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2014 Lexus LS 460 Review By Larry Nutson


2014 Lexus LS 460 F-Sport (select to view enlarged photo)
2014 Lexus LS 460 F-Sport


2014 Lexus LS 460 Review
by Larry Nutson
Senior Editor, New York Bureau
The Auto Channel

The LS 460 is THE Lexus flagship. As such, it has to deliver the very best that Lexus has to offer. And, it has to match up to the competition. I’ll cut to the chase; it does.


2014 Lexus LS 460 F-Sport (select to view enlarged photo)

As the Lexus ultimate-luxury flagship my expectations were high. Also high, relatively speaking, is its total price that bumped on $87,000. It almost made me nervous driving all this money around.

There are lots of equipment items and features to marvel at. At your command is 360HP coming from the 4.6-liter 32-valve V8 driving through an 8-speed automatic and putting the power to the pavement through all-wheel-drive. Note that a rear wheel drive model is also available. The V8 will get you from stop to 60mph in 5.9 seconds, per Lexus. That’s quite adequate for most of Mr. and Mrs. America. It’s appropriate to compare or cross-shop the LS 460 with the Audi A8, BMW 7-series. Mercedes-Benz S-class, and Jaguar’s XJ. Some auto writers voice concern that the LS 460 doesn’t deliver the same performance as these. But I ask, how much do you need?

The EPA fuel economy test ratings for the LS 460 are 23 highway mpg, 16 city mpg for a rating of 18 combined mpg, or 5.6 gallons per 100 miles. Nothing to write home about, but there is a tradeoff to have a roomy interior, large trunk and lots of features, plus of course the A-W-D.

The engine is almost whisper quiet. Under full throttle acceleration a nice V8 exhaust note is evident. Overall, the LS460 is very quiet, with very little wind or tire noise evident in the interior. The slippery 0.26Cd pays off.


2014 Lexus LS 460 F-Sport (select to view enlarged photo)

There’s a laundry list of safety equipment that is fitted standard on the LS 460. I won’t spell that all out but it’s easy to see on the Lexus website. Of note is the electronic brake system…yes, it’s brake by wire. At first the brake pedal feel takes a bit of brief adjustment, but after that I didn’t pay much attention.
2014 Lexus LS 460 F-Sport (select to view enlarged photo)

Another nice safety item is the power front seat headrests that automatically adjust in height matching your expected height based on the fore-aft driving position you select for the front seat.

My LS 460 driver-for-a-week had a base price of $75,085. It was optioned out with the F SPORT package adding $7860, and the F SPORT comfort package for $2090. Blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert was another $500 and a trunk mat/cargo net/wheel lock package brought on another $260. Add in the $910 delivery fee and the total MSRP hit $86,705.

A few noteworthy items I liked were: three (not just two) memory positions for the power driver seat/steering wheel/outside mirrors; automatic fold feature for the outside mirrors…it’s best to fold-in your mirrors when parked on crowded narrow street cities lest they be broken off by that large truck squeezing through; and, tire pressure monitor system that displays each individual tire as well as the full size spare.


2014 Lexus LS 460 F-Sport (select to view enlarged photo)

The F SPORT package brings 19-inch wheels instead of 18s, F-SPORT tuned lowered (4.7 inches vs 5.1 inches) air suspension, stabilizer bars and shocks, Brembo six-piston front calipers with 14.8inch ventilated discs, bolstered front seats, black leather trimmed interior and black alcantara headliner, aluminum pedals, sport steering wheel with paddle shifters and unique F-SPORT styled front bumper, upper and lower grille inserts and LED fog lamps. All good stuff if you want a more aggressive character for the LS 460. The bolstered front seats might squeeze on your sides if you are of large body stature.

The F SPORT comfort package includes climate controlled front seats, heated outboard rear seats, power rear sunshade, and one touch power trunk open/close.

The LS 460 rear drive model is priced at $72,140. There is also a LS460L available that is five inches longer, riding on a 121.7 inch wheelbase v. 116.9 inches, and gets you just under an inch more of rear seat legroom. The “L” is priced at $78,440 and $81,925 with a-w-d, and also offers an optional Executive-Class Seating Package with just two rear seats.

If you are interested to compare the 2014 Lexus LS 460 to other luxury sedans you can do that right here on TheAutoChannel.com. For more information and detailed specifications on the 2014 Lexus LS460go to www.lexus.com.

If you like, download the free TheAutoChannel smartphone app. The “My Test Drives” app for both the iPad and iPhone is available for free on The Auto Channel app found in the Apple App Store. The Auto Channel's free "My Test Drives" app gives serious car shoppers the help they need to make test drive evaluations accurate, effective and meaningful.


2014 Lexus LS 460 F-Sport(select to view enlarged photo)

Noteworthy is the Lexus LS flagship luxury sedan received the highest score among all models in the industry in the 2013 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS) with 59 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). This is the sixth year in a row the LS has had the highest score in the industry.

As I said at the start, the Lexus LS 460 delivers luxury very well. And, it does it very well in comparison to and as well as or better than some of the competition. It is quiet, responsive, well-designed and constructed, and very luxurious. Different luxury brands have different design philosophies. I certainly think the Lexus approach to a luxury car is very well defined and, as is evidenced, serves many of Mr. and Mrs. America very satisfactorily and without disappointment or concern.

As Lexus says: The pursuit of perfection.

© Larry Nutson