As Lexus’s flagship luxury sedan, the LS 500 brings a host of features to the table while costing considerably less than the S-Class and 7 Series. For the 2022 model year, it stayed the same physically but Lexus has added the Safety System + 2.5 as standard along with the Mark Levinson sound system as an option to the base trim. So, will it satiate your thirst for luxury and the feeling of being in an executive sedan?

2022 Lexus LS 500

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2022 Lexus LS 500
  • Engine/Motor: V6
  • Horsepower: 416
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Overview

Over the years, we have seen how Japanese luxury brands are competing well with their German-made counterparts, and then there is the Lexus LS 500 which has been the ideal executive sedan if you want to experience the Japanese way of luxury at an attractive price tag. In fact, the LS was Lexus’ first car that went into production in 1989 and has never disappointed since then. With the 2021 model year, there were a few important changes made to the LS 500, such as the addition of a touchscreen interface, a new set of exterior headlamps, a wider intake grille, and tweaked active noise cancellation inside the cabin. Comparatively, the 2022 model year did not see any major update except for the advanced driver assistance features which now include blindspot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, pre-collision system, dynamic radar cruise control, and lane-departure warning with steering assist. Powering the LS 500 is still a twin-turbo V-6 engine and a smooth-shifting ten-speed shiftable automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. A mild-hybrid variant of this luxury sedan has two electric motors coupled with the V-6 engine, enhancing the fuel economy. The key competitors of the LS 500 have always been the S-Class, 7 Series, and the Audi A8 which recently got tons of upgrades through a new generation.

Trims and Features

The LS has always been a one-trim car but Lexus offers a few packages over the standard features to elevate the opulence. Lexus also has a fair set of standalone features for added customizations like air suspension, intricate wood trim, a 23-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio unit, heads-up display, heated and wood-trimmed steering wheel, and a panoramic sunroof. There is just one powertrain available which is the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine. You can opt for either RWD or AWD with a ten-speed automatic transmission. Let’s point down to the feature list.

LS 500 } }

Price: $76,000.

- LED headlights, DRLs, and taillights.

- 19-inch alloys.

- Power tailgate.

- Sunroof.

- Soft-close doors.

- Leather upholstery.

- 16-way power-adjustable front seats with multi-level heating and ventilation system.

- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display.

- Navigation system.

- Power-operated rear sunshade.

- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

- 12-speaker audio system.

- Proximity key entry.

The updated Lexus’ standard driver assistance features include the Safety System+ 2.5. The features are as follows:

- Automated emergency braking,

- Pedestrian and cyclist detection.

- Frontal collision warning.

- Automatic high beams.

- Rear cross-traffic alert.

- Adaptive cruise control.

- Blindspot monitoring.

- Lane-keeping assist.

- Lane-departure warning.

Lexus Safety System+ A package. } }

- Front cross-traffic alert.

- Enhanced automatic emergency braking.

- Enhanced adaptive cruise control.

F Sport package. } }

- Sporty exterior trim.

- 20-inch alloys.

- Performance-centric brakes.

- Tuned adaptive suspension.

- Faux-suede headliner.

- Perforated leather interior.

- F Sport instrument panel.

- Sport front seats.

- Aluminum interior trim.

Dynamic Handling package. } }

- Active stabilizer bars.

- Variable-ratio steering and four-wheel steering.

Interior Upgrade package. } }

- Upgraded leather upholstery with quilted stitches.

- Faux-suede headliner.

- Massage function for the driver seat.

- Multi-level heating for the rear seats.

- Wood trim on the interior.

Luxury package. } }

- Includes features from the Interior Upgrade package.

- Front passenger massage functions enabled.

- Power-adjustable rear seats.

- Four-zone automatic climate control.

- Power-operated rear window sunshades.

- Hand-applied Haku door trim.

- 7-inch touchscreen controller for rear seats.

Executive package. } }

- Features from the Luxury package.

- Rear seat massage functions.

- Right rear seat recliner with footrest.

Exterior: A typical Lexus styling

Lexus has made an impression of sharp styling dynamics in every category of cars they offer, and the LS 500 is the best of what they can offer. The 2021 model year saw a few exterior changes which brought sleeker LED headlights and redesigned grille. The 2022 model year, however, has no changes made to the exterior.. So you will get the same set of headlight and grille design along with a creased hood and an excellent front-end view. The LED taillights now have piano black trim surrounds while the exhausts are in chrome. As standard, the LS 500 comes fitted with 19-inch alloys and can be upgraded to 20-inch wheels with the F Sport. Speaking of F Sport, it is an option you can choose to give your LS 500 a sportier touch with the blacked-out wider grille and F Sport badging on the sides. A panoramic sunroof is available but a power sunroof comes fitted as standard.

