We have always appreciated Lexus for offering a lot for the price, and the LC 500 represents the brand's flagship. Lexus decided to launch a roofless version of the LC 500 coupe and, with the 2022 model year, nothing much has changed. We get to see the old design language, which is not getting old either but the interior surely is. We love how the LC 500 Convertible looks and feels like a flagship from the Toyota-owned luxury brand. Like the coupe, the convertible gets powered by a big 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V-8, returning eargasmic exhaust notes, but now you can hear them raw by reclining the roof. Sadly, unlike the coupe, the convertible doesn’t get the Bespoke Build program arranged by Lexus to simply cater to consumer interests by letting them choose the right items to be fitted inside the cabin. The system is still not Rolls Royce like, but it is a nice start. The 2022 LC 500 Convertible gets a retuned suspension just like the coupe as standard and an extended color choice of up to nine.

Trims and Features

As is the case with the LC 500 coupe, the LC 500 Convertible is offered in just one trim level. It does have a more compact back seat, making it less accessible for adults. A 5.0-liter naturally aspirated engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and a rear-wheel-drive setup are all part of the convertible, along with a hefty price tag that's about $8,000 more than the standard LC 500. Here is a detailed list of features for your reference.

LC 500 Convertible. } }

Price: $101,100.

- LED headlights.

- 20-inch alloys.

- Power-operated soft-top.

- Leather upholstery.

- Leather, wood, and aluminum interior trim.

- Power-adjustable steering wheel column.

- 8-way power-adjustable driver seat.

- 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat.

- Multi-level heated and ventilated front seats.

- Keyless entry and ignition.

- 2 USB ports.

- Fully digital instrument console.

- 12-speaker audio unit.

- 10.3-inch non-touchscreen display.

- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration.

- 4G LTE WiFi. (Trial offer)

Standard driver assistance features are as follows:

- Adaptive cruise control.

- Automatic high-beam assist.

- Lane-keeping assist.

- Lane-departure warning.

- Active roll bars deploy automatically during a collision.

Touring package. } }

- Premium leather upholstery.

- 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.

- Automatic heated and ventilated seats.

- Heated steering wheel.

- Windshield wiper de-icer.

Weather package. } }

- Windshield wiper de-icer.

- Heated steering wheel.

Other standalone options you can choose with the 2022 Lexus LC 500 Convertible are:

- 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio unit.

- 21-inch alloys.

- Heads-up display.

- Yamaha performance dampening for improved handling dynamics.

- Torsen limited-slip differential.

Exterior: Always ahead of its time

If you see an LC 500 Convertible, you are extremely lucky for it is super rare, and do not forget to look closer. We assure you that it is unchanged since its launch back in 2018. Lexus surely knows how to make their cars more attractive and unlike most of its competitors, it doesn’t look old in any way, at least from the exterior side of things. Just like the LC 500 coupe, the exterior design is sleek and sporty. The front fascia is very closely related to the concept car and that is what makes it cool. The sharp-looking LED headlights are uniquely shaped and definitely make a good impression. The spindle grille is something Lexus cannot let go of, but we like it anyway. However, we like the grille shape on the latest ES or the NX even more. From the sides, it is very much similar to its hard-top brother but instead of the semi-floating roof, there’s a power-operated soft-top. There are flush door handles similar to the Aston Martins fitted as standard along with 20-inch alloys. Active roll bars, and wind deflectors. The rear has these broad and busty wheel arches with brake-cooling vents like a proper sports car. The LED taillights and the dual exhaust tail-ends make it hard not to stare from behind.

If you're comparing looks, most of the LC 500's German competitors will feel insecure. No offense, the new Mercedes-AMG SL looks are cool as any modern convertible and so is the 8 Series Convertible. In terms of the overall dimensions, the convertible is heavier compared to its hard-top sibling. Apart from this, other dimensions including width and ground clearance are all the same. If you compare it to the competition, the new SL is the most compact and weighs even less than the M850i. The Lexus is slightly shorter in length, but it is longer by two inches in wheelbase. The ground clearance is slightly higher than both the BMW and SL, making it slightly road-friendly.

