The Lexus LS 430 is one of the most livable giant luxury cars you can live with. It transports its occupants in ideal comfort. Its ride is elegant and silky. It handles well, with effortless guidance and grip. Its rugged V8 offers forged functionality and is paired with a sleek six-speed automatic transmission.
The interior offers a charming driving environment with rich wood accents and very comfortable leather upholstery, seats so comfortable you’ll never think about it, and controls that are a style of ergonomic excellence. All the handy features are provided, and for the most part, those features are easy to use. By all accounts, the LS 430 is the no-fuss luxury car. It may not have the prestige of European cars, but it’s much less difficult to use than the BMW 7 Series and is more modern than the aging Mercedes S-Class.
Safety is state-of-the-art. Every LS 430 comes with no less than eight airbags, plus seatbelts with pre-tensioners. Its headlights swivel to help drivers see around corners. An optional Pre-Collision Safety System actually anticipates accidents, preemptively tightening the front seat belts and pre-arming the Brake Assist. Also optional are a backup camera for seeing what’s behind you, and Dynamic Laser Cruise Control that maintains a set following distance from the car ahead. Other high-tech options like Bluetooth and SmartAccess allow you to unlock the doors, start the car, drive off, and make hands-free phone calls without even pulling your key or your cell phone out of your pocket or purse.
The LS replaced luxury car ownership regulations when it was first launched, combining quality, technology, reliability, and the right brokerage service, and it continues today. Lexus has been the highest-ranked logo in J. D. ‘s reliability study. Power and Associates for more than a decade; Based on owner surveys, the study named the LS 430 as the least troubled vehicle in its class after three years of ownership. The LS 430 is also a perennial leader in the company’s Initial Quality Study, which surveys buyers after 90 days of ownership.
The 2006 Lexus LS 430 comes in just one trim point ($56,525) and is packed with luxury and convenience features. Among them: a forced sunroof with automatic opening and closing, a forced rear sunshade and illuminated rearview mirrors. Of course, leather upholstery is standard.
However, there are several leather upgrades available, such as Ecru ($1,460), Black Semi-Aniline ($2,100), and Saddle Comfort Nappa ($2,100); All 3 require the purchase of an additional upgrade pack, and Saddle Comfort Nappa is for models painted in Black Onyx or Flint Mica.
The Premium package ($1,390) adds air-conditioned front seats, heated rear seats, and intuitive sonar-based parking assist.
The Modern Luxury package ($4,980) includes a Mark Levinson audio system, navigation system, rearview camera, Bluetooth communication technology, air-conditioned front seats, heated rear seats and intuitive parking assist.
The Custom Luxury Selection ($5,935) includes the Mark Levinson audio, navigation system, rear backup camera, Bluetooth, Dynamic Laser Cruise Control, Intuitive Parking Assist, climate-controlled front seats, rear seat heaters, headlamp washers, and power door closers.
The Ultra Luxury variety ($11,320) includes all of that, plus an adaptive variable air suspension, SmartAccess keyless entry and start, and a host of rear-seat passenger amenities including: rear passenger door sunshades, rear-seat adjuster with memory, Weather System. -Massage-controlled rear seats serve as rear air conditioning with optical air freshener. The Custom Luxury and Ultra Luxury packages can be combined with the pre-collision safety system, in which case the dynamic radar cruise control replaces the laser system.
The Sport package ($220) combines a handling-optimized suspension with 18-inch wheels and summer tires. The same package with chrome wheels costs a bit more ($1,920).
The LS 430 comes with a 4. 3-liter aluminum V8 with 278 horsepower and a six-speed automatic transmission. (The same engine made 290 horsepower last year, which might lead some consumers to wonder how Lexus let those 12 horsepower slip away. What happened was that the Society of Automotive Engineers, or SAE, revised its force and torque testing procedures, and so some of the numbers have declined this year. So, in fact, all the ponies are still in the barn; But the Racing Commission counts them differently. There’s no replacement in functionality for last year’s styling, as it’s the same. )
Passive protection features come with seat-mounted side airbags (for torso protection), rear curtain side airbags (for head protection), and knee airbags, in addition to federally mandated dual frontal airbags. The most important are seat belts, which have pretensioners. force limiters and retractors; Be sure to use them, as they are the first line of defense in the event of a collision. The optional pre-collision system uses radar to detect obstacles in front of the car and, if it determines that a twist of fate is unavoidable, it can preemptively fasten the driver’s and front passenger’s seat belts, which can reduce injuries. The formula also prepressurizes brake assist which, once the driver applies the brakes, automatically applies increased braking force to reduce collision speed.
