CAR Magazine Review: The 2018 Lexus LS 500h Hybrid

bogglo

i would like to see a review of the LS350 in english

bogglo

i would like to see a review of the LS350 in english

bogglo

i would like to see a review of the LS350 in english

bogglo

The LS might be the first lexus that the non fsport grill is better than the f-sport IMO

bogglo

The LS might be the first lexus that the non fsport grill is better than the f-sport IMO

bogglo

The LS might be the first lexus that the non fsport grill is better than the f-sport IMO

Nouvel

Every Lexus is better looking in non F-sport versions.

Nouvel

Every Lexus is better looking in non F-sport versions.

Nouvel

Every Lexus is better looking in non F-sport versions.

meth.ix

I agree, even the non F-Sport models are too much sometimes, like the GS.

meth.ix

I agree, even the non F-Sport models are too much sometimes, like the GS.

meth.ix

I agree, even the non F-Sport models are too much sometimes, like the GS.

Another look at the new flagship sedan.

Another look at the new flagship sedan.

Another look at the new flagship sedan.

It’s a sensational looking thing on the move, a strikingly contemporary piece of sculpture with elements that verge on the abstract. The cabin is similarly audacious, and we’re totally down with the Japanese cultural immersion. But while down-sizing and hybridisation is the new order, this is a car whose best work would almost certainly be done in hock with a different engine altogether. There’s much to admire here, but as a package it’s currently out of synch.

In isolation, the LS 500h marks a significant step forward for Lexus’s flagship. It’s oozing with technology and driver assistance features, there are some stunning intricate design touches, and on the strength of this drive, the cabin feels even more beautifully screwed together than ever. But while the petrol-electric system might seem like the perfect powertrain for current trends, in reality its drive is still badly compromised in too many situations for us to recommend it over mainstream diesel alternatives. People after a left-field option will find plenty to like in the LS, just because of its different approach. But in this case, we struggle to get beyond the fact that their cash would buy a wider range of abilities with the latest S-Class or A8.

The new LS is certainly a big step forward from the old car. Its distinctive looks, high-quality interior and high level of standard equipment all appeal, but it’s still off the pace in terms of refinement, ride and handling. Unless you really have to stand out, we’d stick with one of the more obvious German rivals, particularly the Audi A8. Even if you take into account the benefits of the hybrid powertrain, it's worth remembering that the BMW 7 Series iPerformance emits just 49g/km of CO2 if you stick with rear-wheel drive. The BMW also has the advantage of being able to run on electric power alone for well over 20 miles if you recharge it from the mains.

But when it comes to cars that must transport a number of people over long distances, style is almost always a poor substitute for substance, and this is where the likeable but far too flawed LS500h comes substantially unstuck. The packaging is not good enough for such an enormous car, it is too heavy and too difficult to operate. But it is the engine that is its undoing: bluntly, it has no place in a car like this. Over a genial chat with its deputy chief engineer Shinji Kishida, I asked him why the hybrid system was not available with the twin-turbo V6 fitted to cars sold outside the UK. And he replied that the engine was new and there’d not been time to integrate the hybrid. When I asked him if that was work in progress, he grinned from ear to ear and simply said: "That’s a secret." Such an engine, far more refined in character and flooded with low-down torque as it would undoubtedly be, could genuinely transform this car. But I can report only as I find and, as it stands, the LS500h promises more than it delivers. Five generations on, I’d hoped for more..