2001-2006 Lexus LS 430: Road Test

Lexus claimed a 6.3-second acceleration time to 60 mph, though in our tests we averaged 6.7 seconds. Still quite good, though the original 5-speed automatic was sometimes slow to downshift for passing. Six-speed automatic downshifts more promptly and offers a manual shiftgate for aggressive driving. One test LS 430 averaged 19.2 mpg in mostly highway driving. Another got 17.8 mpg in hard city driving. Premium fuel is required. Any LS 430 offers a ride that is supple and controlled, even on the harshest surfaces. The available air suspension makes the going smoother yet. Lexus's optional Euro-Tuned suspension is a bit stiffer. Steering/handling is acceptably capable, but even the sport setup cannot match European rivals for agility. Truth be told, this is a fine automobile for chauffeurs, but less so for avid drivers. Test sedans have made swift, undramatic simulated emergency stops. The LS 430 is one of the quietest cars around, despite mild wheel patter on rough pavement and slight body drumming over railroad tracks. Instruments and controls are handy and logical, in the Lexus tradition. But if all the available gizmos were installed, you'll get a daunting jumble of buttons, switches, and displays. A navigation system aggravates the situation, by absorbing functions that would be better left to conventional controls. Even its voice activation requires button-pushing. The front seat is spacious for adults of most any size. Wide, supportive power seats adjust 14 ways. Drivers benefit from a power tilt/telescopic steering wheel, and enjoy fine all-around visibility. Rear seats are no less spacious than up front and are very cosseting with the Ultra Luxury Package, which also delivers topnotch interior fit and finish. Lower-level models have less-impressive interior materials. Cargo space is among the best in class, though the Ultra Luxury's separate rear air conditioning cuts trunk capacity by 2.7 cubic feet.

Value for the Money
New-car base pricing was competitive with most V8 rivals, but could quickly climb if Custom or Ultra Luxury equipped. In that case, the LS 430 approached the Mercedes-Benz S-Class in both cost and techno-overload. Even the Custom Luxury Package had to be ordered with a minimum of $1,460 in leather trim. Still, an LS 430 in any form is unsurpassed for comfort, coddling, and refinement at the price.