The Lexus LS 430 is an attractive luxury sedan that makes a very extensive luxury statement. However, it doesn’t attract attention and tends to go unnoticed, especially in spaces frequented by luxury cars.
That said, the Lexus flagship is long, low, sleek, and shapely. It has a discreet and attractive profile. Its gigantic passenger cabin and generous greenhouse are sandwiched between the long bonnet and short aft deck. Its sloping windshield and sublime A-pillars are highlighted through the sloping backlight (rear window) and the thick, curvaceous C-pillars that blend seamlessly with the rear. The flanks. The ambitious trapezoidal grille protrudes forward, while the bonnet swells up hard. The grille is lined with glossy details. The short, horizontal platform leads to a vertical rear panel with oversized lights in the corners, camouflaging the trunk mass. LED brake lights are brighter, turn on faster, last longer, and consume less force than classic brake lights, and they also look stylish. Dual exhaust pipes protruding from the lower edge of the bumper give an appearance of strength and performance.
One of the most aerodynamic vehicles on the road, the LS 430 boasts a drag coefficient of 0. 26, 0. 25 with optional air suspension. This contributes to exceptionally low wind noise and improved fuel economy. The sleek external shape is further enhanced by the remarkable compatibility of the frame panels. While Lexus has long been known for its incredible compatibility and finish, the quality proven through the LS 430 in recent years has reached a new dimension. The engineers used a supercomputer to scan all surfaces of the frame and then developed new compatibilities. tolerances that were 10 times more accurate than even Lexus just six years ago.
The interior of the Lexus LS 430 is quiet, comfortable and luxurious. It isn’t showy, but the workmanship and attention to detail are first class.
The popular leather upholstery, called Majesty, is available in a selection of ash, cashmere, ecru and black. (Crude is only available with Custom/Ultra Luxury packages. )We found the soft colors beautiful. Black is beautiful, but no one makes it as well as BMW and Mercedes. Black semi-aniline perforated leather or Saddle Comfort Nappa leather are optional (again require a Custom or Ultra package) and enhance the sumptuous ambiance. or walnut warms the interior of the LS 430 beautifully. Some color combinations include antique walnut trim with baked edges, which is very interesting.
The seats are spacious and can be temporarily adjusted for a comfortable driving position. The driver faces an adjustable guide wheel upholstered in wood and leather with easy-to-use controls for the audio system. Indicators that emit bright light with white hands are available. The window switches are illuminated, making them easy to locate at night.
The cabin of the LS 430 is loaded with technology designed to make driving safe and pleasant and, for the most part, it does just that. The available SmartAccess system eliminates the need to use the keyless remote to open doors and obviates the need to insert a key into the ignition. Just leave the fob in your pocket or purse and you can open locked doors by pulling the handle and start the car by pressing a button. This works well for the most part, but we sometimes found ourselves fighting locked doors. The system on our car was set up so it only unlocked the driver’s door, leaving the passenger doors and the trunk locked; it can probably be programmed to unlock all the doors.
A seven-inch touchscreen at the top of the center console controls the climate control, audio and available navigation system. A set of buttons integrated into the driver’s side of the touchscreen is provided for the main climate controls (Temperature, Fan, Auto, Recirculation, Defrost). It’s easy to use. Your passenger will have no trouble locating and adjusting the temperature on their side of the cabin. And it’s pretty sophisticated. Temperature sensors located around the cabin detect hot spots where the sun sets and, in particular, direct cold air towards them. The formula also accepts voice commands. Say “68 degrees” and the formula will adjust the air conditioner accordingly.
A small demonstration above the optional navigation display shows driver and passenger temperature settings, outside ambient temperature, and weather. Directly below the navigation screen are a pair of vents that can swing back and forth.
A similar set of buttons on the right allows quick access to key navigation and audio functions. This combination of physical buttons and touchscreen controls works well, although we struggled with the navigation formula at times. At one point, I couldn’t figure out how to take the formula to a destination and choose a new one. However, the navigation formulas are improving every year and the Lexus formula is sophisticated, with about 5. 6 million data points. It even shows the footprints of buildings in Manhattan and Chicago. A little time spent in the owner’s manual (and your seller) is worth making you an expert.
A rear view camera that comes with the navigation formula can help the driver detect objects (and children) in the car. Whenever the opposite is selected, the formula automatically projects a colored symbol on the navigation screen of anything the camera lens can find in the car. Looking at this screen can help the driver detect items that may be difficult to see in the mirrors or over the shoulder. It’s a cool feature and we really like having it.
