What We Like
Sexy, head-turning design
Fanatical attention to detail and quality in the cabin
Nice-sounding V6
A sporty drive along with comfort and quietness
What We Dislike
Isn't as light-footed as its rivals
The Japanese have a saying, 'deru kugi wa utareru', which in English translates to 'the nail that sticks out gets hammered down', or put simply, 'standing out invites criticism'.
For a company once known to embody the most traditional of Japanese values, Lexus is now on a path of radicalisation of sorts. Or at least, the designs of its cars are.
Take its new LS for example. Lower, wider and longer than before, its styling is far more adventurous than anything else in the large luxury sedan segment, borderline funky, in fact.
The LS350's striking design, on top of its grown proportions, gives it tons of road presence
A bold expression
The brand's loyalists may struggle to accept the outcome of its latest design exercise but, personally, I think it's well-executed and refreshingly exciting for a car of its stature. And its spindle grille, which took a designer six months to create, is itself an expression of art and highlights the fanatical attention to detail Lexus has put into the car.
A similarly sensuous design language continues inside, where all on board are nestled in a cabin crafted using the most immaculate of materials by the most skilled of craftsmen.
Unparalleled obsession to detail
There's a sense of flow where door meets dashboard that's heightened by the ambient lighting, organic shapes and floating armrests.
The fit and finish of the LS' cabin exceeds the usual Lexus expectationsEverything you touch is a tactile treat, such as the fine leather passionately stitched into dead-straight seams and slender rotary dials, so much so that you can easily overlook the dated infotainment system and lack of massage function for the rear seats.
The only thing that would make one think twice about the LS350 is its powertrain.
As soulful and creamy as its naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 is, it isn't particularly eager to get the 2,125kg luxobarge up to speed, especially if you're accustomed to the turbocharged treatment of cars like the Audi A8 and the BMW 7 Series.
For a company once known to embody the most traditional of Japanese values, Lexus is now on a path of radicalisation of sorts. Or at least, the designs of its cars are.
Take its new LS for example. Lower, wider and longer than before, its styling is far more adventurous than anything else in the large luxury sedan segment, borderline funky, in fact.
A bold expression
The brand's loyalists may struggle to accept the outcome of its latest design exercise but, personally, I think it's well-executed and refreshingly exciting for a car of its stature. And its spindle grille, which took a designer six months to create, is itself an expression of art and highlights the fanatical attention to detail Lexus has put into the car.
A similarly sensuous design language continues inside, where all on board are nestled in a cabin crafted using the most immaculate of materials by the most skilled of craftsmen.
Unparalleled obsession to detail
There's a sense of flow where door meets dashboard that's heightened by the ambient lighting, organic shapes and floating armrests.
The only thing that would make one think twice about the LS350 is its powertrain.
As soulful and creamy as its naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 is, it isn't particularly eager to get the 2,125kg luxobarge up to speed, especially if you're accustomed to the turbocharged treatment of cars like the Audi A8 and the BMW 7 Series.
Neither is its 10-speed automatic transmission, which is a relatively new technology from Lexus, as decisive and well-tuned as its aforementioned rivals.
A surprising sportiness
The upside of the powertrain pairing is the passive aggressive purr the engine emits when you work the revs that complements the characterful nature of the rest of the car.
The 3.5-litre V6 sends 311bhp and 380Nm of torque to the rear wheels via a 10-speed transmissionAt the same time, it employs a steering that's more articulate than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class'. Pushed harder, feedback builds and signal strength grows. There's also lots of lateral grip and a surprising eagerness to change directions, which belies its behemoth footprint.
In other ways, it feels just as you'd hope a flagship Lexus to be; the ride quality on air suspension meets the expectations of its class, with only a rare few instances where unfavourable road conditions manage to disrupt the calm of the cabin. External noises, too, are kept well away.
With the LS, it shows that despite its intention of creating something sporty and emotional, Lexus hasn't neglected the very fundamentals that have made this car a favourite amongst perfectionists.
Toggling the various drive modes via a well-finished stalk above the steering is another nice touchIt may have chosen a slightly different route from its competitors, inevitably sticking out where they have chosen to blend in. But in doing so, Lexus has made the LS an excellent car in just about every way.
In this case, sticking out doesn't invite criticism. It rewards.
A surprising sportiness
The upside of the powertrain pairing is the passive aggressive purr the engine emits when you work the revs that complements the characterful nature of the rest of the car.
In other ways, it feels just as you'd hope a flagship Lexus to be; the ride quality on air suspension meets the expectations of its class, with only a rare few instances where unfavourable road conditions manage to disrupt the calm of the cabin. External noises, too, are kept well away.
With the LS, it shows that despite its intention of creating something sporty and emotional, Lexus hasn't neglected the very fundamentals that have made this car a favourite amongst perfectionists.
In this case, sticking out doesn't invite criticism. It rewards.
