Lexus LS

Lexus LS: which version to buy and why

If you are choosing a Lexus LS from the catalogue data, the short answer is this: buy the 5 generation 3.4 AT Gasoline Turbo RWD (421 hp) if the point is the strongest acceleration in the line (4.6 s to 100 km/h, 5.07 kg per hp); buy the same generation’s 3.5 AT Hybrid RWD (354 hp) if the point is the lowest measured mixed fuel use (6.2 l/100 km); buy the 5 generation, restyling LS 500h Hybrid if …

If you are choosing a Lexus LS from the catalogue data, the short answer is this: buy the 5 generation 3.4 AT Gasoline Turbo RWD (421 hp) if the point is the strongest acceleration in the line (4.6 s to 100 km/h, 5.07 kg per hp); buy the same generation’s 3.5 AT Hybrid RWD (354 hp) if the point is the lowest measured mixed fuel use (6.2 l/100 km); buy the 5 generation, restyling LS 500h Hybrid if you want that hybrid economy with AWD or RWD after July 2020; buy a 4 generation 4.6 AT RWD (380 hp, 1925 kg) if you want a naturally aspirated 8-cylinder sedan that is lighter than any fifth-generation LS; buy a 2 generation 4.0 AT (264 hp, 1680 kg) only if kerb weight is the priority. There are no prices in this data, so “what the extra money buys” here means what extra power, mass, gears, drive, and litres of fuel the numbers buy from one named version to another.

The Lexus LS is a Sedan in every generation in this file. The catalogue lists 8 generation records, not 5, because restyles are separate rows.

Generations (each restyling is a separate choice)

5 generation, restyling (from 2020-07-01, stop not measured): four versions — LS 500 (416 hp, RWD), LS 500 4WD (416 hp, AWD), and two LS 500h hybrids (359 hp), one AWD with Automatic 10, one RWD with gears not measured. Fuel grade in the data is 92. 0–100 km/h and top speed for LS 500 RWD are not measured; LS 500 4WD is 4.6 s and 219 km/h.

5 generation (2017-01-01 to 2020-07-31): six versions. Two 3.5 AT Gasoline/Hybrid pairs at 3456 cm³, two 3.4 AT Turbo Gasoline at 3444 cm³, one extra 3.5 AT Turbo AWD (417 hp, 3444 cm³), and LS 500h Hybrid AWD. Fuel 95. This is the only generation where Turbo appears in the data.

4 generation, restyling (2012-01-01 to 2017-12-31): four 4.6 AT Gasoline 8-cylinder cars (370 or 388 hp) plus two 5.0 CVT Hybrid AWD cars (both 394 hp). Fuel 95. Euro 4 where measured.

4 generation (2006-01-01 to 2013-01-31): five 4.6 AT Gasoline versions (367 or 380 hp) and one 5.0 CVT Hybrid AWD (394 hp). The 367 hp 4.6 AT AWD uses Independent, pneumatic rear suspension; several 380 hp cars use Independent, spring. Overlap with the restyle years is in the date fields themselves (this row stops 2013-01-31; the restyle starts 2012-01-01).

3 generation, restyling (2003-01-01 to 2006-12-31): two 4.3 AT RWD cars, 290 hp and 282 hp, Automatic 6.

3 generation (2000-01-01 to 2003-12-31): the same two 4.3 AT power figures, Automatic 5. The 282 hp car is 80 kg heavier (1920 vs 1840 kg) and uses Dependent, spring at the rear.

2 generation (1994-01-01 to 2000-12-31): three 4.0 AT RWD cars — 264 hp Automatic 4, 294 hp Automatic 5, 284 hp Automatic 5.

1 generation (1989-01-01 to 1994-12-31): one 4.0 AT, 245 hp, Automatic 4, RWD.

Engines and specs

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): the 5 generation 3.4 AT 421 hp is 122.2 hp/l; the two 417 hp turbos are 121.1 hp/l; restyle LS 500 / LS 500 4WD are 120.4 hp/l. Naturally aspirated fifth-generation 3.5 AT 315 hp is 91.1 hp/l. Fourth-generation 4.6 AT cars sit between 79.6 and 84.2 hp/l. Third-generation 4.3 AT is 65.7–67.6 hp/l. First-generation 4.0 AT 245 hp is 61.7 hp/l — the lowest specific output in the file. Turbo is what changed the arithmetic: 3444–3456 cm³ with Turbo makes more hp/l than 4608–4969 cm³ with No boost.

