LIKES
- Pampering cabin
- Thrifty-ish LS 500h
- Great looks
- Doesn’t flash its cash…
DISLIKES
- … but maybe it should?
- So-so handling and ride
- Artificial hybrid noise
BUYING TIP
The 2022 Lexus LS presents an appealing blend of style, luxury, and above all attention to detail, even if rivals can be more fun to drive.
What kind of vehicle is the 2022 Lexus LS? What does it compare to?
The 2022 Lexus LS is a full-size sedan available in an optional hybrid configuration. It competes with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series, and Tesla Model S.
Is the 2022 Lexus LS a good car?
Interest in full-size luxury sedans may be waning, but those who do find themselves taking delivery of a new Lexus LS will find a sublime sedan with thrilling details. It’s a 7.4 out of 10 on the TCC scale.
What's new for the 2022 Lexus LS?
Light tweaks for 2022 include revised headlights and additional interior trim options, plus a few minor underhood revisions designed to make the engine quieter. A limited-edition Inspiration Series trim package is added to the LS 500h, which bows late in the 2022 model year. 
The LS remains a big flagship sedan that puts a major emphasis on rear-seat room. Sharp-looking but somewhat subtle, at least against the more flamboyant Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the LS is a status symbol that doesn’t scream about its wealth. Such is the Lexus way.
Inside, the car is understated at a glance but can be mind-blowing in its attention to detail. From cut glass to ultra-thin foil appliques, the LS reminds us that luxury is about more than just glossy wood trim.
Lexus offers a pair of V-6 engines. The LS 500 uses a turbocharged V-6 to hustle 416 hp to the rear or all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission. The LS 500h makes use of a naturally aspirated V-6 paired with an electric motor and a small lithium-ion battery pack for low-guilt mid-20s mpg and good performance.
No LS is truly fun to drive, and the ride can be a touch wallowy for our tastes. Still, there’s no question that this four-door is a serene cruiser.
The LS wants for little when it comes to luxury features, and standard safety tech includes the usual smorgasbord of crash-avoidance tech. More advanced functionality that can steer this car out of the way of pedestrians or automatically switch lanes can be found on the options list.
How much does the 2022 Lexus LS cost?
A base 2022 Lexus LS costs about $77,000, while optional equipment can push its price well north of six figures. Generally speaking, the LS is cheaper than most of its rivals.
Where is the 2022 Lexus LS made?
In Japan.
Styling
Its basic lines may be a few years old, but the Lexus LS still intrigues with its details.
Is the Lexus LS a good-looking car?
By conventional standards, the Lexus LS may be a bit too busy in its overall styling. Observe it up close, however, and this four-door easily earns a 7 out of 10 just for its interior details alone.
New headlights this year mark exterior changes to a design that is starting to look a little familiar—even if it’s not a car we see on the road all that often. F Sport versions have upsized wheels and sporty-looking bumpers that fuss up this sedan’s basic elegance.
Performance
With land yacht moves, the Lexus LS is a modern interpretation of classic luxury.
Is the Lexus LS 4WD?
It can be. All-wheel drive costs about $3,300.
How fast is the Lexus LS?
That’s OK with us.
LS 500s use a twin-turbocharged V-6 rated at 416 hp, which delivers good thrust from any speed with virtually no lag. The 10-speed automatic transmission can fumble a bit at city speeds but responds quickly when needed.
LS 500h versions use a naturally aspirated V-6 offset by an electric motor, which is good for 354 hp but feels nearly as quick in town. Only in highway passing does the LS 500 prove the stronger choice.
One thing is for sure, though: The LS isolates like few (if any) other cars on the planet.
Comfort & Quality
Few cars at any price boast a more lavish cabin than the 2022 Lexus LS.
Space and grace combine in the 2022 Lexus LS. This is one masterful cabin, even in base form for less than $80,000. Every passenger has stretch-out room, materials and assembly are top notch, and attention to detail is unparalleled. The trunk is even somewhat large by sedan standards. We wind up at an easy 10 out of 10.
Front seats with 28 ways of power adjustment offer spectacular support. Rear-seat riders are in their own ZIP code. With the 22-way power-adjustable seats included with the Executive package, they may not want to leave, either.
The standard leather is good, optional semi-aniline hides even better. Myriad trim combinations inside need to be seen up close; etched glass and ultra-thin foil are especially delightful.
Safety
The 2022 Lexus LS offers flagship-grade crash-avoidance tech.
How safe is the Lexus LS?
We can’t assign a score here since neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has tested this big sedan, and they’re not likely to.
What we can say is that the 2022 Lexus LS comes standard with a good array of tech and offers even better collision-avoidance features. An option package adds the ability to change lanes at the tap of a turn signal stalk. Some rivals offer hands-off driving capability, but the Lexus system is notable for just how smoothly it operates. That alone may encourage drivers to keep it activated.
Features
The 2022 Lexus LS is beautifully appointed, but not quite as decadent as some rivals.
The 2022 Lexus LS is not an exercise in restraint, but it may look so compared to some of its competitors. This lineup tops out about where some of its German competitors begin, so it’s easy enough to overlook the fact that it is not as opulent.
We rate it at a 9 out of 10 thanks to a big warranty, a big infotainment screen, and a wide array of standard and optional features.
Every LS comes with a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty plus Lexus will pick up the tab for the first two service visits.
Which Lexus LS should I buy?
The LS 500 starts at around $77,000, or about $80,000 with all-wheel drive. All things considered, that’s not a bad value for a sedan with nice leather seats, heated front seats, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, active safety tech, and many other features we expect to find in a luxury sedan. BMW and Mercedes charge that much for reasonably well-equipped versions of mid-size sedans, let alone flagships.
We’d still spend extra for the Interior Upgrade Package with its softer leather, 28-way seats with massage, and wider range of interior trims. 
An additional $9,000 or so buys the Luxury Package with its adaptive air suspension and individually-adjustable rear seats, while the Executive Package with Kiriko Glass Trim swaps in ultra-plush thrones akin to those American Airlines puts in its swankiest transcontinental flights. If you know, you know, and if you do, you’re probably just fine with the $24,000 upgrade from a base LS 500. That’s only a few JFK to LAX flights, after all.
How much is a fully loaded Lexus LS?
Lexus wants around $113,000 for a fully equipped LS 500. Ironically, that’s exactly where the Mercedes S-Class begins.
Fuel Economy
The 2022 Lexus LS is one of the least-gluttonous big luxury sedans.
Is the Lexus LS good on gas?
In LS 500h form, this big sedan delivers remarkably palatable fuel consumption. Its 22 mpg city, 29 highway, 25 combined rating is quite good for a big sedan.
The LS 500 is not as frugal, though even its 18/29/22 mpg rating with rear-wheel drive and 17/27/21 mpg all-wheel-drive scores aren’t terrible.
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