Skip advert
Advertisement

Lexus LS

Luxury Lexus offers an eco-friendly choice for business high-flyers.

Overall Auto Express rating

3.0

How we review cars
Find your Lexus LS
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The LS600h has groundbreaking technology – in a flawed package. As a luxury hybrid it is peerless, but is that enough to tempt buyers away from traditional petrol or diesel power? With less potent performance than such models – and, on our drive, questionable economy gains – we’re not so sure. It is the most comfortable way to travel in town while producing zero emissions, but more conventional alternatives still have the upper hand.

Advertisement - Article continues below

No car maker has embraced hybrid technology quite like Lexus. While rivals moan about high development costs and technical inefficiencies, the Japanese manufacturer is committed to combining petrol and electric power – and the next vehicle in its highly charged line-up is the LS600h.

We have already tried the techno­logy in a left-hand drive version of the new car (Issue 958). But how does it work here on the UK’s roads? The first impression with any LS is its vast scale – especially in this long-wheelbase guise. Apart from its subtle badging, the hybrid shares the sombre styling of other variants. Even the twin chrome exhausts remain, hinting at its performance potential.

Under the bonnet is a 389bhp 5.0-litre V8. Add to that the thrust of an electric motor, and output is boosted to 439bhp. The final technical flourish is to feed power to all four wheels.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Kuga

2023 Ford

Kuga

12,645 milesManualPetrol1.5L

Cash £21,674
View Kuga
500

2020 Fiat

500

19,771 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £8,541
View 500
Juke

2023 Nissan

Juke

48,681 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £11,291
View Juke
CR-V

2018 Honda

CR-V

57,546 milesManualDiesel1.6L

Cash £11,222
View CR-V

The cabin features the familiar LS dashboard with its huge array of buttons. While German rivals have opted for a central control system, there seems to be a switch for everything here – including EV (Electric Vehicle). Press it, pull away and the LS wafts in near silence through slow traffic. Refinement is astonishing as the batteries power the vehicle. Only when the charge runs out or you press hard on the acceler­ator does the petrol V8 kick in.

Lexus claims a 0-62mph time of 6.3 seconds, although real-world perfor­mance doesn’t feel so sprightly. With the CVT gearbox offering change-free acceleration, the luxury saloon isn’t slow, but it seems no quicker than a diesel-powered Mercedes S-Class.

We also struggled to match the maker’s claimed economy. Driving mostly in town, the Lexus returned little better than 24mpg, according to its trip computer – a long way short of the official 30.4mpg combined fig­ure. Official CO2 emissions are low, though; the 219g/km output is on a par with cars from the class below.

Away from traffic, the driving experience is similar to that of other LS models. While the motorway ride is smooth, it struggles to cope with sharp jolts and bumps. Tackling corners at speed leaves the Lexus floundering compared with Audi’s A8.

The new hybrid LS is a technological tour de force. Its superb refinement and peerless build quality are likely to be enough to tempt some buyers – although the compromised economy will be a turn-off for others.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £3,576 off RRP*Used from £12,877
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £3,970 off RRP*Used from £8,795
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,462 off RRP*Used from £11,847
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £23,990Avg. savings £2,161 off RRP*
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Geely EX5 SUV to arrive in October, starting at £32k
Geely EX5 - front

New Geely EX5 SUV to arrive in October, starting at £32k

This new electric SUV is coming soon to the UK from Volvo and Lotus parent company, Geely
News
15 Sep 2025
Nissan Qashqai to finally go electric, but hybrid model will remain
Nissan Qashqai electric render Avarvarii - front 3/4

Nissan Qashqai to finally go electric, but hybrid model will remain

There will be an overlap of powertrains for the big-selling SUV
News
15 Sep 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Savour the Scandi cool of a Polestar 4 at only £334 a month
Polestar 4 - cornering, low shot

Car Deal of the Day: Savour the Scandi cool of a Polestar 4 at only £334 a month

Fancy something smart and sophisticated? You won’t look back with the Polestar 4. It’s our Deal of the Day for September 13
News
13 Sep 2025