Performance, mpg, and fuel

Fastest measured 0–100 km/h: 5 generation 3.4 AT 421 hp RWD and 5 generation, restyling LS 500 4WD both 4.6 s. Next: 5 generation 3.5 AT 417 hp AWD and 3.4 AT 417 hp AWD at 4.9 s. Hybrid RWD 3.5 AT 354 hp is 5.4 s; restyle LS 500h (both drives) 5.4 s; pre-restyle LS 500h AWD 5.5 s. The 315 hp 3.5 AT Gasoline RWD is 6.5 s — slower than several fourth-generation 4.6 AT RWD cars at 5.6–5.7 s.

Top speed: 250 km/h on most versions where measured. Exceptions: 5 generation 3.4 AT 421 hp is 220 km/h; restyle LS 500 4WD is 219 km/h; restyle LS 500 RWD top speed is not measured.

Mixed consumption, lowest to highest among measured figures: 5 generation 3.5 AT Hybrid RWD 6.2 l/100 km; both LS 500h in the restyle and the pre-restyle LS 500h AWD 7.0; 4 generation, restyling 5.0 CVT 8.6 (one row) and 9.3 (the other); 5 generation 3.5 AT 315 hp 9.6; Turbo AWD 3.4 AT 417 hp 9.9; Turbo AWD 3.5 AT 417 hp 10.1; Turbo RWD 3.4 AT 421 hp 10.2; restyle LS 500 10.7; restyle LS 500 4WD 11.2. Fourth-generation gasoline 4.6 AT mixed use is 10.7–12.4. 2 generation 4.0 AT 294 hp mixed use is not measured; city and highway for that row are also not measured.

City vs highway on the fifth-generation hybrids is the gap that matters: Hybrid RWD 3.5 AT 354 hp is 7.5 / 5.9 versus Gasoline 3.5 AT 315 hp 13.1 / 7.6 — 5.6 l/100 km less in the city, 1.7 less on the highway. AWD hybrid LS 500h 359 hp is 8.2 / 6.6: AWD costs 0.7 city and 0.7 highway versus that Hybrid RWD 3.5 AT.

CO2: not measured on many rows. Where measured: restyle LS 500h 184 g; pre-restyle LS 500h 166 g; 5 generation Turbo AWD 417 hp cars 225 g; 4 generation, restyling 4.6 AT 249–268 g; one 5.0 CVT 199 g; 2 generation 4.0 AT 284 hp 292 g. Eco class: Euro 6 on fifth-generation rows that have it; Euro 4 on fourth-generation restyle rows that have it; 5 generation 3.4 AT 421 hp eco class is not measured; several fourth-generation pre-restyle rows are not measured.

Fuel grade: 95 on generations 1–5; 92 on 5 generation, restyling only.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels

Kerb weight range in this file: 1680 kg (2 generation 4.0 AT 264 hp) to 2395 kg (4 generation, restyling 5.0 CVT 394 hp, one of the two). Fifth-generation kerb weights are 2135–2340 kg before the restyle and 2130–2185 kg after. The restyle LS 500 at 2130 kg is 5 kg lighter than the pre-restyle 315 hp 3.5 AT at 2135 kg, with 101 more hp.

Weight per horsepower: 5 generation 3.4 AT 421 hp and 4 generation 4.6 AT 380 hp AWD at 1925 kg both 5.07 kg/hp — the joint lightest per hp. Restyle LS 500 5.12; LS 500 4WD 5.17. First-generation 4.0 AT 245 hp is 7.35 kg/hp — the heaviest per hp. Hybrid AWD LS 500h pre-restyle is 6.52 kg/hp because kerb is 2340 kg.

Gross weight: 2185–2815 kg where measured. 4 generation 4.6 AT 380 hp AWD (1964 kg kerb) gross is not measured. Restyle LS 500 RWD gross is not measured.

Ground clearance: 130 mm on most fourth-generation cars; 156 mm on three 4 generation 4.6 AT 380 hp rows; 140 mm on one restyle 5.0 CVT; 137 mm on both 417 hp Turbo AWD fifth-generation cars; 144 mm on 3.4 AT 421 hp; 147 mm on the remaining fifth-generation and restyle cars; 150 mm on first generation and most third generation; 145 mm on 3 generation 4.3 AT 282 hp; 2 generation 4.0 AT 294 hp clearance is not measured.

Tank: 85 l (generations 1–2), 84 l (generations 3–4), 82 l (generation 5 and restyle). Wheel sizes are not measured on most rows. Measured: 5 generation several cars 245/50 R19 and 245/45 R20; 4 generation 4.6 AT 380 hp RWD pneumatic 235/50 R18 and 245/45 R19.