In the competition, you will find that the LS 500 is the most compact in terms of the overall exterior dimensions. It is 206.1 inches long in length whereas the S-Class and the A8 L are about 208.7 inches. The Lexus is about 57 inches tall and 74.8 inches wide meaning that it is shorter and slimmer than the competition by an inch or two. Even the wheelbase of the LS 500 is the shortest with 123 inches. I mean, the numbers do not necessarily mean that it is compact but in the world of leading executive sedans like the S-Class, 7 Series, and the A8 L, it is a bit smaller. Both the S-Class and the 7 Series have the longest wheelbase among the four sedans.

2022 Lexus LS 500 Exterior Dimensions

Model

2022 Lexus LS 500

Curb Weight 

4,696 lbs.

Length

206.1 in.

Width 

74.8 in.

Height

57.0 in.

Ground Clearance 

-

Wheelbase 

123.0 in.


Interior: True luxury incorporated throughout the cabin

It is no hoax that the LS 500 is the most value-for-money executive sedan of its class. Once you get inside the cabin, you will notice how beautiful and intricately designed the interior is. Everything you touch and feel will make you wonder why Lexus has been popular in the sort of budget-oriented luxury market. There is leather everywhere! Of course, the LS 500 is their top-of-the-line sedan, but when you look at the starting price of $76,000, you will be stunned by the fact that it is the cheapest among its prime rivals from Germany. The door trims, dashboard, steering wheel, and even the hand rest, feel premium to the touch. One of the biggest additions which came along with the 2021 model year was the 12.3-inch touchscreen display. It is now more intuitive than ever and we hated the touchpad controller the earlier model years sported. The 2022 model year saw no major interior changes if you don’t opt for the Haku door trim which is new for the model year. It is delightful to see Lexus working to bring up Japanese culture and share it with the world instead of just copying its famous rivals.

Now that we have talked a lot about how the interior looks, let’s focus more on how it feels, shall we? The standard leather-wrapped seats offer great cushioning and will provide long-lasting comfort in the long run. The front seats have 16-way power adjustability with lumbar support along with multi-level heating and ventilation, all fitted as standard. Isn’t that cool? The rear seats don’t have heating and ventilation and even power-adjustability as standard. This, I would say, isn’t some caveat. The S-Class has loads of power adjustability, heating, ventilation, and massage functions for both front and rear seats as standard including the $116,000 price tag. So, if you want all these creature comforts, Lexus has made available the Luxury and Executive package.

Executive sedans are best enjoyed when there are four seats but an extra won’t be stealing away the fun. There is ample headroom and legroom in both the front and rear but not as much as the 7 Series and the S-Class. Although, they have it because of their elongated wheelbase. That said, the rear row will be perfectly comfortable for even tall passengers. Lexus has tweaked the active noise cancellation inside the cabin to cut off the outer world while enjoying the beautiful cabin and the rides. With the LS 500, you will be able to carry more luggage if compared to the S-Class and the 7 Series with a decent 17 cubic feet of cargo capacity. A few of the major interior features of the 2022 Lexus LS 500 are as follows:

- Four-zone automatic climate control.

- Leather and wood-trimmed steering wheel with heating options and power- adjustability. (Optional)

- Premium leather upholstery.

- Power-adjustable front and rear seats with multi-level heating and ventilation.

- Aluminum and wood trim interior.

- Fully digital instrument console.

- 7.0-inch touch-sensitive display controller at the rear.

- Massage functions for both the front and rear seats. (Optional)

2022 Lexus LS 500 Interior Dimensions

Model

2022 Lexus LS 500

Seating Capacity

5

Front Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)

37.3/58.8/41.0

Second Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)

37.3/56.4/38.9

Cargo Capacity 

17.0 cu. ft.


The infotainment system is a carryover from the 2021 model year, so there is a 12.3-inch touchscreen (thank you, Lexus) display that is connected to a fairly intuitive system. However, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay lovers will be happy using either of the two. Other infotainment features include a navigation system along with satellite radio, Bluetooth, and WiFi connectivity. There is a 12-speaker audio system fitted as standard but Lexus is offering the 23-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system as an option even if you don’t plan to purchase the price-heavy packages. A few of the notable infotainment features of the 2022 Lexus LS 500 are as follows:

- 12.3-inch touchscreen.

- Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

- SiriusXM.

- Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity.

- 23-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround sound system.

