CAR Magazine Review: The 2018 Lexus LS 500h Hybrid

Posted by Kevin on February 22nd, 2018

Ben Oliver at CAR Magazine has written a balanced review of the new Lexus LS 500h hybrid:

I’d usually let you decide for yourself about a car’s exterior design but as you’re unlikely ever to see an LS in the metal, here’s what I think. I love it. In proportion if not in detail, this is how the Maserati Quattroporte (not a fan) should have looked.

It’s a 3.5-litre atmo V6 with the new Lexus Multi-Stage hybrid system and a CVT transmission, first seen in the LC coupe and retuned slightly for the saloon. Its system total of 354bhp is worked hard by the 2340kg mass of the car. Exiting a roundabout at the pace of a chauffeur just starting to get worried about delivering you to the airport on time easily sends the needle to 3000rpm or beyond to deliver the required torque, and an unpleasant moo-whine-thrash into the cabin.

Also buried in the review is this technical tidbit to file for future reference:

The car’s deputy chief engineer told me there hadn’t been time to hybridise the twin-turbo version of the V6 before this car was launched, but the job was now in hand. More torque lower down would probably solve both the refinement and the engagement issues, and make the LS a much better car.

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Comments
S
The target demographics who buy luxury vehicles are too busy to read reviews on the Internet. Same story that the rich can't care less about how quickly a car laps Nurburgring and buy "overpriced" Ferraris instead of "super value" GT-Rs that the Internet loves.

They will keep buying what they were buying before though, which is not a great thing for Lexus.
krew
  • krew
    krew
  • September 29, 2017
As an update on my personal impressions of the new LS, I'll be holding off publishing until Tuesday.
krew
  • krew
    krew
  • September 29, 2017
As an update on my personal impressions of the new LS, I'll be holding off publishing until Tuesday.
R
  • R
    RAL
  • September 29, 2017
krew
As an update on my personal impressions of the new LS, I'll be holding off publishing until Tuesday.
Fine wine takes time ... ;)
R
  • R
    RAL
  • September 29, 2017
krew
As an update on my personal impressions of the new LS, I'll be holding off publishing until Tuesday.
Fine wine takes time ... ;)
krew
  • krew
    krew
  • September 29, 2017
RAL
Fine wine takes time ... ;)
Well, I'm glad someone said it!
krew
  • krew
    krew
  • September 29, 2017
RAL
Fine wine takes time ... ;)
Well, I'm glad someone said it!
bogglo
bogglo
Tragic Bronson
krew
As an update on my personal impressions of the new LS, I'll be holding off publishing until Tuesday.
Since when did LE have their own embargo? :D
Tragic Bronson
krew
As an update on my personal impressions of the new LS, I'll be holding off publishing until Tuesday.
Since when did LE have their own embargo? :D
Tragic Bronson
Ian Schmidt
People who hate Remote Touch should be sentenced to using the floating joy-mouse thing that preceded it (and which I still deal with daily). The trackpad's a million times better than that.
I'm used to the mouse thingy, I don't mind. My dad's newer ES has the same mouse thingy as the RX we have, so no huge learning curve to deal with.
Tragic Bronson
Ian Schmidt
People who hate Remote Touch should be sentenced to using the floating joy-mouse thing that preceded it (and which I still deal with daily). The trackpad's a million times better than that.
I'm used to the mouse thingy, I don't mind. My dad's newer ES has the same mouse thingy as the RX we have, so no huge learning curve to deal with.
maiaramdan
So far good talks and lot of appreciation but not that game changer as the 89 LS
maiaramdan
So far good talks and lot of appreciation but not that game changer as the 89 LS
Joe
  • Joe
    Joe
  • September 30, 2017
Ian Schmidt
People who hate Remote Touch should be sentenced to using the floating joy-mouse thing that preceded it (and which I still deal with daily). The trackpad's a million times better than that.
In my opinion, it is a bit more complicated.
I wonder, quite honestly.. why did the designers decide to move from the mouse remote touch to the touchpad? Is it to be more modern, like swapping the trackball designer computer mouse for a touchpad on your laptop?
The weird thing is: the mouse system was heavily criticized by car media, but now they've put an even more criticizable system in it. So commercially perhaps not the best decision. It surely is more modern to look at and it does work more or less like the mousepad of your portable PC if you're not actually driving the car. But as soon as you're in first gear, just try to put in a destination address for the first time... even as a passenger. Not easy. It could even be dangerous for the driver if he's not used to the system. So if you use it for the first time as a driver, perhaps it sucks.
But I suppose that not many of these will end up in a short term rental for people who never drive a Lexus...

