- 2009
2008 Lexus LS
- Used Lexus LS
Lexus LS - What the Auto Press Says
The LS offers bulletproof Lexus reliability, one of the finest interiors in a class full of fine interiors, and a suite of technological innovations that leaves the rest of its class behind. What it doesn't offer is driving excitement on par with some of its peers -- its suspension is soft and its acceleration lags a bit when compared to other cars at this price point.
The 2008 Lexus LS is the flagship sedan of Lexus, the luxury badge of Toyota. It offers one of the most comfortable passenger cabins available today, and is a showcase of all the latest technology the world's largest automaker has developed. The technophiles at CNET write the 460 L "is the best car we've seen. We can't put it any more bluntly than that. It checks off all the tech boxes, then goes and adds some new ones," calling it a "Four Seasons hotel on four wheels." If you've seen Lexus advertisements, you probably know that the car can also park itself -- though reviews are divided on how well the self-parking function actually works. The LS achieves the highest reliability scores possible in quality and dependability studies by J.D. Power and Associates.
Those who do register complaints about the LS cite its soft suspension, which doesn't lend itself to performance driving. A few reviews say the acceleration is not on par with the best of its class. But these are largely matters of taste -- the 460 LS is powered by a 4.6-liter V8 engine that delivers 380 horsepower -- hardly an underpowered car. Likewise, the suspension that some cite as too soft is the key to what others call one of the most comfortable cruising rides available. The 2008 LS is available in two trims, a standard mode and a long wheelbase edition that emphasizes rear-passenger comfort. If you're in the market for a Super Luxury Sedan, you might also consider the Audi A8 or the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
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- "The foremost vehicle in Lexus's lineup, not to mention the model that introduced the brand to America back in 1989, the LS is the epitome of Toyota's luxury division. Now in its fourth generation, the LS" is a "showcase of the brand's most innovative technology." -- Motor Trend
- "A sleek, supremely appointed, luxuriously outfitted freeway flier," the LS will appeal to "the average luxury sedan buyer who's looking for a smooth, quiet ride that offers elegance, quality and reliability. Not to mention the solid reputation of Lexus." -- Road and Track
- "Until now, there have been only three big dogs in the practical, daily driver, luxury four-door world: the V-8 versions of the BMW 7-series, the Mercedes-Benz S-class, and the Audi A8. ... The new LS460 is not just the peer of the leading trio, it provides a new benchmark for the category." -- Automobile Magazine
- "Armed with a revised V-8, the world's first eight-speed automatic transmission, and a host of new technology, the fourth-generation LS is marching the brand farther up the luxury ladder." -- Car and Driver
- "The newest LS appears to be the best yet - the most powerful, safest, most feature-laden - but it is also the most expensive and is, in some ways, disappointing." -- Newsday
LS Performance - 8.6 (Very Good)
The automotive press considers the 2008 Lexus LS to be a smooth highway cruiser, excellent for long-distance driving. But its suspension, tuned softly for passenger comfort, doesn't allow it the sports-sedan performance of some of its competition. The Arizona Republic writes, "Passengers may be impressed by the limousine ride, but the driver will miss any semblance of sporty response." The pleasures of a sporty sedan aren't entirely missing. The rumbling exhaust note of the LS wins the praise of many reviewers. Read More
LS Exterior - 6.6 (Mediocre)
The 2008 Lexus LS follows roughly the same design theme that Lexus's flagship cars have for nearly two decades. Forbes says the car "has a clean, conservative, yet absolutely contemporary shape, accentuated by a forward-thrusting arrowhead motif carried through from door handles to the front and rear lamp units and even the large, unusual twin exhaust-pipe diverters low in the rear bumper." Read More
LS Interior - 8.4 (Very Good)
The cockpit of the 2008 Lexus LS is the car's best attribute. The Detroit News notes, "Lexus designers took their inspiration from the first-class cabin in an airplane and when consumers got their look at the company's redesigned sedan, it usually triggers a gasp." If the standard model is high-tech and well-appointed even for a super-luxury sedan, then the executive-sedan long wheelbase version is out of this world. It "uses an infrared camera to measure backseat passengers' body temperature," the Los Angeles Times explains, and offers "climate-controlled reclining rear seats with foldout ottoman and shiatsu massage function; rear-seat refrigerator; 9-inch ceiling-mounted video monitor. This stuff wouldn't look out of place on a Maybach." Read More
LS Safety - NA
The 2008 Lexus LS performs admirably in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash testing. The federal government has not yet crash tested the sedan. Fully optioned out, it offers 11 air bags, and a pre-collision system that uses radar to detect an impending impact and activates Brake Assist, retracts seatbelts and positions the headrests. Read More
LS Reliability - 10.0 (Excellent)
The 2008 Lexus LS reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). Lexus covers its cars with a 4-year/50,000 mile basic warranty. Like most luxury car builders, Lexus offers services beyond the standard warranty, such as roadside assistance. Read More
