New 2021 Lexus LS 500h Sports Luxury Walkaround
9Flagship Lexus offers ground-based business class travel
The Lexus LS500h Sports Luxury is the epitome of Lexus values. As the brand’s flagship, it signifies everything it knows about interior craftsmanship, engineering attention to detail and cutting-edge technology.
In newly updated 2021 guise, Lexus’ engineers have left no stone unturned in their efforts to improve comfort and refinement, resulting in an interesting alternative to the German duo (Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series) that dominate the limousine segment.
The LS Sports Luxury is available with a 310kW/600Nm 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 or the 264kW hybrid tested here, which teams a 220kW/350Nm 3.5-litre V6 with a 132kW/300Nm electric motor.
Both variants cost $201,078 before options and on-road costs, which according to the Lexus website translates to $214,940 driveway in Sydney and $223,775 in Melbourne, but pop your postcode in to find the relevant pricing for your location.
Presumably, LS owners aren’t necessarily concerned with value but this undercuts all main rivals, including the Audi A8 LWB (from $208,889), BMW 740Li ($234,900) and newly unveiled Mercedes-Benz S-Class LWB (from $264,900).
Options are few and far between. None of the 10 colours, of which Sonic Quartz (a metallic white) is exclusive to the Sports Luxury, attract an extra charge but if you really want to give Lexus extra money you can opt for one of the impressive optional interior trims.
A number of ‘ornamentation’ options, as Lexus calls them, are available for no extra cost with various colour combinations. Black interiors offer leather or fabric door trims with laser-cut wood that reveals a pattern from the metal below, or the impressive ‘Nishijin & Haku’ interior (+$10,000) that uses silver threads and platinum in an attempt to make the door inserts mimic the play of moonlight on the open sea. This is paired with a very thin film of platinum for the ornamentation.
White and crimson interiors are also available with laser cut ornamentation, the latter also being paired with Kiriko glass (+$10,000), a bold look that uses pleated door inserts and cut glass that changes look as the interior lighting conditions change.
The pale Chateau interior is paired with more traditional herringbone and hazel wood while the ultimate in leather, dubbed ‘L-aniline’, is also available for $10,000 in black or ochre. It’s worth considering, as it does feel beautiful to touch.
What’s included as standard is a mind-boggling array of comfort, convenience and safety technology. Starting with the former, the LS Sports Luxury includes power-operated seats front and rear with heating, ventilation and massage functionality, the rear passenger seat able to recline business-class style (with footrest!) courtesy of the touchscreen in the fold-down rear centre armrest.