2022 Lexus LC 500 Convertible Exterior Dimensions

Interior: True Japanese artwork with luxury entwined

We have come to appreciate Lexus’ interior throughout the entire lineup. The vibe is very enlightening with utmost comfort being a priority. As a Lexus flagship, the LC 500 Convertible is loaded with premium materials like leather, aluminum, and even carbon fiber (if you wish to spend more). Right from the moment you sit inside the cabin, you will be greeted by exquisite craftsmanship and the feeling of luxury which you will hardly feel inside the mass-produced M850i Convertible. To make it easy, the interior is more like a Maserati with high-quality materials, an analog clock in the middle of the dash. The LC 500 Convertible has the same cabin design as the coupe which includes the perforated leather steering wheel, aluminum paddle shifters, leather-covered dashboard, leather door panels, a fully digital instrument panel, a 10.3-inch infotainment display, and a cluttered center console (sorry Lexus). As far as the features go, there are up to eight levels of power-adjustability for the front seats, with power lumbar support and even multi-level heating options. Other features include a power-adjustable steering wheel with memory functions and a drive mode selector on the top right corner of the instrument panel hood.

As for the seating position and comfort, you are going to sit nice and low while getting a clearer view of what is going on outside. The leather seats feel premium and are very comfortable for a sports car. The only nitpick would be that the LC 500’s cabin feels a bit dated, especially because of the whole dashboard design. We have witnessed how S-Class-like interior design and features dominate the SL’s interior and considering that it will be easy for tech-enthusiasts to turn their heads away from the Lexus. The seating capacity, just like the coupe, is limited to only four people and that’s okay. But what is not okay is the spaciousness in the rear. The front has 36.7-inches of headroom with the roof attached, along with 42.6-inches of legroom. Well, you can always make the cabin feel airy by just tapping a button to recline the roof. The rear, however, has very small legroom of just 28 inches. The shoulder room is cut by two inches while the legroom is about 4.5-inch shorter than the LC 500 Coupe. You can sit two children or under adults pretty easily back there but suffocation might ruin all the fun. As for the added practicality, there are 3.4 cubic feet of cargo space, and the cabin has a decent space under the fancy glove box, the center armrest, and door pockets. A few of the important interior features of the 2022 Lexus LC 500 Convertible are as follows:

- Dual-zone automatic climate control.

- Power-operated soft-top.

- Perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel.

- Aluminum paddle shifters.

- Power-adjustable steering wheel column with memory function.

- Leather upholstery.

- Multi-level heated front seats.

- 8-way power-adjustable driver and front passenger seat with power lumbar support.

- Optional heated steering wheel.

- Fully digital instrument panel.

2022 Lexus LC 500 Convertible Interior Dimensions

The Enform system found on the LC 500 Convertible has a good list of features baked in but the experience makes it feel dated. There is a 10.3-inch display that is controllable only through a touchpad. Though the haptics are great, the system is not as intuitive as a touchscreen. One major issue with the screen would be its visibility. The brightness could have been better or Lexus could’ve made the effort to slightly tilt the screen as they did to the latest NX. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and even Amazon Alexa have been installed to the system for a seamless experience. In comparison to the competition, we would like to rate the MBUX and the iDrive in the first position and the Enform in the far second. Some of the infotainment features include

- 12-speaker audio system.

- Ambient interior lighting.

- 2 USB ports.

- 4G LTE WiFi integration.

- Navigation system.

- SiriusXM.

