Used 2023 Lexus LC

The Lexus LC is the most exotic offering in the Japanese luxury brand’s lineup. It’s more of a grand touring car than a performance car, but whatever you want to call it, the LC is a formidable luxury sports car with a high-quality cabin and head-turning styling. You can choose a powerful V8 or a more efficient hybrid V6. There’s also a convertible option for open-air enjoyment. In the world of 4-seater luxury sports cars, the Lexus LC competes on different levels with cars like the Porsche 911 and BMW 8 Series.

When it comes to performance, the Lexus LC is good at just about everything. The standard naturally aspirated V8 motivates the LC enthusiastically, and we love the exhaust note. It handles and brakes well. However, we found that driving it aggressively came with frequent reminders of the car’s curb weight of over 4,000 pounds.

The available hybrid V6 isn’t as strong as the V8 but still provides more than enough power and torque while returning much better fuel economy.

As a grand touring car at its core, the LC is intended to be a luxury sports car with an engaging driving experience but also comfortable for long-distance cruising. The LC strikes that balance just right.

The Lexus LC has a premium interior with the top-notch build quality for which the Lexus brand is famous. Although the exterior styling is on the more exotic side, the interior is a bit more conservative by comparison. The seats are comfortable, and the materials are excellent, but we found the touchpad-operated infotainment system to come with a learning curve. While the LC is technically a 4-seater, it’s functionally a 2-seater with some storage room.

Exterior styling is undoubtedly a strong suit of the Lexus LC. This low-slung grand touring car has the bold design and sharp lines of a concept car. The coupe has a sleek roofline, and the convertible offers drop-top enjoyment with a power-folding soft top.

Two engines
There are two engine options under the hood of the LC. The base V8 engine delivers robust performance, while the available hybrid V6 makes this a much more fuel-efficient luxury car while still being fun to drive.

Drop-top option
The convertible is the most popular iteration of the Lexus LC, and it’s not hard to see why. This luxury car is well-suited to driving with the top down. The power soft top is available in two colors and only takes about 15 seconds to operate.

Sport Package
The available Sport Package does what its name implies and improves the driving experience of the LC. It adds a Torsen limited-slip differential, performance brakes, staggered 21-inch wheels, and Alcantara-trimmed sport seats.

Touring Package
For drivers prioritizing comfort over performance, the Touring Package adds several luxury features like semi-aniline leather seats, a Mark Levinson audio system, a heated steering wheel, and more.

Climate Concierge
The Climate Concierge in the Lexus LC creates a perfect environment. It uses automatic climate control, a heated steering wheel, and heated/ventilated front seats to make the climate just right. The convertible model has heaters integrated into the seats to wrap your neck in warm air like a scarf.

Lexus Safety System+
This collection of features brings modern safety and driver assistance features to the LC. Standard safety tech features include automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams.

The 2023 Lexus LC lineup offers a choice of two unique powertrains.

Mighty V8

The more popular choice under the hood of the Lexus LC is a powerful naturally aspirated V8. This is a satisfying engine with quick acceleration (0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds) and an intoxicating exhaust note. It’s fun to drive fast, but it’s also smooth in long-distance cruising.

The V8 is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission sending power to the rear wheels.

5.0-liter V8
471 horsepower @ 7,100 rpm
398 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/25 mpg (LC 500 Coupe), 15/25 mpg (LC 500 Convertible)

Hybrid V6

The hybrid V6 in the LC 500h coupe is the more economical choice between the two engines. As you may expect, it’s less powerful and much more efficient than the V8. According to EPA estimates, the hybrid has significantly lower fuel costs than the V8 by about $100 per month.

The hybrid uses an unusual transmission incorporating a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and a 4-speed automatic to deliver power to the rear wheels.

3.5-liter hybrid V6
354 horsepower @ 6,600 rpm
369 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/33 mpg

More LC fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

The Lexus LC is backed by a 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and a 6-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. If you go with the hybrid LC 500h, all hybrid components get an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty. This coverage is slightly better than what’s typical among luxury brands and the LC’s competitors.