money, will never own anything else.
2008 LS 460 Highlights
Base
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $62,900 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 19 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $284/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 18 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the LS 460 include:
- Back-up camera
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
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