Used 2021 Lexus LC

For some people, the ultimate luxury car is not a sedan. They don’t want to sit in the back and be chauffeured. They want to drive and enjoy it as much as the leather-lined interior. That’s what grand touring is all about. The 2021 Lexus LC, in coupe, hybrid, and new convertible forms, shines in that role.

As such, the 2021 Lexus LC 500 competes with the BMW 8 Series, the Mercedes-AMG E53 Coupe, and the Jaguar F-Type. The rear-wheel-drive Lexus coupe is a striking automobile, and its handsome lines are complemented by a smooth ride, silky powertrains, and generous standard equipment.

In the past, the LC has been criticized for being more comfortable than sporty. To help address this, Lexus has switched to aluminum suspension arms for the 2021 LC, which cuts unsprung weight by a not-insignificant 22 pounds. Also, the company has opted for a stiffer rear anti-roll bar that should make the LC turn with sharper response.

With its outstanding build quality, absolute dependability, and traditionally strong resale values, the 2021 Lexus LC is a sensible automotive indulgence.

Even after the first half-mile, it’s abundantly clear that the 2021 Lexus LC is special. Part of this is the calibrated response to driver inputs. Exactly the right amount of effort is required to turn the steering wheel and press the pedals.

In turn, these elements, along with the suspension, all act in harmony to provide a driving experience that’s simultaneously comfortable and compelling. This is true even at higher speeds, where the Lexus LC’s stability makes it as capable on the Autobahn as any of its German rivals.

When the roads start to twist, the LC delivers, aided by its newly reduced unsprung weight and stiffer rear anti-roll bar. There’s still a bit of body roll, but the grip remains steadfast, and Active Cornering Assist, now standard, automatically applies to the brakes to the inside wheels for better cornering behavior during enthusiastic driving. As before, the driver’s choice is the LC 500 coupe, which weighs less than the hybrid or the new convertible.

The cabin of the 2021 Lexus LC is focused toward the driver, but with the leather, elegance, and refinement you’d expect of a flagship coupe. The front seats provide comfort and support all day. Optional sport bucket seats come with extra lateral support to keep occupants in place through enthusiastic cornering, but larger drivers may find them a bit cramped.

In addition to a small-diameter 3-spoke steering wheel with magnesium shift paddles, the LC interior features an 8-inch TFT multi-information display, two USB ports, aluminum scuff plates, and an analog clock.

Although current Lexus styling is an acquired taste, the LC is perhaps the best embodiment of the company’s design language. The dramatic spindle grille looks absolutely right, and all the lines, shapes and proportions complement each other well

Apart from badging, the LC 500 and LC 500h are virtually indistinguishable. The new Lexus LC 500 Convertible, on the other hand, is easy to spot. In addition to its power-folding fabric top (with an integrated tonneau cover), the structurally enhanced LC 500 Convertible has a kicked-up trunk with a broadened spoiler that emphasizes the low and wide stance of the car. The LC 500’s center brake light, of note, is in its trunklid, not above the rear glass as in the LC coupes.

13-SPEAKER MARK LEVINSON AUDIO
Mark Levinson audio systems are superb. This particular setup has been designed specifically for the LC cabin and provides optimum listening joy.

AMAZON ALEXA
With this, the LC owner can access thousands of skills available with Alexa at home. In addition to audiobooks and your favorite tunes, Alexa can get you access to the news and the weather, while also allowing you to control items such as the lights, thermostat and alarm at home (provided you have the correct smart at-home devices).

The 2021 Lexus LC is loaded with standard equipment. Most notable: 20-inch alloy wheels, navigation, a 10.3-inch infotainment display, active sport exhaust, selectable drive modes, adaptive suspension, LED exterior lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, and a 12-speaker audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

As for the new LC 500 Convertible, it’s equipped similarly to its hardtop sibling, but with one big difference: It has a 4-layer power-folding top that can be raised or lowered at speeds up to 31 mph. The new Lexus LC convertible also has active roll bars that deploy when a rollover is detected. They are hidden from view when not deployed and the top is down.

Despite all the standard equipment, there are still some tempting ways to spend more coin on a new Lexus LC. A Dynamic Handling Package is a good example. In addition to an Alcantara headliner, it includes variable-ratio steering, rear-wheel steering, 21-inch alloy wheels, a carbon-fiber roof, a speed-activated rear wing, and sport front seats.

Other extras include a torque-sensing (Torsen) limited-slip differential, a 13-speaker 915-watt Mark Levinson surround-sound system, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, and carbon-fiber scuff plates.

As was the case last year, the Lexus LC 500 is powered by a 5.0-liter V8 developing 471 horsepower. Refined and powerful, the rumbly V8 propels the LC 500 to 60 mph in a respectably quick 4.5 seconds.

It takes another couple of tenths for the hybrid LC 500h to reach the same speed. But then again, it’s much easier on gasoline, thanks to a 354-horsepower drivetrain that includes a 3.5-liter V6 augmented by two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack.

The Lexus LC 500 and new LC 500 Convertible both have a 10-speed automatic transmission sending power to the rear wheels. The LC 500h is also rear-wheel-drive, but it’s equipped with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that acts a bit like its 10-speed stablemate.

5.0-liter V8 (LC 500 & LC 500 Convertible)
471 horsepower @ 7,100 rpm
398 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/25 mpg

3.5-liter V6 gasoline/electric hybrid (LC 500h)
354 net system horsepower
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/34 mpg