Name: Lexus LS (2018 - present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Lexus LS
Rating: 46.0

Summary

The Lexus LS was a large executive saloon of a similar size, luxury and price to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series and Audi A8. This model was the fifth-generation LS, which arrived in the UK in early 2018 and was on sale until early 2025.

Lexus only offered the LS with one powertrain option in the UK, the automatic petrol-hybrid LS 500h. Customers could, however, choose between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models.

The Lexus LS received rather mixed reviews from the UK motoring media, with verdicts ranging from below average to good. Review scores improved markedly after the model’s 2021 facelift, which brought a number of improvements to ride quality and interior refinement, but journalists still generally concluded that there were more capable luxury saloons available for such a high-end price tag.

The Telegraph found this powertrain issue to be the Lexus LS’s downfall. “The strained hybrid driveline adds so much weight that the air suspension struggles to maintain a decent ride quality and the vaunted economy isn’t desperately good.”

Putting aside its performance inconsistencies, it was inside the cabin where the LS excelled. Auto Express affirmed, “The Lexus LS is oozing with technology and driver assistance features, there are some stunning intricate design touches, and on the strength of this drive, the cabin feels even more beautifully screwed together than ever.”

Fleet World agreed, and added that the LS was “a desirable blend of reliability, safety and economy”, but conceded that its European rivals still had an edge, particularly those with plug-in hybrid variants.

As of June 2025, the Lexus LS holds a poor Used Car Expert Rating of E with a score of 46%. Its CO₂ emissions are average, but its media review scores and running costs are poor.

More Lexus Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features

Lexus LS highlights

Impressive interior quality
Plenty of on-board tech
Brand’s reputation for reliability
Spacious cabin

Lexus LS lowlights

Limited range of models
Rivals have more boot space
Ill-suited engine
Very expensive, base price and up

Key specifications

Body style: Large executive saloon
Engines: petrol-electric hybrid
Price: From £92,770 on-road

Launched: Spring 2018
Last updated: Summer 2020
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Featured reviews

“The Lexus LS is oozing with technology and driver assistance features, there are some stunning intricate design touches, and on the strength of this drive, the cabin feels even more beautifully screwed together than ever.”

Model reviewed: 500h

Score: 6 / 10

Read full review

Auto Express

John McIlroy

“The Lexus LS takes eye-catching interior design to a whole new level but it isn’t as high-tech as most German alternatives, nor as comfortable.”

Model reviewed:

Score: 6 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

More reviews

Auto Trader

Model reviewed:
Score: 7.6 / 10
“The Lexus LS 500h is a hybrid-powered luxury flagship offering a distinctively Japanese alternative to German giants like the Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series and Audi A8.”
Read review

Car

Model reviewed: LS 500h
Score: 6 / 10
“With great visual design and an original and beautifully made cabin this is a proper Lexus, but a hybrid drivetrain no longer counts for much when the main rivals will all soon offer plug-ins which will get you from your office in W1 to Heathrow on electric power.”
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed:
Score: 6.8 / 10
“The Lexus LS 500h luxury saloon can’t compete with the refinement, technology and performance offered by its rivals.” (Andy Goodwin)
Read review

Driving Electric

Model reviewed: LS 500h
Score: 5 / 10
“The Lexus LS 500h makes for an interesting alternative to the big German luxury saloons, but falls short on fuel-efficiency and can’t match rivals for driver appeal.”
Author: Stephen Errity
Read review

Eurekar

Model reviewed: LS 500h
“From the outside it’s a sleek executive saloon ideally suited to the company chairman or high flying executive. Open the doors and, in contrast, there’s an interior of style and glamour with a touch of show business. The Lexus LS 500h has design features which set it well apart from any other car.”
Read review

Evo

Model reviewed: LS 500h
Score: 5 / 10
“While it delights in some areas, the Lexus LS is too inconsistent to trouble German rivals overall.”
Read review

Fleetworld

Model reviewed: LS 500h
“There’s certainly much to commend in the LS 500h, as it provides a comfortable and luxurious travelling experience, and is a desirable blend of reliability, safety and economy. But this is a tough segment of the market and its European rivals have an edge, particularly those with plug-in hybrid variants.”
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The Lexus LS is longer and lower than the previous generation, with a striking new exterior incorporating the unmistakable corporate Lexus grille. The car is built on an extended version of the rear-wheel drive GA-L platform that also underpins the Lexus LC coupe.”
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Motoring Research

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The LS represents the pinnacle of Lexus engineering and technical might, it’s just a shame the hesitant powertrain remains the weak link in an otherwise impressive package.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.6 / 10
“Flagship Lexus LS does grand luxury in a different way”
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: LS 500h Premier AWD
Score: 6 / 10
“Lexus has chosen its own idiosyncratic path in the sleek but space-hungry interior design, poor connectivity and a strained hybrid driveline, which adds so much weight that the air suspension struggles to maintain a decent ride quality and the vaunted economy isn’t desperately good.”
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“22nd Century limo looks, stunted by 1980s powertrain response. The BMW Lexus LS is the ultimate left-field choice.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

No safety rating

The Lexus LS was not assessed by Euro NCAP during its production life.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

The Lexus LS was not lab tested by Green NCAP during its production life.

Eco rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of June 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Lexus LS to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the LS, we’ll publish the score here.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Hybrid models	32 mpg	E	30 – 35 mpg	D – E

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Hybrid models	208 g/km	D	182 – 217 g/km	C – D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	50	F	49 – 50	E – F

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£430	D
Year 2	£1,101	D
Year 3	£1,716	D
Year 4	£2,122	D
Year 5	£2,587	D
Overall	£7,956	D

It’s probably not surprising that a £100K luxury saloon like the Lexus LS will also be expensive to own and run, which is shown above in whole-life costs provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

Despite hybrid assistance, the fuel economy is very poor, while road tax and insurance are also at the expensive end of town. Servicing is average for the first year, but gets more expensive very quickly after that.