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2008 Lexus LS 460 Performance Review

July 28, 2008

PERFORMANCE | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Allows its stability-control system to completely [turn] off
Autoblog

380 horses' worth of smooth, even, and seemingly inexhaustible power
Automobile

Worse-than-expected acceleration times
Car and Driver

The 2008 Lexus LS 460 and Lexus's 2008 LS 460 L get plenty of giddyap from their V-8 engines, but reviews read by TheCarConnection.com featured mixed impressions of the transmission and handling.

Under the hood of the 2008 Lexus LS 460 is a 380-hp engine that Automobile notes is "the first all-new V-8 engine" in the Lexus brand history. Car and Driver also writes that the "aluminum" engine "displaces 4.6 liters" and "torque increases 55 pound-feet to 367" versus the older version of the LS 460. Automobile finds the engine on this Lexus 2008 model provides "smooth, even, and seemingly inexhaustible power," a sentiment echoed by Cars.com, which notes that "acceleration is rather astonishing." Overall, Edmunds feels that acceleration performance is "on par with its peers," and the 2008 Lexus LS 460 can "hit 60 mph in a swift 5.8 seconds."

One of the main reasons for the 2008 Lexus LS 460's impressive acceleration, especially on the highway, is the world's first eight-speed automatic transmission on the car. Cars.com approves of the transmission, saying that "gear changes are barely perceptible under most driving conditions." However, while Car and Driver claims that the "LS jumps off the line," they note that "a not-quite-short-enough first gear led to worse-than-expected acceleration times." Aside from acceleration benefits in some situations, Motor Trend points out that the transmission offers "near CVT-like performance and fuel economy," allowing this 2008 Lexus to achieve EPA fuel economy that "is expected to rise from 18/25 mpg to 19/27."

Turning and stopping are definitely not among the strong suits on this Lexus 2008 edition of the LS 460, but with such a large car, that probably shouldn't come as a surprise. ConsumerGuide finds that "the base suspension permits marked body lean, as does the air suspension's Comfort setting." Motor Trend agrees, claiming the new Lexus 2008 "heels over more in the corners than the German sedans do," although they do approve of the "natural level of effort" required to handle the steering wheel. In terms of braking, Car and Driver says they "measured a pitiful 209 feet" stopping distance from 70 mph, "30 feet longer than an LS430." While Edmunds doesn't mention stopping distances, they find that the brakes "can seem grabby in stop-and-go traffic."

Conclusion

A strong engine and an impressive eight gears help the big 2008 Lexus LS 460 move comfortably, but handling and braking are definitely not up to par with the car's European competitors.

PERFORMANCE | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:Allows its stability-control system to completely [turn] offAutoblog380 horses' worth of smooth, even, and seemingly inexhaustible powerAutomobileWorse-than-expected acceleration timesCar and Driver The 2008 Lexus LS 460 and Lexus's 2008 LS 460 L get plenty of giddyap from their V-8 engines, but reviews read by TheCarConnection.com featured mixed impressions of the transmission and handling. Under the hood of the 2008 Lexus LS 460 is a 380-hp engine that Automobile notes is "the first all-new V-8 engine" in the Lexus brand history. Car and Driver also writes that the "aluminum" engine "displaces 4.6 liters" and "torque increases 55 pound-feet to 367" versus the older version of the LS 460. Automobile finds the engine on this Lexus 2008 model provides "smooth, even, and seemingly inexhaustible power," a sentiment echoed by Cars.com, which notes that "acceleration is rather astonishing." Overall, Edmunds feels that acceleration performance is "on par with its peers," and the 2008 Lexus LS 460 can "hit 60 mph in a swift 5.8 seconds." One of the main reasons for the 2008 Lexus LS 460's impressive acceleration, especially on the highway, is the world's first eight-speed automatic transmission on the car. Cars.com approves of the transmission, saying that "gear changes are barely perceptible under most driving conditions." However, while Car and Driver claims that the "LS jumps off the line," they note that "a not-quite-short-enough first gear led to worse-than-expected acceleration times." Aside from acceleration benefits in some situations, Motor Trend points out that the transmission offers "near CVT-like performance and fuel economy," allowing this 2008 Lexus to achieve EPA fuel economy that "is expected to rise from 18/25 mpg to 19/27." Turning and stopping are definitely not among the strong suits on this Lexus 2008 edition of the LS 460, but with such a large car, that probably shouldn't come as a surprise. ConsumerGuide finds that "the base suspension permits marked body lean, as does the air suspension's Comfort setting." Motor Trend agrees, claiming the new Lexus 2008 "heels over more in the corners than the German sedans do," although they do approve of the "natural level of effort" required to handle the steering wheel. In terms of braking, Car and Driver says they "measured a pitiful 209 feet" stopping distance from 70 mph, "30 feet longer than an LS430." While Edmunds doesn't mention stopping distances, they find that the brakes "can seem grabby in stop-and-go traffic." ConclusionA strong engine and an impressive eight gears help the big 2008 Lexus LS 460 move comfortably, but handling and braking are definitely not up to par with the car's European competitors.  2008 LEXUS LS 460 STYLING | [7 out of 10] Automobile: "every surface is polished to a deep, lustrous finish" Cars.com: "The dash isn't as clean as a BMW's " Edmunds: "Electroluminescent gauges are handsome and easily read" Lexus introduced a completely new LS model, the LS 460, in ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The LS 460 is significantly cheaper than the 7-Series or S-Class. All-wheel drive is available in the S-Class and comes standard in the A8 but is not available in either the 7-Series or LS 460. The LS 460 has a straightforward instrument panel layout, without the use of a centralized, screen-driven interface like BMW's iDrive, which some drivers will appreciate. Each of these competitors has distinct designs inside (and outside) that arguably feel more lavish than the LS 460's simpler, more conservative style. Additionally, each rival offers high-performance variants, including the S8, the Alpina B7, and the S63 and S63 AMG, which the LS does not have. And instead of a V-12 flagship, as these three European sedans have, the LS has a gasoline-electric flagship called the LS 600h L.

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See the Lexus LS 460 in Other Years:

2009 | 2008 | 2007

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