Used 2022 Lexus LS

The 2022 Lexus LS large luxury sedan has a fine and well-deserved reputation for quality and reliability. Every Lexus is more affordable than rivals from Germany, holds its value better, and the customer service from Lexus dealers is usually exemplary.

This is the fifth generation of LS, which debuted for the 2018 model year. Models are a regular combustion LS 500 and the hybrid LS 500h.

What’s missing is the wow factor. Not in the technology available nor the driving experience. A few rivals read the road ahead and adjust the suspension accordingly, others provide powerful V8 engines, and there are several innovative safety features that have yet to make it into a new LS.

Some buyers considering a flagship sedan want the best of everything and preferably the newest tech features known to the automotive world. For others who might prefer calmness, reassurance and a certain value for money, the LS is a must-consider.

The ultimate way to enjoy the 2022 LS is to choose the Executive package and luxuriate in the back. For those behind the steering wheel, life is made less stressful by various driver assistance features, including a standard self-parking function.

The twin-turbocharged V6 engine in the LS 500 has more than enough thrust and refinement to suit this large luxury sedan, while the automatic 10-speed transmission works almost imperceptibly in the background. Naturally, the LS 500h hybrid is the most fuel-efficient member of the lineup.

When the F Sport treatment is applied, there’s no boost in power, just things like stronger brakes and a sport-tuned adaptive suspension. We haven’t mentioned driving thrills up until now because the LS is not that type of car. Trying to make it sportier seems like pushing it into a role for which it’s less well suited.

Serenity and sumptuousness are abundant inside the 2022 Lexus LS. Rear legroom measures 39 inches, although the Executive package enables remote adjustment of the front passenger seat, so it can be pushed as far forward as possible to make room for the optional ottoman.

Build quality is as good as it gets and this generation of Lexus brings distinct elements of Japanese craftsmanship. Haku interior door trim is new this year, available with the Luxury or Executive packages. Haku is an ancient technique of making extremely thin sheets of metal. It has to be applied by hand.

Alternatively, buyers may choose Kiriko hand-cut glass interior door trim, accompanied by hand-pleated/origami-inspired cloth.

These traditional aspects harmonize with the technological. As well as smartphone integration, the 2022 LS includes Amazon Alexa compatibility. And a 24-inch full-color head-up display is on the options list.

Trunk space of 17 cubic feet is a) objectively big and b) better than most rivals. Only the BMW 7 Series has more.

Lexus hasn’t made any changes to the styling of the 2022 LS. The triple-projector headlights remain. As does the over-sized grille — whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on the eye of the beholder.

Add the optional adaptive air suspension and the LS sits about half an inch lower. The F Sport models have a few aerodynamic additions as well as 20-inch alloy wheels. The 2022 LS 500h comes with a couple of hybrid badges, but doesn’t differ greatly from its gasoline-only counterparts.

INTERIOR
Apart from how quiet, luxurious, and well-assembled the cabin of the 2022 LS is, adding Japanese artisanal features — like the new Haku metal trim and Kiriko hand-cut glass — really gives the car a character that’s distinct from its German rivals.

EXECUTIVE PACKAGE
This optional feature includes the contents of the Luxury package, adding 22-way power-adjustable rear seats with massaging and reclining functions, plus an ottoman for the right-side position.

Lexus doesn’t have trim levels for the LS. It packs the basic model with a lot of standard equipment, then makes more features available as options. So the 2022 LS 500 has 19-inch alloy wheels, triple-projector LED headlights with cornering lights, LED taillights/turn signals, self-dimming mirrors, puddle lights, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry/ignition, power-closing doors, powered moonroof, heated/ventilated/16-way power-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, active noise cancellation, powered rear shade, and hands-free trunk lid operation.

Safety features include forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, left-turn intersection assistance, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, enhanced lane tracing, automatic high beams, and a self-parking system.

Based around a 12.3-inch touchscreen, the infotainment system comes with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, Amazon Alexa compatibility, Wi-Fi, voice control, navigation, satellite radio, CP/MP3/WMA player, USB ports, and a 300-watt audio setup.

Several options are bundled into a couple of packages. The Luxury package brings quad-zone automatic climate control, 28-way power-adjustable front seats with massaging functions, heated/ventilated/18-way power-adjustable rear seats, perforated semi-aniline leather upholstery with diamond-patterned stitching, 7-inch rear touchscreen controller, and powered shades for the side windows. The Executive package includes the Luxury’s features, then elevates the seating to the grandest level.

Both the Luxury and Executive packages provide the option of the Haku interior door trim. Executive also offers Kiriko glass and hand-pleated interior door trims. One change this year is that buyers of a 2022 LS don’t need to purchase these packages to gain the Mark Levinson 23-speaker/2,400-watt surround-sound system.

Other options include an adaptive air suspension, panoramic glass roof, head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system.

F Sport versions have a sport-tuned adaptive suspension, upgraded brakes, sport front seats (28-way power-adjustable), and 20-inch alloy wheels. Rear-drive F Sport models have specific extras, like variable-ratio steering, active anti-roll bars, and rear-wheel steering.

The all-combustion 2022 LS 500 has a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 developing 416 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission sends that to the rear wheels (RWD) in standard form, or all four if the all-wheel-drive (AWD) option is selected.

A naturally aspirated (no turbos or anything) 3.5-liter V6 is deployed in the hybrid LS 500 h, along with a couple of electric motors. Their combined muscle adds up to 354 horsepower. A hybrid-specific automatic transmission is the next component in line. The same rear-drive/all-wheel drive choice applies here as well.

Both variants require premium gasoline. Fuel economy estimates for the 2022 LS 500h hybrid supplied by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) relate to 2021, but we don’t expect any changes for 2021.

3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (LS 500)
416 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
442 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600-4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/29 mpg (RWD), 17/27 mpg (AWD)

3.5-liter Atkinson cycle V6 + 2 electric motors (LS 500h)
354 total system horsepower
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/33 mpg (RWD), 23/29 mpg (AWD)