The other side of the story then...: this is one hell of a nice peace of engineered work! The surface of the touchpad is seriously nice to touch, the haptic feedback (which - by the way - can be adapted to everyone's taste) is very well done, the idea of having the manipulation of the system horizontally and the visual experience right where it belongs is perfect...
(And I always read some bizarre comments concerning so called dated graphics on the screen... it's merely just a question of taste).
If you've learned how to use it, it's really not bad at all. On the contrary, I like it, a lot.

But let's be honest, it can still be improved.
As a Lexus insider, I am used to 3 systems,: the rotary/push dial button, the mouse RTI and the touchpad and I can assure you: they all work very well, but it's like with every Lexus model I've known so far: it has to grow on you :cool:

Unfortunately, most car journalists don't drive the car long enough to appreciate it to the full. So to make a positive comment on the system, they need a car where every command button is like a mainstream Mercedes' or BMW's system.
And, in the case of the new LS, they really have to look very closely to find a negative point to write about.

If the one single negative aspect in their opinion is the touchpad, then I am a happy man ;)
Joe
  • Joe
    Joe
  • September 30, 2017
Ian Schmidt
People who hate Remote Touch should be sentenced to using the floating joy-mouse thing that preceded it (and which I still deal with daily). The trackpad's a million times better than that.
In my opinion, it is a bit more complicated.
I wonder, quite honestly.. why did the designers decide to move from the mouse remote touch to the touchpad? Is it to be more modern, like swapping the trackball designer computer mouse for a touchpad on your laptop?
The weird thing is: the mouse system was heavily criticized by car media, but now they've put an even more criticizable system in it. So commercially perhaps not the best decision. It surely is more modern to look at and it does work more or less like the mousepad of your portable PC if you're not actually driving the car. But as soon as you're in first gear, just try to put in a destination address for the first time... even as a passenger. Not easy. It could even be dangerous for the driver if he's not used to the system. So if you use it for the first time as a driver, perhaps it sucks.
But I suppose that not many of these will end up in a short term rental for people who never drive a Lexus...

The other side of the story then...: this is one hell of a nice peace of engineered work! The surface of the touchpad is seriously nice to touch, the haptic feedback (which - by the way - can be adapted to everyone's taste) is very well done, the idea of having the manipulation of the system horizontally and the visual experience right where it belongs is perfect...
(And I always read some bizarre comments concerning so called dated graphics on the screen... it's merely just a question of taste).
If you've learned how to use it, it's really not bad at all. On the contrary, I like it, a lot.

But let's be honest, it can still be improved.
As a Lexus insider, I am used to 3 systems,: the rotary/push dial button, the mouse RTI and the touchpad and I can assure you: they all work very well, but it's like with every Lexus model I've known so far: it has to grow on you :cool:

Unfortunately, most car journalists don't drive the car long enough to appreciate it to the full. So to make a positive comment on the system, they need a car where every command button is like a mainstream Mercedes' or BMW's system.
And, in the case of the new LS, they really have to look very closely to find a negative point to write about.

If the one single negative aspect in their opinion is the touchpad, then I am a happy man ;)
John Strange
krew
How about this -- a full review of the LS from lifestyle outlet Gear Patrol and not a single mention of Remote Touch:

https://gearpatrol.com/2017/09/28/review-lexus-ls-ls500-500h-luxury-car/

I'm not defending the tech, but I feel like automotive mags are using Remote Touch as a crutch, as a way to criticize Lexus.
I agree with your Remote Touch comment. It was clear to me that they hadn’t taken the time to learn or understand it. Instead of showing all the whiz bang things, they should show ways to do things simply that used to be performed by knobs/buttons. Seat heating & cooling stands out.
John Strange
krew
How about this -- a full review of the LS from lifestyle outlet Gear Patrol and not a single mention of Remote Touch:

https://gearpatrol.com/2017/09/28/review-lexus-ls-ls500-500h-luxury-car/

I'm not defending the tech, but I feel like automotive mags are using Remote Touch as a crutch, as a way to criticize Lexus.
I agree with your Remote Touch comment. It was clear to me that they hadn’t taken the time to learn or understand it. Instead of showing all the whiz bang things, they should show ways to do things simply that used to be performed by knobs/buttons. Seat heating & cooling stands out.
S
John Strange
I agree with your Remote Touch comment. It was clear to me that they hadn’t taken the time to learn or understand it. Instead of showing all the whiz bang things, they should show ways to do things simply that used to be performed by knobs/buttons. Seat heating & cooling stands out.
Its case of damned if you do, damned if you dont... idrive was criticized for first 4-5 years until everyone got used to it. Lexus touch screen was "from/similar/like Toyota" at those times.

