Driving Impressions
Sophisticated and refined, the Lexus LS 460 deftly blends performance and comfort, technology with user-friendly interfaces, all while adding a dash of style that some felt was lacking in previous versions of this flagship luxury sedan.
It should be obvious by now that a lot of thought has gone into creating this new LS 460. And, we’re pleased to report that all that effort has paid off in a car that’s an absolute pleasure to drive. From the moment you touch the dash-mounted “Start” button, the strengths of the LS’s new V8 are readily apparent. For one thing, this sophisticated motor is so smooth and quiet that you’ll find yourself stealing a look at the tachometer just to make sure it’s running. Head out on the road and put your foot into it, however, and the new engine jumps to life with brisk acceleration that makes the company’s 5.4-second 0-to-60 acceleration estimate feel just about right. To add a hint of character, there’s even a nice subdued growl when you get on the gas hard. The eight-speed automatic transmission is equally refined, with shifts so smooth as to be nearly imperceptible. Should you long for a little more involvement in the gear-changing process, the manual shift feature provides quick gear changes via a slap of the shift lever. Keeping things pointed in the right direction is easy enough thanks to electric power steering that feels surprisingly responsive, though like most such units it lacks some of the weight and direct feedback we’ve come to expect from the best European sedans. The same can be said for the brakes which provide very effective stopping power, albeit with a somewhat softer pedal feel than we’d like. The LS 460’s base suspension provides an endlessly comfortable ride quality that made us head out in search of really bad pavement to laugh at. We also found this suspension offered very stable and predictable handling, though we preferred the somewhat crisper quality of the sport-tuned air suspension that comes with the LS 460 L’s optional Touring Package. In the final measure, we’d say this new LS offers a more composed and pleasurable alternative to the edgier driving character of some competing luxury sedans. Add the car’s beautiful craftsmanship, top-quality materials, long list of top-drawer standard and available features, and the user-friendly integration of technology, and we think these two new LS models will be enormously popular with luxury sedan shoppers. And while we remain convinced that perfection will always remain just beyond the grasp of us mere mortals, we can tell you the Lexus LS 460 and LS 460 L are proof that a little obsession in pursuit of that goal can yield impressive results.
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