Bluetooth capability comes with the optional navigation system. When combined with a Bluetooth-equipped phone, this wi.
The Lexus LS 430 sets the benchmark for smooth ride quality. This is one smooth, quiet car, and riding in it is very pleasant. The engine is barely audible. Mechanical and road vibration is damped out. No other automaker does a better job than Lexus in creating a zone of serenity for driver and passengers.
The soft suspension and slow steering lead some to conclude the LS 430 doesn’t handle as well as European models such as the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Indeed, when pushed to the limits the big Lexus does not handle as well as the big BMW. However, the LS 430 is not a sloppy luxo-barge. In fact, the LS 430 can be driven quite hard and with confidence, whereupon it reveals lots of grip and very good handling. It responds predictably when driven to the limit of the tires in corners, though it doesn’t necessarily encourage you to do so the way a BMW does. The softness of the suspension results in squirmy transient response when compared with the BMW 745i. But the LS 430 does generate lots of grip and offers the responsiveness afforded by rear-wheel drive and double-wishbone suspension front and rear and it handles predictably. Its monotube shock absorbers were made larger and more technologically advanced for the 2004 model year, and this has resulted in flatter cornering response and a smoother ride. The steering system was improved at the same time, providing more road feel, more feedback, and more precision.
The adaptive air suspension included in the Ultra Luxury package allows drive power to transfer between two shock-absorbing modes (and increase ride height for driving in deep snow). However, the car floats a little more with the air suspension, even in Sport mode, making it feel bigger and more boat-like.
We much prefer the Sport package, which combines a sport suspension with 18-inch wheels and summer/performance tires. This improves the driving feel while maintaining a stylish and comfortable ride. While other brands offer sport suspensions that result in a harsh and choppy ride. ride, this is not one of them; Even with the game’s suspension, the LS 430 drives sleek and elegant. We highly recommend it and think it’s a wonderful deal.
To say the Lexus V8 is sleek and quiet is an understatement, and the six-speed automatic transmission shifts so gracefully it’s nearly perfect. According to new SAE calculations, the 4. 3-liter V8 makes 278 horsepower and 312 pound-feet of torque; This latter figure contributes, along with the six-speed transmission, to the LS 430’s impressive acceleration performance. Lexus claims that the LS 430 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5. 9 seconds. However, the LS 430 still gets an EPA-estimated 18/25 mpg city/highway, and it gets the benefits of its transmission’s long fifth and sixth gears. The driver can manually control the gear changes, we prefer to put it in Drive mode and let the device do its job. This works very well. The engine and transmission are designed to prioritize elegance over functionality. The advantage gained is that you get elegant and silky functionality. The problem is that it doesn’t offer the sharpness of a BMW powertrain, at the other end of the spectrum. Lexus’ electronic throttle-by-wire control formula provides smooth acceleration from the start by very slightly delaying the opening of the throttle when the driver depresses the accelerator pedal. Still, the Lexus V8 and six-speed automatic transmission do a tough job. equipment, which offers strong acceleration functionality for quick overtaking and merging onto highways. Overall, it’s a wonderful setup.
The brakes are responsive and easy to modulate for smooth stopping power. Four-channel, four-sensor ABS helps the driver maintain steering control during panic stops. Brake Assist is designed to determine if the driver is attempting emergency braking; if the driver has not stepped hard enough on the brake pedal to activate the anti-lock brake system, Brake Assist applies maximum braking pressure until pedal pressure is released. Vehicle Stability Control (VSC).
The Lexus LS 430 excels as a luxury sedan with a quiet, comfortable, and sumptuous cabin. This is a meticulously designed car that offers any and all luxury amenities imaginable, as well as some we wouldn’t have imagined. Its build quality is the most productive in the industry. Everything in its operation is elegant. Its rugged V8 and six-speed automatic transmission make it a sleek and quiet rig. Its ride is silky, its guidance is elegant and precise, its brakes allow for simple modulation for most elegant senses. If you’re looking for a premium luxury sedan that provides sleek and sumptuous navigation without the fuss, the Lexus LS 430 will be the most sensible on your list.
New Car Test Drive editor-in-chief Mitch McCullough hosted the event from Laguna Beach, California.
Lexus LS 430 ($56,525).
Tahara, Japan.
Euro-tuned Sport Suspension with 18-inch wheels ($220) includes 245/45R18 summer tires; Modern Luxury Package ($4,980) includes Mark Levinson Audio, Lexus Navigation system with rear back-up camera and Bluetooth? front climate control seats, rear seat heaters, Intuitive Parking Assist.