The 2025 Lexus LS 500 AWD F Sport is the final iteration of a luxury sedan that once ruled the segment with its smooth, refined, and comfortable ride. However, after three generations, the LS has lost its focus, and the car that once struck fear in the hearts of competitors has now flamed out. The current LS is elegant in an old-world, handcrafted way, but its mid-cycle enhancements have toned down its distinctive details, such as the LED blades that split off the headlights like rays of light from a star. The car's interior, while featuring beautifully crafted door panels and a soft, Japanese-inspired leather, is marred by confusing design choices, such as the placement of drive modes and stability control systems on the gauge cluster. The 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, shared with the Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, produces 416 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque, but it lacks the ...
The 2025 Lexus LS 500 AWD F Sport is the final iteration of a luxury sedan that once ruled the segment with its smooth, refined, and comfortable ride. However, after three generations, the LS has lost its focus, and the car that once struck fear in the hearts of competitors has now flamed out.
The current LS is elegant in an old-world, handcrafted way, but its mid-cycle enhancements have toned down its distinctive details, such as the LED blades that split off the headlights like rays of light from a star. The car’s interior, while featuring beautifully crafted door panels and a soft, Japanese-inspired leather, is marred by confusing design choices, such as the placement of drive modes and stability control systems on the gauge cluster.
The 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, shared with the Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, produces 416 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque, but it lacks the smoothness and refinement of its predecessors. The car’s handling is confident, but it always feels heavier than its predecessors, and the turbo-six engine groans and wheezes, with a nasal note that doesn’t scream luxury.
At $81,685, including a $1,350 destination fee, and $94,990 as tested, the LS undercuts the cheapest S-Class by about $30,000. However, for 2026, the final LS is available in a single configuration, priced at $99,280, which is still a significant premium.
The Lexus LS was once a segment-defining luxury sedan that was boring, comfortable, reliable, and smooth. It stayed that way for three generations. I adored my family’s 2006 LS 430s because of what they were, not what they were not. They were 6.0-second sleeper luxury sedans that flew under the radar. That’s not what the LS is anymore, and now, it’s dead.
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