There was one obvious drawback with the Lexus LS 500 previous to this yr’s refresh: the Distant Contact infotainment system. To place it merely, it was a nightmare to make use of and a possible deal breaker. Because it does in different Lexus merchandise, Distant Contact featured a big show managed by a laptop-like touchpad that was tough and distracting to make use of. Lexus has certainly bored with listening to the complaints from reviewers and prospects alike, and for 2021, there is a touchscreen. Hurrah!
That is clearly the largest replace for the 2021 Lexus LS 500, however the four-door flagship is handled to a lot of different enhancements for its mid-cycle freshening as effectively. Contemplating the completely new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is bearing down within the Lexus’ rearview mirror, it’s good timing. Lexus allowed us to stay with each the 2020 and 2021 LS 500s for a pair days to make sure we’d discover each final distinction between them.
It takes a pointy eye to see what designers have massaged on the outside. Look carefully, and also you’ll discover the snazzy Z-shaped headlight fixtures have misplaced the Z. It’s a cleaner design, however does subtract from their flashiness. The large spindle grille is current and accounted for — Lexus applies a darker end to it this yr. It’s nonetheless as shouty and in-your-face because it will get for a automobile on this class, which isn’t straightforward contemplating the 7 Collection’ new snout.
Lexus needed to redesign the sprint for the touchscreen to be reachable. The big 12.3-inch widescreen that was shoved manner again and nestled underneath a hood within the earlier two-tiered sprint design has been pulled manner out to face by itself in tablet-like style for 2021. The illuminated graphic panel that was adjoining to the infotainment display screen is gone. The look is finally much less built-in and harmonious, however not less than it’s usable now.
Bettering how the LS 500 drives was additionally on Lexus’ to-do record with this replace. It’s nonetheless powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, however Lexus is utilizing a brand new piston design that makes the engine quieter when chilly. The wastegate management was up to date to enhance each efficiency and effectivity, and the 10-speed computerized’s shift logic was re-calibrated to be smarter when the motive force asks for energy. Even with the adjustments, output is unchanged at 416 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. That’s sufficient to get our rear-drive LS 500 F Sport from 0-60 mph in simply 4.6 seconds, all whereas leaving a protracted patch of rubber in our wake. A lot enjoyable, but it surely’s not what the LS is about.
The extra important mechanical adjustments for 2021 are discovered within the suspension. Each spring and damper charges are revised to help experience consolation; the anti-roll bars are greater to scale back physique roll, and each entrance and rear liquid-filled bushings are bigger for a plusher experience. The distinction in experience consolation is straight away noticeable on the highway. The place the 2020 LS 500 displays some jittery habits, the 2021 mannequin fully smooths the unevenness out. The 2020 F Sport’s experience feels unnaturally sporty compared. It’s as if Lexus remembered it was constructing an LS and never a sport sedan for 2021. Pockmarked metropolis streets ship softer blows to the cabin, and freeway growth joints are much less harsh. The 2021 Lexus LS (even the F Sport mannequin with the $7,800 Dynamic Dealing with Bundle) rides like an LS ought to: consolation and isolation, above all else.
Just like the 7 Collection and S-Class, although, the LS 500 with all these dealing with goodies is much better than you’d count on on a twisty part of tarmac. Its rear-wheel-steering system makes turn-in sharp, and the larger F Sport brakes scrub velocity in a rush. Lexus disguises its 4,916-pound weight effectively. We didn’t discover a lot distinction in dealing with efficiency versus the 2020, which is sweet contemplating the automobile rides considerably higher this yr. The most important letdown is transmission tuning. Even with the LS in Sport Plus mode, it’s hopelessly confused once you ask it to be sporty, leaving you in far too excessive a gear on nook exit, solely to lastly slam it again into low gear as you’re on the point of brake for the subsequent nook. However hey, when you’re driving your Lexus LS 500 like a sports activities automobile, what the hell are you doing? Use the midway respectable and responsive paddle shifters when you should.
What you ought to be much more involved about is how cozy your arms, legs and buttocks are. Our verdict? Exceedingly snug. Lexus says it added extra padding to the armrests and seat cushions, however our pointy elbows and butts couldn’t be the wiser. The driving place and luxury degree was top-shelf earlier than, and it’s the identical for 2021. What’s appreciated is a bodily shortcut change to show the seat temperature and steering wheel heater controls on the display screen (simply one other of the various Distant Contact annoyances from earlier than). Precise buttons for these objects would’ve been higher, however not less than the method to show in your heated seat is simply two straightforward clicks away as an alternative of two clicks, two errant swipes, one correct swipe, two errant swipes and one final correct swipe.
The brand new touchscreen isn’t with out its faults, although. When utilizing the native Lexus system apps, it doesn’t register swipes, solely faucets. Which means the one solution to “swipe” by menus is by touching the little arrows on the highest or backside of the menu screens. If you happen to do try to swipe across the display screen as you’d another automobile’s infotainment system or your cellphone, it merely selects the primary merchandise your finger touches. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto each assist you to swipe about as you’d usually, but not one of the Lexus methods do. Annoying.
Regardless of this, we nonetheless favor having a touchscreen. Lexus nonetheless consists of its Distant Contact management pad as a redundant interface, however its solely helpful function is its again button. The redundant management knobs present in quite a few touchscreen-equipped luxurious vehicles serve a function by being higher suited to sure duties like scrolling by radio stations or contacts, however that is not the case with the Lexus touchpad.
The remainder of the LS is simply as pretty as earlier than. It’s whisper quiet at freeway speeds, and any remaining noise is silenced by the marvelous 23-speaker Mark Levinson audio system ($1,940 further). The Lexus driver help applied sciences are respectable freeway companions, however the lane-tracing remains to be a pair steps behind its European rivals. Its most spectacular social gathering trick is the entrance cross-traffic animation within the head-up show that flashes an arrow throughout your subject of view within the path visitors is coming from. It sees vehicles earlier than the motive force can see them, a capability that might be legitimately helpful for intersections with poor visibility.
Lexus’ worth argument remains to be fully legitimate for 2021, as effectively. The up to date LS 500 begins at $77,025, which is simply $550 greater than the outgoing mannequin (our closely loaded F Sport tester hit $98,630). Each penny of that base value enhance is price it for the consolation enhancements and added usefulness of a touchscreen. A base 7 Collection that’s each slower and missing in options versus the LS prices over $10,000 extra. The identical might be stated for an Audi A8 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, too. If cash isn’t any object, although, all these Germans might be optioned up with tech and options lacking from the Lexus catalog. Plus, they are often had with rather more highly effective engines.
The Lexus’ solely different powertrain choice is the LS 500h, which is a hybrid mannequin that could be a contact slower to 60 mph than the usual LS 500. The up to date model of the 500h is coming subsequent yr — we haven’t pushed it but, however Lexus guarantees higher acceleration from a couple of adjustments it made to the electrical motors and battery. We’ll be capable to let you know if it’s the LS 500 model to get as soon as we do get behind the wheel. In the intervening time, the usual 2021 Lexus LS 500 has fastened its largest faults. It drives and coddles like an LS ought to. And one final time, for the individuals within the again, thanks for the touchscreen, Lexus.
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