Review: 2019 Lexus LS 500 F Sport: The Luxury Flagship Raises Its Standards

The Lexus LS is a full-size luxury sedan that made its debut in January 1989, serving as the flagship model for the Lexus corporation around the world. Here in the U.S., the LS was the top-selling luxury sedan for 15 of the first 17 years it was produced. Globally the LS ranked second only to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The first four generations featured only V8 engines and was predominantly a rear-wheel-drive vehicle. When the new gen 5 LS made its debut at the North American International Auto Show in January 2017, it exhibited not only a new platform type, the GA-L platform, but a new engine as well. Gone was the heavy V8 engine, and in its place is a turbo V6 that was as powerful and more responsive as the V8 with less weight. Also on show that year was a new vision for the type of styling and luxury the LS was going to have going forward. A visible example of this new vision would be the six-sided window design that offers more headroom while allowing for a lower aerodynamic roofline. Here's a look at what's new for 2019:

Updated Global Architecture

Back in 2017, there was a platform change made to the LS. It was moved to the new GA-L platform that it currently shares with the sporty Lexus LC 500. This platform has been upgraded for 2019 to give the LS a sleek and ground-hugging design. This new improved platform will lower the 2019 model .6 inches as compared to previous models. To expand on the new sleeker look, the hood and trunk will be approximately 1.2 inches and 1.6 inches lower as well. Buyers in the luxury sport sedan segment are looking for a vehicle that offers handling and performance without sacrificing comfort, and this new lower platform will give buyers the sports car feel without having to give up all the creature comforts of a luxury sedan.

New Lexus Safety System 2.0

Previous LS models had been equipped with the Lexus Safety System+ (LSS+) which is one of the most comprehensive vehicle safety systems in the industry. To keep pace with the fast-changing technology advancements, the 2019 LS will get an upgrade to the Lexus Safety System 2.0. This new additional safety system (LSS+ 2.0 ) will still offer all the great safety benefits of the past, but will add daytime bicyclist detection, low-light pedestrian detection, and road sign assist (RSA) and lane tracing assist (LTA). These important advancements is intended to provide additional safety to the driver, passengers, and the occasional passersby.

2019 LS F Sport

The Lexus LS is a very versatile sedan meeting the many different needs and tastes of buyers that are looking to buy their special luxury sedan. The first is the LS 500, which has all the whistles and bells found on a traditional petro luxury sedan. Then there is the LS 500h, which has been designed for the buyer that is looking for all the whistles and bells found on a traditional luxury sedan but prefer it to be powered by a quiet and efficient hybrid power plant. And finally, there is the LS 500 F Sport with a style package that is designed for the buyer who is looking for all the whistles and bells found on a traditional luxury sedan but want it to look and act like a sports coupe.

As I stated above, one of the benefits the LS sedan has is the platform it shares with its cousin the LC sports coupe. When developing the F Sport package, the engineers were able to take full advantage of the upgraded GA-L shared platform, the twin-turbo V6, and the highly efficient 10-speed transmission to produce a luxury sports sedan that easily meets the criteria of what a luxury sport sedan should be. The twin-turbo V6 will produce 416 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque, and it's 0-60 time for the RWD version is a respectable 4.6 seconds considering it is a sedan after all. The engineers tuned the 10-speed transmission to the engine to deliver instant acceleration and then a constant buildup of torque as the engine reaches redline. This computerized transmission also allows the driver to tailor the exact powertrain response on the fly and feel for many different driving circumstances by dialing up Normal, Sport S or Sport S+ modes. To stop this sedan rocket ship safely and efficiently, the engineers have upgraded the front brakes to larger to six-piston aluminum monoblock calipers with ventilated 15.7 inch rotors and four-piston calipers with 14.1 inch rotors in the back

Sports Car Cool Interior

The interior for the F Sport package has a pure sports car style and feel. The front sport seats are F SPORT 28-way electric/pneumatic seats with cushion length extenders that hug the occupants while driving the backloads or coastal highway. The dash, doors, and pedals consist of Naguri aluminum trim elements to give the feel of a road race car.

The 2019 Lexus LS 500 F-Sport is a great daily driver or a road trip car. I am a smidge under 6’2” and found no problem settling in quite comfortably even with the moonroof. I like the responsiveness of the twin turbos which will give any sedan driver more than they will need for any driving application. I'm an iPhone user, so the addition of Apple Car play is a plus for me; but if you are an Android user, you may be disappointed. If you are someone who wants a proven and reliable sport luxury sedan that will have minimal upkeep costs, you should head to a dealership and take a test drive and see if the 2019 LC 500 is what you are looking for.

Starting MSRP: $81,450

Horsepower: 416

Engine: 3.5 L V6

Top Track Speed: 136 mph

MPG RWD: City/Highway/Combined 19/29/23

MPG AWD: City/Highway/Combined 18/27/21

Fuel Capacity: 21.7 gal

Fuel Requirement: Premium 91-Octane Unleaded

Transmission Type: 10-Speed Automatic

Wheel Size: 20” diameter, 8.5” width

Curb Weight: 4,707 to 4,905 lbs

See additional information below or visit:
Lexus | LS 500 F SPORT