2024 Lexus LS

For well-heeled drivers — or the wealthy expecting to be driven – who picture a long and sleek sedan when imagining a luxury car, the 2024 Lexus LS 500 continues to fit like a glove — an elegant, leather-lined, supremely comfortable glove, to be precise. Yes, in a world where luxury cars now take the form of SUVs, just like every other vehicle category, there is still a place and an appreciation for a full-size executive sedan like the Lexus LS.

And even in this category, the Lexus could be called sensible compared to rivals like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, and even a Genesis G90, all of which cost more than an LS and don’t enjoy its resale value, not to mention its history of rock-solid reliability.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of full-size luxury sedans, including the Lexus LS.

The 2024 Lexus LS 500 gains more tech features as standard, including a wireless phone charger, head-up display, and 12.3-inch driver display. Silver Illusion is a new exterior paint color, and some new wheel designs also become available.

It might seem like an oxymoron to talk value in a vehicle that starts around $80,000. Still, the Lexus LS is arguably the best value in the rarified air of the full-size luxury car segment relative to its rivals. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class, for comparison, starts at around $115,000. You need at least $96,400 to get into the door of a BMW 7 Series, while the Audi A8 begins at $88,900 and the Porsche Panamera is $92,400. Even the G90 from Genesis, the luxury arm of Hyundai, sits significantly higher at $89,200.

Before buying a Lexus LS 500, be sure to check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to see what others in your area are paying.

Superb Resale Value

The Lexus LS won the KBB Best Resale Value Award for its class in 2023, just like it did in the years prior. Lexus itself is the Best Resale Value champion among luxury brands.

Lexus has long prioritized comfortable, serene driving manners over backroad barnstorming sessions and hooligan antics behind the wheel, so it makes all the sense in the world that its flagship sedan proudly masters the trait of tranquility. Yes, the LS 500 F Sport has a degree of sporting behavior, but the LS is not one to try to hang with a Porsche Panamera or BMW 7 Series while blasting down a mountain road. Rather, the LS 500 excels at cosseting its driver and passengers.

None of this is to say the LS can’t hustle when pressed. Its 416-horsepower twin-turbo V6 can still move this big sedan with authority. Not surprisingly, the Lexus is fitted with a substantial roster of active safety and driver-assistance features, including adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist, which can take a lot of stress out of freeway commuting.

Exclusive to the LS 500h hybrid is the Teammate Advanced Drive capability. This takes semi-automated driving to another level and even allows hands-free driving under certain conditions. At this stage in the automotive landscape, that’s still quite cutting edge. Still, it might be hard to justify the price tag of the hybrid LS, especially considering it’s not much more fuel-efficient than the standard powertrain.

Fuel Economy

A Lexus LS 500 with rear-wheel drive achieves 22 mpg in combined city/highway driving. It’s one mpg lower with all-wheel drive. These numbers are about par for the course with rivals, though a BMW 7 Series can achieve up to 28 mpg with its 6-cylinder engine. That’s even higher than the LS 500h hybrid, which is no Prius. It earns 25 mpg combined.

More fuel economy information can be found at the EPA’s website.

The Lexus LS 500’s 5-passenger interior is expectedly posh, with a nice sprinkling of tech. Leather upholstery in several color combinations is standard, and various wood-inlay trims are available. The front seats are heated and ventilated and have 16-way power adjustability – and that’s just the standard-issue ones. If that’s not enough, 28-way adjustable seats are available. On the tech front, there’s a standard-issue 12.3-inch touchscreen, and this year, a 10-inch head-up display (HUD) is also standard. LS 500h models get one that is a staggering 24 inches. Rear-seat legroom at 38.9 inches. That’s good, but a Mercedes S-Class has 43.8, a BMW 7 Series has 43.3, and an Audi A8 has 44.3.

But the Lexus LS 500’s rear seat can be turned into something far more extravagant. Choose the Executive Package (nearly $20,000), and the LS becomes a 4-seat in which the two rear seats are really the place to be. They get 22-way adjustability with heated massage functionality. Moreover, the right-side seat gets an airline-style upward-rising ottoman. This setup makes the LS worthy of a chauffeuring chariot for VIPs, and it can get even more opulent with options like hand-pleated door trim and Kriko glass inlays.

Picture in your mind the proverbial big, black, executive sedan, and something like the LS might drive up. Of course, you can choose a variety of colors, including ones that pop like Matador Red Mica or a blue that Lexus names Nightfall Mica. Silver Illusion is new this year. To our eyes, the LS 500 is flowing and handsome but not necessarily daring. That’s not a bad thing in an executive sedan. There’s no denying that huge grille, though. At 206.1 inches in length, the LS 500 is large indeed but comes in a few inches shorter than every direct rival except the Porsche Panamera.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Why ruin the calm and collected atmosphere of Lexus LS with an untidy cable? Wireless smartphone integration is now standard, along with wireless phone charging. Win-win.

Infotainment system
This system was updated just last year and includes a high-res 12.3-inch touchscreen and a digital assistant. It’s also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple Music streaming.

Executive Package
Yes, it’s expensive (at least $19,645 in the LS 500), but it turns the rear quarters into a sanctuary, with just two seats covered in diamond-stitched semi-aniline leather — both enjoying 22-way power adjustment, plus heating and massaging functions. If the LS is to be a chauffeur car, this is the way to do it.

Mark Levinson audio
At $1,940, this is relatively inexpensive for a high-end surround-sound system. And it’s an individual option (no need to splash out on a package). This 23-speaker/2,400-watt setup could bring out details in favorite tunes you may not have heard before. It’s standard in the LS 500h hybrid.

Panoramic View Monitor
Being able to see around the car completely is always a good thing when maneuvering. Optional in the LS 500, standard in the LS 500h.

Power lift-up buckle
This is one of those “how about that?” kind of little features. Open the door, and the seat belt buckle rises so it’s easier to reach. Again, optional in the regular LS 500, standard in the LS 500h hybrid.

The 2024 Lexus LS 500 uses a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 that makes 416 horsepower. It comes standard with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive as optional. Power goes through a 10-speed automatic transmission. The LS 500h hybrid pairs a 3.5-liter V6 engine with two electric motors and makes 354 horsepower. It has all-wheel drive as standard and uses a continuously variable automatic transmission.

Warranty

The basic warranty with a new Lexus LS flagship sedan is four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. The powertrain warranty is above average at six years or 70,000 miles, while hybrid components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. The hybrid battery does even better: 10 years or 150,000 miles. Lexus also includes two complimentary services — one at 5,000 miles and the other at 10,000 miles.

Safety

The Lexus LS 500 has not been crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Still, you should have peace of mind knowing it comes packed with an impressive suite of active safety and driver assist features.