- 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. (Optional)

- Heads-up display. (Optional)

Performance and Handling: Old school but powerful

Just like the coupe, the LC 500 Convertible is powered by a big 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V-8 that puts out 471 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. The gear changes are taken care of by a ten-speed unit and the engine drives the rear wheels only. We have been familiar with this V-8 and it is quite refined in our testing. However, as it has no turbocharger(s), like the M850i or the SL, the power figures are the lowest and you have to get on to the gas every time. Its rev-happy engine gets quite addictive for the ears unless an 8 Series Convertible fly passes you. The M850i, with its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8, puts out 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet while the new SL is even more powerful with up to 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. This would be a guaranteed feat for the Germans and the Lexus? Maybe in the next-gen model, it will come with a more powerful V-8 engine or might go absolutely eco-friendly. Wait, did you take a look at Lexus’s new concept cars with the brand’s new EV desire? Anyway, we couldn’t test the convertible for the TopSpeed-styled acceleration demos but Car and Driver did and they were able to time the 0-60 in 4.6 seconds and a standing quarter-mile in just 13 seconds. Not too bad at all. If you want to compare, well both the Bimmer and Merc would be a second or two faster overall.

Just like other Lexus performance cars, the LC 500 Convertible’s handling prowess is based highly on how you wish to drive it. It may not be as sporty as you would like it to be but it is more comfortable among its competitors. Putting the drive mode into Normal, Comfort or Eco will soften up the suspension, and steering wheel feedback will be lessened for a good comfy highway drive. The Sport and Sport+ are reserved for those who will rip out every bit of power available under the hood. The engine responsiveness and even the steering becomes more aggressive along with the optional Torsen limited-slip diff, the confidence you will get is nothing ground-breaking but good. If you can give up anything but comfort then the LC 500 Convertible is the best buy.

2022 Lexus LC 500 Convertible Performance Stats

Fuel Economy

Just like another big naturally aspirated V-8, the fuel economy is not something you would be delighted to hear. So there are the EPA ratings for the LC 500 Convertible with 15 miles per gallon in the city, 25 miles per gallon when you will hold onto a constant speed on the highways, and a combined economy of 18 miles per gallon. If you compare the stats to the 8 Series Convertible or the Porsche 911 Cabriolet, the results are fairly similar with a mile or two per gallon extra in the city limits. The LC 500 Convertible gets a big 21.7-gallon gas tank that will return about 400 miles combined if you don’t take the throttle pedal seriously.

2022 Lexus LC 500 Convertible Fuel Economy

How safe is the 2022 Lexus LC 500 Convertible?

Just like other high-end cars, the LC 500 Convertible couldn’t make it to the safety testing agencies but since the reputation of Lexus has always been better than the crowd, we expect that the convertible is no less. The car feels well-built and has a lot of safety features including a host of driver assistance features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blindspot warning, automatic high-beam assist, lane-keeping assist, and also active roll bars. Other passive safety features are as follows:

- Dual front-side mounted airbags.

- Front head airbags.

- 4-wheel ABS.

- Tire pressure monitoring.

- Traction control.

- Passenger airbag sensing deactivation.

Should you buy the 2022 Lexus LC 500 Convertible?

If you want to compare to what the competition has to offer, the BMW M850i Convertible is similarly priced to this Lexus convertible but has a lot more engine power, is sportier to drive, and of course, the interior is more tech-heavy. The Lexus LC 500 Convertible is a serious contender with a meticulously designed cabin and the sheer luxury behind the wheel just made us go crazy. Do not worry about reliability, Lexus cars often experiences fewer problems than many German cars, and that makes it easier to live with.

How much does the 2022 Lexus LC 500 Convertible?

Should I get the LC 500 Convertible over the normal Coupe?

Is the 2022 LC 500 Convertible worth it?

How efficient is the LC 500 Convertible?

FAQ

Q: How much does the 2022 Lexus LC 500 Convertible?

The base price of the said car is $101,100 which is very similar to the price of the BMW M850i.

Q: Should I get the LC 500 Convertible over the normal Coupe?

It depends on your needs. The LC 500 Coupe is a bit cheaper compared to the convertible and that might be a differentiating factor for some.

Q: Is the 2022 LC 500 Convertible worth it?

It is both yes and no. Yes, because it is super rare and might gather a lot of attention while taking it for a spin downtown. No, because it is not as advanced as the 8 Series Convertible in terms of raw performance and cabin tech.

Q: How efficient is the LC 500 Convertible?

The EPA has rated the said convertible with 15/25/18 for City/Highway/Combined.