Rear suspension difference that is a buying criterion: 5 generation LS 500h AWD is Dependent, spring at the rear; every other fifth-generation row in the table is Independent, spring. Several 4 generation cars are Independent, pneumatic. 3 generation 4.3 AT 282 hp is Dependent, spring.

Which version to choose

Want the strongest sprint in the catalogue. 5 generation 3.4 AT 421 hp RWD: 4.6 s, 600 Nm from 1600–4800 rpm, 10-speed Automatic, 2135 kg. Same 4.6 s on restyle LS 500 4WD, but that car is 219 km/h vs 220, mixed 11.2 vs 10.2, and 20 kg heavier (2150 vs 2135). The restyle LS 500 RWD 416 hp has 0–100 not measured, so it cannot be ranked on sprint from this file.

Want Turbo AWD rather than RWD. 5 generation 3.4 AT 417 hp AWD (2260 kg, 4.9 s, mixed 9.9, CO2 225, Euro 6, wheels 245/50 R19 and 245/45 R20) versus 3.5 AT 417 hp AWD (2305 kg, same 4.9 s, mixed 10.1, same 225 g, wheels not measured, kW not measured). Same hp, same 3444 cm³, same Turbo, same 10-speed Automatic: the 3.4 AT name is 45 kg lighter and 0.2 l/100 km lower mixed. AWD versus the 421 hp RWD 3.4 AT costs 0.3 s, 125 kg, 10 km/h of top speed the other way (250 vs 220), and 10 mm of clearance (137 vs 144).

Want hybrid economy. 5 generation 3.5 AT Hybrid 354 hp RWD is the measured minimum mixed 6.2 l/100 km, 5.4 s, 250 km/h, Automatic 4, 2175 kg. Moving to LS 500h AWD in the same generation: +5 hp, +165 kg (2340), +0.1 s, mixed 7.0, CO2 166 (the 354 hp hybrid’s CO2 is not measured), rear suspension Dependent, spring, gears still 4. After the restyle, LS 500h (AWD 10-speed or RWD gears not measured) keeps 359 hp and mixed 7.0, cuts kerb to 2185 kg (−155 vs pre-restyle AWD hybrid), CO2 rises to 184, fuel grade becomes 92, 0–100 5.4 s.

Want a fifth-generation Gasoline without Turbo. Only one: 3.5 AT 315 hp RWD. Versus the Hybrid 3.5 AT 354 hp: −39 hp, +1.1 s, same 250 km/h, mixed 9.6 vs 6.2 (+3.4 l/100 km), 40 kg lighter, same 10 vs 4 gears. Versus Turbo 3.4 AT 421 hp at identical 2135 kg: −106 hp, +1.9 s, mixed −0.6 (9.6 vs 10.2). Turbo does not cost mixed fuel here; it saves 1.9 s and adds 220 Nm (380 vs 600).

Want an 8-cylinder. That choice ends at 4 generation, restyling. Peak gasoline hp there is 4.6 AT 388 hp RWD: 5.7 s, 2015 kg, mixed 10.7, 84 l tank, 130 mm clearance, Euro 4, CO2 249. That is 33 hp below the fifth-generation 421 hp Turbo six, 1.1 s slower, 120 kg lighter, and 0.5 l/100 km higher mixed. The lightest 370 hp restyle 4.6 AT RWD is 1940 kg and 5.6 s but mixed 12.4 — the worst mixed gasoline figure in the restyle set. The two restyle 4.6 AT 370 hp AWD rows differ: 2170 kg / 469 Nm / mixed 11.4 / CO2 263 versus 2335 kg / 473 Nm / mixed 11.6 / CO2 268. Same name, same 370 hp: pick the 2170 kg row unless you have a reason for the extra 165 kg.

Want hybrid before 2017. 5.0 CVT 394 hp, 4969 cm³, 8 / V-shaped, Variable, AWD, 6.3 s, 250 km/h in every generation that lists it. Weight and mix split the rows: restyle 2395 kg / 8.6 l / 199 g / Euro 4 versus restyle 2345 kg / 9.3 l / CO2 not measured; pre-restyle 4 generation 2345 kg / 9.3 l / CO2 not measured / eco not measured. Versus fifth-generation Hybrid 3.5 AT 354 hp: the CVT is +40 hp, +0.9 s, +2.4 to +3.1 mixed, +170 to +220 kg. Hybrid in this catalogue got quicker and thriftier when displacement fell from 4969 to 3456 cm³.

