A few automakers have cars that perhaps don't get the recognition or sales that they deserve. For Lexus, it'd be the LC 500. This quick and comfortable grand tourer is the brand's impressive flagship model. The first thing you'll notice is its standout design. The LC 500 has been out since the 2018 model year, but its exterior styling still looks classy and distinctive. When you step inside, you'll appreciate the elegantly designed interior and exceptional craftsmanship.
The rear-wheel-drive LC 500 is offered as a coupe or convertible, and there is also a hybrid model (which we review separately). Under the hood is a standard 471-horsepower V8 engine. It's plenty strong and makes an alluring soundtrack that will make you want to take the long way home.
As desirable as the LC 500 is, there are other luxury coupes and convertibles to consider. The Porsche 911 is certainly sportier, but the Lexus is still entertaining to drive and can hold its own when the road gets twisty. The recently redesigned Mercedes-Benz SL is a compelling roadster with a long heritage, but it's pricey. There is also the BMW 8 Series, which is similar in size and is also offered as a coupe or convertible. Deciding among these will probably be hard, but check out our test team's scoring and evaluation below to learn where the LC shines and where it comes up a little short.
Edmunds Expert Rating
good
Our VerdictThe 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.
The Lexus LC 500 convertible manages to take everything we love about the standard LC coupe and offer open-sky motoring without much sacrifice. It's not the quickest or most powerful car in its class, but a silky smooth V8 and competent handling make it one of the most entertaining. It's a beauty, too, both inside and out, with some lovely details and flair. Cargo space is extremely limited, and we're frustrated by some of the controls and menus, but the LC convertible is so charming in other areas that it's easy to overlook its flaws.
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How does the LC 500 Convertible drive? The LC 500 convertible is more about feel and experience and less about sheer performance. For the class, raw acceleration and braking figures are somewhat disappointing. But when you're actually behind the wheel, those figures are easy to forgive. The 5.0-liter V8 engine is a real standout, with smooth, linear power all the way to redline and one of the best-sounding exhaust notes today. It's a real joy to rev out.
The steering lacks feel but is quick, direct and firm without feeling heavy. The suspension is tuned to provide comfort rather than sport, but it's adequately responsive. Lexus improved on the LC's brake feel, making it easy to control and come to a smooth stop. The transmission is mostly issue-free, though we did encounter the occasional hiccup in low-speed traffic.
How comfortable is the LC 500 Convertible? On-road comfort is where the LC 500 convertible really shines. The ride quality is smooth and refined, soaking up bumps without feeling overly soft or bouncy. On particularly rough roads, it doesn't feel quite as buttoned-down as the LC coupe, but it's not far off.
The seats in the LC are fantastic, with well-shaped seatbacks that are supportive without feeling confining. They're well ventilated, too, and even have a small warm-air vent below the headrests to keep your neck warm when the top is down.
The LC is quiet too. It's easy to have a conversation with the top up or down. Plus, you get to listen to its wonderful V8. The climate control system works well, though the vents are not ideally placed and require some time to aim just right.
How’s the interior? The LC convertible's interior is much the same as the LC coupe's. Despite the low ride height and long doors, getting in and out is fairly easy thanks to a seat that's not overly bolstered and just about the right height. The power-adjustable steering wheel offers a good deal of adjustment and moves out of the way when the car's off. The driving position is excellent, with well-placed controls and a good view of the gauges and the road ahead.
The rear window is narrow, but it's no worse than what's in other convertibles in this class. Some drivers might find the interior to be tight, but the doors are shaped in a way that provides plenty of elbow room.
The LC's awkward controls and onscreen menu layout are the most significant liabilities. It's just generally unintuitive; the controls for the heated seats, for example, are inconveniently hidden in a submenu. The touchpad interface is cumbersome at best.
How’s the tech? The infotainment system is OK but still uses a cumbersome touchpad interface and menus that hide some often-used controls. The system itself looks dated, too, especially compared to the latest ones found in the LC's rivals. Voice commands work fine. While they're not as robust as some of the competition, the LC can understand natural language and can interface with the media, radio, navigation and climate control system.
Lexus includes a decent suite of standard driver aids such as traffic-adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance with lane departure warning. We'd like a surround-view camera system, but the combo of parking sensors with a standard backup camera works decently.
How’s the storage? We don't expect stylish convertibles like this to offer much in the way of storage. Even with that lowered expectation, the LC convertible is quite disappointing. The cargo space is barely large enough for a few bags, and it's shallow — you really have to be careful to keep groceries from being smashed.
The cabin isn't any better. Other than the small center console, the LC lacks any real place to put small items such as sunglasses or your phone. The door pockets are tight, as are the cupholders. The only real saving grace is the rear seat. Given its small size, it is better used for cargo than for people anyway.