Or... "too many buttons" in RX, where you have button backup for everything... they like it clean! But if you dont have 50 buttons then it is too hard to use?!

I would assume that heated/cooled seats get activated automatically in LS by climate concierge, so all you have to do manually is set desired temp.
S
John Strange
I agree with your Remote Touch comment. It was clear to me that they hadn’t taken the time to learn or understand it. Instead of showing all the whiz bang things, they should show ways to do things simply that used to be performed by knobs/buttons. Seat heating & cooling stands out.
Its case of damned if you do, damned if you dont... idrive was criticized for first 4-5 years until everyone got used to it. Lexus touch screen was "from/similar/like Toyota" at those times.

Or... "too many buttons" in RX, where you have button backup for everything... they like it clean! But if you dont have 50 buttons then it is too hard to use?!

I would assume that heated/cooled seats get activated automatically in LS by climate concierge, so all you have to do manually is set desired temp.
Joe
  • Joe
    Joe
  • October 1, 2017
spwolf
I would assume that heated/cooled seats get activated automatically in LS by climate concierge, so all you have to do manually is set desired temp.
Ideed! Climate concierge is the trick. Perfect system :thumbsup: Even the simplified version in RX and GS is working well.
Joe
  • Joe
    Joe
  • October 1, 2017
spwolf
I would assume that heated/cooled seats get activated automatically in LS by climate concierge, so all you have to do manually is set desired temp.
Ideed! Climate concierge is the trick. Perfect system :thumbsup: Even the simplified version in RX and GS is working well.
John Strange
My ignorance is showing. Our beautiful ‘06 GS obviously doesn’t have the Climate Concierge so after reading up on that feature I’m sold. Since it’s been around for a number of years I guess the reviewers didn’t see the need to bring it up. As mentioned in previous posts, some of the reviewers just needed something to bash.
John Strange
My ignorance is showing. Our beautiful ‘06 GS obviously doesn’t have the Climate Concierge so after reading up on that feature I’m sold. Since it’s been around for a number of years I guess the reviewers didn’t see the need to bring it up. As mentioned in previous posts, some of the reviewers just needed something to bash.
krew
Tragic Bronson
Since when did LE have their own embargo? :D
HEY! I just want to make sure I do the car justice. :laughing:
krew
Tragic Bronson
Since when did LE have their own embargo? :D
HEY! I just want to make sure I do the car justice. :laughing:
mikeavelli
Remote Touch does have issues in regards to being quick and intuitive. I never have fallen in love with it even though I have clearly figured it out and use it daily. I'm also not a fan of Audi's new MMI which has gotten more complicated to me and something I couldn't really figure out in the R8 compared to the S8 where it was amazing to use. The Q7 has a trackpad too (like the RC F). I do think BMW's iDrive today is very well done as is Mercedes Command.

I also just can't understand why the graphics are so, just old, compared to the Germans. You jump into a Lexus from a new German car and the NAV and graphics seem like ten steps back. They really need to focus on making it more modern.
mikeavelli
Remote Touch does have issues in regards to being quick and intuitive. I never have fallen in love with it even though I have clearly figured it out and use it daily. I'm also not a fan of Audi's new MMI which has gotten more complicated to me and something I couldn't really figure out in the R8 compared to the S8 where it was amazing to use. The Q7 has a trackpad too (like the RC F). I do think BMW's iDrive today is very well done as is Mercedes Command.

I also just can't understand why the graphics are so, just old, compared to the Germans. You jump into a Lexus from a new German car and the NAV and graphics seem like ten steps back. They really need to focus on making it more modern.
meth.ix
^ like comparing the aesthetics of Windows 95 with Windows 10 lol...
or iOS 6 with iOS 11

M