2013 Lexus LS460 AWD

By Isaac Bouchard

While there is no way that the refreshed 2013 LS flagship could be the complete game-changer its illustrious, first generation predecessor was in 1989, the class it helped define has substantially impacted what this latest model has become.

Not a complete overhall of last year’s model, more a thorough refresh, the new LS460 still manages to stand out a bit more when approaching thanks to its new, aggressive spindle grill. Departing the scene, though, it’s as anodyne as ever. Thankfully Lexus hasn’t messed up the sybaritic cockpit, which stands as a reminder of the way Lexus used to approach material quality before the bean counters took over. Everything you touch is sumptuous, and there are none of the downmarket materials or cheap finishes that mar the interiors of the otherwise sumptuous BMW 7-series or Jaguar XJ.

However, the initially captivating Lexus infotainment system soon frustrates with its cluttered graphics and haptic-feedback controller that frequently overshoots its target. This means you spend too much time trying to find a song or switch functions with your eyes on the gorgeous 12.3-inch monitor, not the road. Thanks to the Mark Levinson Reference audio system, at least when you find the track you’re looking for, you will be rewarding with some of the most accurate playback available in a car, without the absurd price tags that others now charge for their upper end, “name brand” audio systems.

The LS460 has always been more about refinement than thrilling driver involvement, the original having introduced a level of isolation henceforth considered imperative for success in the class, and the latest looses none of its oiled perfection, but adds a bit of connection to proceedings. Steering feel and precision are improved, body control better, while the ride (at least on the smaller standard wheels) is still excellent. Whether that could be maintained on the size footwear now becoming de rigueur in the class is an open question.

Power goes up for rear driver LS models to 386 horses, but the all wheel drive machines still have outputs of “only” 360hp and 347lb-ft, channeled through a slick eight speed tranny (another Lexus first, which almost all competitors have since adopted), giving 0-60mph in about six seconds and fuel economy that stays resolutely mid-teens in the city but can reach the higher twenties on the open road.

It is hard to find anything to criticize in the LS460, yet in some ways the Lexus has become a victim of its own success. Competitors have figured out how to recreate the sense of effortless progress it serves up, while imbuing their flagships with more character, visual appeal or driver involvement. This takes nothing away from the inherent goodness of the LS460, and for those who still value understated progress and exceptional reliability the Lexus still remains a compelling choice—all at a price that undercuts competitors by up to five figures.

EPA ratings: 16/23; 18mpg combined
Price as tested: $82,279

 

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