How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the LC convertible's fuel economy at 18 mpg combined (15 city/25 highway), 1 mpg lower than the coupe. That's just about average for V8-powered competitors. Our car managed an impressive 25.8 mpg on our 115-mile standardized test route, though conditions with weather and traffic were highly favorable during that drive. In general, we think you'll have little trouble matching the EPA's numbers.
Is the LC 500 Convertible a good value? The LC 500 convertible commands a premium over the coupe, but that's generally true for any convertible with a coupe variant. The list of standard features is generous. You also get excellent build quality. Just about every surface is covered with leather, and most of the switchgear is metal or feels like metal. Lexus really focused on making sure the convertible is just as solid as the coupe. Sure, you can find more performance for the price elsewhere, but as pure luxury goes, it's hard to find a better deal in this class.
The LC's four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty are above average for the class. Lexus includes four years of roadside assistance and a year of free maintenance.
Looks are subjective, but we think the LC 500 convertible is one of the best-looking cars on the road today. It packs flair without being loud or flashy, and it has tons of little touches like mirrored taillights and the checkered pattern on the door that show that Lexus really cares about the details.
It's fun to drive too even though it's somewhat slow for the class. The V8 is a real sweetheart, with an exhaust note that sings like a chorus in perfect harmony. You just want to keep revving it out to redline. It's engaging enough to be fun on a winding road, yet it's comfortable cruising on the highway or rolling around town. Few automakers manage to put together such a charming and entertaining package.
Lexus hasn't released official information on the 2023 LC 500 as of this writing. We'll update our recommendation if anything changes, but based on last year's LC 500, we suggest customizing your own with the Bespoke Build for the coupe. It comes with some extra standard features you'll want, and you can also do more to customize it with paint colors and trim options. There's less choice available for the convertible.
[Editor's note: The following unofficial information is based on last year's LC 500. We expect the 2023 model will have a similar lineup and we'll update this section once we have complete information.] The Lexus LC 500 is offered as a coupe or convertible and it's only available in one trim. Technically, the LC can seat four people, but the rear seating is so small that it is effectively a two-seater. It's powered by a non-turbocharged 5.0-liter V8 (471 horsepower, 398 lb-ft of torque) paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. Feature highlights include:
LC 500
The coupe and convertible models come almost identically equipped with these feature highlights:
- LED headlights
- 20-inch wheels
- Glass roof (coupe only)
- Keyless entry and ignition
- Power-adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats
- Leather upholstery
- Power-adjustable steering wheel
- Magnesium paddle shifters
- Adaptive suspension
- 10.3-inch infotainment screen
- 12-speaker audio system
- Navigation system
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa integration
- Onboard Wi-Fi with 4G LTE connection
Advanced driver aids on the LC 500 include:
- Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the LC 500 and the car in front)
- Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
- Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
- Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
- Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
- Automatic high beams
Notable standard features unique to the LC 500 convertible include:
- Power-operated soft top
- Wind deflector
- Windscreen
- Active noise control
- Active roll bars
- Front and rear parking sensors with low-speed automatic braking
These packages are available on the LC 500 coupe:
All-Weather package:
- Heated steering wheel
- Windshield wiper de-icer
Touring package:
- All-Weather package features
- Upgraded leather upholstery
- Microsuede headliner
- 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio system
- Front and rear parking sensors with low-speed automatic braking
- Embossed headrests
Sport package:
- 21-inch wheels with summer tires
- Sport seats with microsuede inserts
- Torsen limited-slip differential for improved grip
- Upgraded brake pads and suspension dampers
- Front and rear parking sensors with low-speed automatic braking
Dynamic Handling package:
- Sport package features
- Rear-wheel steering
- Variable-ratio steering (gives the LC a more nimble feel)
- Speed-activated rear wing
- Microsuede headliner
- Carbon-fiber roof
The LC 500 convertible is only available with the All-Weather package and the following Touring package, which includes:
- All-Weather package features
- 21-inch wheels
- Upgraded leather upholstery
- 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio system
- Embossed headrests
- Upper-body heating (additional heating vents to help keep you warm in cooler weather)
The Bespoke Build is only offered for the coupe model, and it includes these features and customizable options:
- Sport package features
- All-Weather package features
- Bespoke Build interior badging
- Customizable options that include:
- Various interior and exterior colors
- Different 20- or 21-inch wheels
- Different rear wing styles
- Carbon-fiber or glass roof
- Upgraded leather seats or microsuede-trimmed seats
The LC 500 is also available with these stand-alone options:
- 21-inch wheels
- 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio system
- Torsen limited-slip differential for improved grip
- Upgraded suspension dampers
- Head-up display
- Front and rear parking sensors