Want fourth generation before the restyle. 4.6 AT 380 hp RWD appears twice: 1925 kg Independent, spring, 5.7 s, mixed 11.1, 156 mm clearance; and 1990 kg Independent, pneumatic, 5.7 s, mixed 11.1, 130 mm, wheels 235/50 R18 and 245/45 R19, 280 kW vs 279. Same 0–100 and mixed; the pneumatic car is 65 kg heavier and 26 mm lower. 4.6 AT 380 hp AWD also splits: 1925 kg 6.3 s mixed 11.4 clearance 156; 1964 kg 5.7 s mixed 11.1 clearance 156, gross not measured. The 367 hp 4.6 AT AWD is the odd row: 2160 kg, pneumatic rear, 6.3 s, mixed 11.6, eco not measured — 13 hp down and 235 kg up versus the 1925 kg 380 hp AWD.

Want third generation. Both periods only have 4.3 AT RWD. Restyle adds one Automatic gear (6 vs 5). 4.3 AT 290 hp: 6.7 s, 1840 kg, mixed 11.4, Euro 4, 150 mm in both 3 generation and its restyle. 4.3 AT 282 hp restyle is 6.3 s at the same 1840 kg and same 11.4 mixed — 8 hp less, 0.4 s quicker in the data. Pre-restyle 282 hp is 6.7 s, 1920 kg, mixed 12.0, Dependent, spring, 145 mm. If you must have 3 generation, the restyle 4.3 AT 282 hp is the stronger measured sprint at equal weight; the 290 hp car is the one with Euro 4 listed in both periods.

Want second or first generation. Lightest LS in the file is 2 generation 4.0 AT 264 hp, 1680 kg, 7.5 s, mixed 10.3, Automatic 4, 85 l, 150 mm. Highest hp in that generation is 4.0 AT 294 hp, 6.9 s, 1780 kg, Automatic 5, consumption not measured, clearance not measured. 4.0 AT 284 hp: 6.9 s, 1815 kg, mixed 12.3, CO2 292. First generation 4.0 AT 245 hp: 8.5 s — the slowest LS here — 1801 kg, mixed 10.9, 7.35 kg/hp. From 245 hp / 8.5 s to 294 hp / 6.9 s is +49 hp and −1.6 s across two generations of the same 3969 cm³ 4.0 AT name.

What each generation actually changed in the numbers. 1→2: +19 to +49 hp, −1.0 to −1.6 s, kerb down to 1680 kg on one row. 2→3: displacement 3969→4293, gears 4–5→5, mixed not improved (11.4–12.0 vs 10.3–12.3). 3 restyle: gears 5→6; 282 hp 0–100 6.7→6.3. 3→4: 8-cylinder stays, 4293→4608 (gasoline) or 4969 (hybrid), gears 6→8 or Variable, AWD appears, 0–100 down to 5.6–5.7 on several 4.6 AT, mixed still ~11, tank 84 l. 4 restyle: 388 hp RWD peak gasoline, Euro 4 and CO2 filled in on more rows, hybrid mixed 8.6 on one 5.0 CVT. 4→5: cylinders 8→6, Turbo arrives, 10-speed Automatic on gasoline, 4-speed Automatic on hybrids, hp peak 388→421, 0–100 5.6→4.6, mixed hybrid 8.6→6.2, tank 84→82, eco Euro 6 where listed. 5 restyle: names become LS 500 / LS 500 4WD / LS 500h, fuel 95→92, hybrid gears 4→10 on AWD, hybrid kerb 2340→2185 on AWD, gasoline 0–100 for RWD LS 500 not measured, LS 500 4WD matches the old 4.6 s but at 219 km/h.

Reliability and problems. This dataset has no failure rates, no service costs, and no problem lists. What can be compared is only what is measured: eco class (Euro 6 vs Euro 4 vs not measured), injection (Combined injection (direct-distributed) on generation 5; Direct injection (direct) on 4 generation, restyling 4.6 AT; not restated here beyond the English labels in the source), boost (Turbo vs No), and how many distinct rows share a name — identical names must be split by hp, drive, and mass as above.

Practical shortlist from the arithmetic. Sprint: 3.4 AT 421 hp. Economy: 3.5 AT 354 hp Hybrid. All-weather Turbo: 3.4 AT 417 hp AWD. Current-shape hybrid: restyle LS 500h. Eight-cylinder with the best restyle sprint-to-weight: 4.6 AT 388 hp RWD. Lightest car: 4.0 AT 264 hp. Do not treat two 3.5 AT, two 3.4 AT, two LS 500h, four 4.6 AT, or two 5.0 CVT in one generation as one car: the file separates them by hp, Nm, drive, mass, and consumption, and those differences are the buying decision.