EDITOR WES RAYNAL: This 2013 Lexus LS 460 F Sport has to be one of the quietest, smoothest, softest luxury cars on the market. It goes about its days without drama, serenely taking you where you need or want to go. Whether you think that is a good thing or not is up to you.
I find Lexus interesting. The first LS was the proverbial game changer, making Mercedes-Benz and BMW sit up and take notice. “A luxury car from Japan that competes with our big cars!!! How dare they!!! What are we going to do about that?!” Then Lexus destroyed its own momentum, introducing next a Toyota Camry with leather and chrome, prompting, I'm sure, those same German automakers to go back to the club and have another pilsner. All was well -- no need to worry after all.
This car updates that first one nicely, as I said, going about its business with zero drama. It's silent and fluid, and if anything jumps out, it's the car's smoothness. Body control is good if you're not in comfort or eco mode wherein it is too soft and floaty for my taste. Sport firms things up nicely, though you won't mistake it for a Jaguar XJ in terms of precision and/or fun. The engine is powerful and smooth and when you stomp on the throttle, actually makes decent sounds. The overall experience though is comfortable and super quiet.
The cockpit is comfortable and beautifully assembled with fine materials. Everything you touch is soft and feels like quality. A mouse-like control operates the radio, heat/vent, navigation and the like. I don't love it, but don't really hate it, either.
ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: Lexus has tried hard to alter the notion of it being the producer of comfortable and well-built luxury vehicles that lack drive character. The IS-F with a big V8 is an early example of Lexus trying to prove to the world that it could be indeed sporty and then there was the LFA supercar with its Formula One-derived V10 engine, which remains one of my favorite cars.
Sure, Lexus can produce cars that are actually engaging to drive, but besides those two vehicles I named above, is there really another car in the lineup that you can look at and say that it's fun to drive? The ES? Still a glorified Toyota Camry in a lot of peoples' minds. How about the CT 200h? It's got sporty hatchback looks, but you'll need a defibrillator to keep your heart going because it's way underpowered for a drive experience that isn't much fun.
I'll admit, the latest GS is a step in the right direction, but if you pit it head-to-head with the BMW 5-series or the Audi A6, it's still behind the Germans when it comes to driver engagement even in the sport-focused F Sport trim. F Sport is Lexus' answer to BMW's M division and Audi's S-Line models/trims/option packages, but it's going to take a little more work before enthusiasts can respect it.
Case in point, the 2013 Lexus LS 460 F Sport we have here. There are interesting goodies to help improve the car dynamically, like a sport-tuned air suspension with a 10-millimeter lower ride height, limited-slip rear diff, Brembo brakes, 19-inch wheels and paddle shifters for the eight-speed automatic transmission with rev-matching for downshifts.
Lexus tried to make the F Sport LS look more aggressive, too, with mesh inserts on the spindle grille and larger brake cooling ducts up front. The interior gets better bolstered seats and aluminum trim.
So how much sportier is the LS F Sport compared to the non-F Sport versions? It's not a huge transformation. Punch things into Sport mode and the engine does feel like it has a bit more kick with quicker throttle response, and it hustles the LS up to speed in a quick manner with an exhaust note that sounds pretty good. The biggest difference is the quicker and more communicative steering in Sport mode, which is nice in a Lexus since it's normally numb.
I tossed it around a little over the weekend and it felt alright. The suspension copes with the weight well with body roll that isn't terrible. The Brembo brakes scrub off speed easily. It's still not the tightest-driving big luxury flagship sedan out there, though. It's far from it with the Audi A8, BMW 7-series and Jaguar XJ still superior drivers dynamically.
However, when it comes to a quiet, comfortable and drama-free ride, the LS reigns supreme. Punch up comfort mode and the car is beyond smooth. You could easily take this on a long road trip and arrive at your destination in fine, refreshed condition. The central infotainment screen is huge and I'm getting used to the mouse interface controller. It's still not my favorite system, but doesn't annoy me that much anymore. Build quality is great and materials all look and feel top shelf.
Overall, I think what Lexus did with the F Sport trim of the LS is appropriate. It's not going make many BMW and Audi owners give up their keys for a Lexus fob, but as I said about the GS F Sport, this too is a step in the right direction. Keep at it, Lexus.
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