Quick Review Summary

Compared to its competitors, the Lexus LC 500 still offers a very attractive color scheme to choose from: the Porsche 991 is clearly a street sports car. Meanwhile, the Mercedes-Benz SL, a name with a rich heritage, has been upgraded to a higher price. The BMW 8 Series features a modern and luxurious design combined with a sporty spirit, but lacks the trendy personal atmosphere.

Introduced in 2018 and with minimal changes in design, the Lexus LC 500 still manages to stay trendy and classy at the end of 2022.

Stepping inside the interior, you will be overwhelmed by the luxury and meticulous finishing of the highest quality details such as leather, suede, metal, wood… It’s definitely worth every penny with its exorbitant price and is befitting of the flagship Lexus model. However, the LC 500 lacks rare or lightweight materials often found in luxury sports coupes such as carbon fiber, composite plastic, or ceramics.

In terms of power, the Lexus LC 500 is currently offered in 3 versions in the US market, including a hardtop/soft top with a V8 engine producing 471 horsepower and a hybrid engine. The thrill of driving an LC 500 doesn’t come from its ability to accelerate rapidly like its rivals, as the car takes 4.9 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h.

While the Porsche 911 Carrera S rival can easily outrun the LC 500, taking only 3.2 seconds to do the same – not inferior to any Italian supercar. However, the V8 engine in the Lexus LC 500 still has its own unique charm and will surely bring joy to the person behind the steering wheel.

The engine’s sound, especially when revved up just before shifting, easily captivates speed enthusiasts’ ears. Even a slight tap on the accelerator pedal can make the Lexus LC 500 everyday commute much more exciting and vibrant.

When compared to sports cars in the same price range, the LC 500’s power may not match up. However, when considering it as a grand-touring model, where the most harmonious combination of factors, from power to comfort and luxury level is required, the value of the Lexus LC 500 becomes much more reasonable.

The V8 engine in the Lexus LC 500 consumes about 23.5 L/100 km – similar to its competitors and acceptable for a sports-oriented model with a V8 engine. Of course, the owner of this car would never worry about the price of gasoline.

Compared to sports-oriented models like the Porsche 911, the Lexus LC 500 has a very smooth suspension system. The shock absorbers allow the car to pass over speed bumps or rough road sections smoothly without causing any discomfort to passengers, even though the Lexus sports coupe is equipped with 21-inch wheels.

In fact, Lexus has always been known for their smooth operations, especially on larger models like the RX or LX. However, the Lexus LC 500 doesn’t sacrifice comfort for a sporty driving experience. The suspension system is set up moderately so that the driver can still feel every movement connecting the wheels with the road.

In addition, the Lexus LC 500 also has good soundproofing ability under good road surface conditions and moderate driving speeds. However, when driving on bad roads or at high speeds, the noise entering the car can be quite loud, making passengers increase the volume of the entertainment system to overpower it.

Entering and exiting the car is quite convenient and not cramped. The seating position is comfortable and gives a feeling of easy control and confidence while driving. Of course, you shouldn’t expect much from the rear seat space. This coupe is almost exclusively for 2 passengers, and the back seat is hardly suitable even for younger passengers. It should only be used for storing luggage. Although the car’s trunk is larger than that of the Porsche 911, the design is not very user-friendly, as it is shallow and has a very small bottom.

In the Lexus LC 500 being reviewed, the car is equipped with sport seats. These seats are spacious and provide firm support, enhancing the driver’s confidence while driving. However, the backrest of the seat is too hard and there is no thigh cushion, so if you sit for a long time, you may easily get tired and uncomfortable.

The interior space of the car, although luxurious, lacks useful storage compartments that can fit a smartphone, an essential item for today’s passengers.

The design of the Lexus LC 500 provides a panoramic view for the driver. However, the long hood and the rounded front end make it difficult for the driver to gauge the surrounding space, especially when parking or on narrow roads.

On the other hand, the rear view from the Lexus LC 500 is quite limited, as is the case with most low-profile coupes. However, the blind-spot warning system is a very useful aid for the driver when changing lanes or overtaking.

Another not-so-pleasant experience is with the infotainment system in the Lexus LC 500. The touchpad is difficult to use, the interface is not user-friendly, and adjusting it while driving requires a lot of attention and distraction from the road.

This interface seems outdated when compared to current competitors or even recent Lexus models. On the other hand, the car’s infotainment system can recognize voice commands and respond effectively to basic commands such as adjusting sound, navigation, and controlling the air conditioning system.

In terms of technology, the Lexus LC 500 has a basic level of driver assistance features compared to luxury models of 2022 such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane departure warning. The blind-spot warning system and rearview camera work effectively, but having a 360-degree camera would be even better.

In conclusion, the Lexus LC 500 is an incredibly stylish sports coupe with impressive design, luxurious interior space, and smooth performance. Although the car lacks impressive power or the ability to accelerate quickly like its European counterparts, the V8 engine still provides a sense of joy and luxury in driving the LC 500.

Of course, Lexus engineers still have a lot of work to do to make the LC 500 even more appealing and enticing to affluent buyers. This includes improving and upgrading the entire infotainment system of the car, from the touchpad hardware to the software interface.

Phan Anh (Tuoitrethudo)

Source: Edmunds.com