Performance and Handling: Modest but does the job

Lexus had it all in mind. They did offer the 5.0-liter V-8 engine found on the performance models of the brand. Instead, they chose a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 which can put out a decent 416 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. The reason behind this decision would be its torquey nature which wouldn’t have been the case with the naturally aspirated V-8 engine. The 3.5-liter engine gets mated to a ten-speed automatic transmission and runs through the rear wheels as standard. Lexus, however, has offered AWD as an option if you want better rideability. Okay, so the LS 500 does not feel sluggish while driving in city limits. But, what about the competition? Both the S-Class and the 7 Series have a few engine options depending on how much you are paying. But if we take the popular engines, it would be the 4.0-liter Bi-turbo V-8 for the S-Class and the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 or the 6.6-liter twin-turbo V-12 for the 7 Series. For starters, they are capable of putting down 500+ horsepower, which in my opinion, is enough to establish the LS 500’s weakness. But no one would take these beauties to race tracks to push their limits.

The 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine offers a smooth power delivery and the transmission offers effortless gear shifts even in heavy traffic situations. The engine is extremely refined and that is expected since it is Toyota made. In our testing, the LS 500, with the RWD guise did knot to 60 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds which is not bad at all since it is heavier than most of its rivals. However, Car And Driver estimates the quarter-mile timings would be somewhere between 13.2-13.4 seconds, which is again something we shouldn’t be complaining about. Driving the Lexus LS 500 will not be like driving a sports car and that is the norm for any executive sedan you drive. What truly shines is the suspension which makes it glide through rough patches without much hassle. However, Lexus is offering an air suspension set up for a better driving experience. The AWD gets a center limited-slip differential and its being rear-wheel biased has improved the on-road stability. Although, you have to keep in mind that the LS is all about absolute comfort and that is where it takes a different path than its German counterparts like the S-Class and the 7 Series. The latter cars have more dynamic handling capabilities but unlike them, the LS 500 does not feel over-engineered.

2022 Lexus LS 500 Performance Stats

Model

2022 Lexus LS 500

Engine Type

3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6

Drive Type

RWD/AWD

Transmission

10-speed shiftable automatic

Power 

416 hp @ 6,000 RPM

Torque 

442 lb-ft @ 1,600 RPM

0-60 (mph) 

4.6 seconds

Quarter-mile

-

Top Speed

136 mph


Fuel Economy

Being a non-hybrid variant, the LS 500 gets an above-average EPA rating of 18/29/22 for city/highway/combined. And for the fact that the engine has a 400+ horsepower rating, it's surprising that the numbers are not worse. However, there is a mild-hybrid variant of the LS 500 which we review separately has been rated well with 25/33/28 for city/highway/combined. The gas-running LS 500 gets even lower numbers with the AWD by a mile or two per gallon. Lexus has added a generously large 21.7-gallon gas tank and that will push this luxury limousine over 600 miles on the highways if you opt for the RWD variant. In the competition, The V-8 powered S-Class with its hybrid engine gets a rating of 17/25/20 while the 7 Series gets 17/24/19.

2022 Lexus LS 500 Fuel Economy

Model

2022 Lexus LS 500

2022 Lexus LS 500 AWD

MPG (City)

18

17

MPG (Highway)

29

27

MPG (Combined)

22

21

Tank Capacity (Gallons)

21.7

21.7

Range (City, Highway, Combined)

390.6/629.3/477.4

368.9/585.9/455.7


Safety Convenience

Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA get their hands on the LS 500 but considering Lexus’ reputation over crash tests, this luxury sedan will not have any compromised build quality and will be even better since it resembles Lexus’ history. However, you get a host of advanced driver assistance features as standard including pedestrian and cyclist detection which has been added for the 2022 model year. The notable driver assistance features that come with the 2022 LS 500 are as follows:

- Adaptive cruise control.

- Blindspot monitoring.

- Lane-keeping assist.

- Lane-departure warning.

- Automatic emergency braking.

- Enhanced adaptive cruise control. (Optional)

- Enhanced automatic emergency braking. (Optional)

- Front cross-traffic alert. (Optional)

Should you consider the new Lexus LS 500 over the competition?

My suggestion would be, yes! I mean just looking at the $76,000 starting price, it has more on offer than the S-Class, 7 Series, and the A8 L. We did not find anything wrong about the LS 500 and it makes sense about how less you can spend and how much more you can experience. My only remark would be in the engine category and that it is a little behind in terms of performance. But if you are looking for something like the LS 500, you probably are a businessman who will sit back and relax at the end of your working hours. Choose the right package for you and you are all set. The German rivals are better in performance and let’s say they are slightly better with the overall user experience, but the price gap does not make sense.