Day-by-Day Review: 2010 Lexus LS600h L

Photo Gallery:
2010 Lexus LS600h L

Click Image to Enlarge

Last week’s tester, the Lincoln MKT, was all about the luxury — or so I and everyone else thought. Folks, it doesn’t get much more luxurious than this week’s tester (save for the exotics): this week I am behind the wheel of Lexus’ luxury hybrid flagship model, the 2010 LS 600h L.

Starting at $119,950 the LS600h L is available in only two trims, the base model at the above-mentioned price or one can opt for the Executive Package (the premium package was dropped for 2010). The Executive package bumps the price by a compact car’s-worth $24,050, for an as tested price of $144,000 before taxes freight and delivery.

Click Image to Enlarge

But hey, you get a lot of car for $144,000, as you may expect. I won’t bother listing the basics – if you can think of it, it probably has it. Things that are unique include: LED headlamps, an ottoman for the right rear passenger seat, infrared body-heat climate control system with four automatic zones, heated and cooled seats all around, rear DVD entertainment system, 19-speaker Mark Levinson reference surround sound system… I could go on for days.

Let’s not forget this is a hybrid, so despite its being a little excessive in most regards, at least it attempts to redeem itself with a hybrid drive system. With a 5.0-litre V8 engine at the core powering an all-wheel drive system that is aided by electric motors, the Lexus LS600h L is rated at 438hp and 385lb-ft of torque.

Many will scoff as the big Lexus manages to put the power down through an electronically-controlled CVT transmission but with my limited time behind the wheel so far I have to say this is the best CVT, nay, best automatic transmission I have ever experienced.

And, of course, one cannot forget to mention — this Lexus parks itself as well!

2010 Lexus LS600h L
MSRP as tested (excluding destination): $144,000

For more information on Lexus and the LS600h L visit Lexus Canada

Day 2

Click Image to Enlarge

Where to start? I’m not 100 per cent certain if potential owners or purchasers of the LS600h would be more interested in the driver’s seat or the right rear passenger seat, the latter of which provides more creature comforts than a first-class ticket on an intercontinental flight. I will start at the front, though, just because that is always where I start. Despite perhaps not being as exciting as the rear, the front is still special and the first obvious sign is the LCD gauge cluster that greats you with the L-finesse silhouette of the LS600h.

Besides having more buttons, though, the front seating and console are not that much different than in less-expensive Lexus models. Leg and hip room are certainly greater, as one would expect, and the 16-way adjustable driver’s seat allows for near infinite control over driving comfort when combined with the power steering column. All the information the driver requires is displayed on the LCD panel, including road and engine speed, fuel consumption, hybrid drive system information, trip computer and navigation information when a destination is set.

Click Image to Enlarge

Is the front seat comfortable? You bet, with loads of leg and arm space and soft leather elbow padding and heating and cooling functions, there is no place better to be — except perhaps for that right rear seat.

The rear is where the Lexus LS600h L becomes a car like no other you have seen. Both rear seats are heated and cooled as well as having automatic climate controls for a total of four zones. The right rear seat is special because it adds an integrated ottoman so you can literally put your legs up on while being chauffeured about.

But it doesn’t end there. Open the rear console bin and you reveal controls for a rear entertainment system which includes wireless headsets. You also have control of the main audio system from the rear but “la piece de resistance” is the shiatsu massage control that kneads your back as you motor down the highway.

The left rear passenger gets a vibrating massage too, but unfortunately, not a recliner. They still can sit in luxury, though, with plenty of leg room to stretch their legs behind my driving position.

The rest of the interior is equally impressive, with speakers above the rear seats, vanity mirrors, dampened and soft touch buttons everywhere — this is one car where, when the passenger calls “shot-gun,” they really mean “back-seat!”

Day 3

Click Image to Enlarge

The Lincoln MKT I drove last week parked itself, and the Lexus LS600h L I’m testing this week does the same. The difference is the Ford system only could do parallel parking while the Lexus’ can do regular “parking lot” parking as well. The Ford system is easier to use, though, while the Lexus system has limitations and is more complex; the winner here is the Ford system, and hopefully Lexus simplifies its self-park setup.

But you do not buy a car like this because it can park itself, you buy it to drive or to ride in, probably on longer journeys and on the highway. The highway is really where the LS600h L shines as you soak up the miles in comfort. Travelling 60km/h or 120km/h, the noises heard inside the cars are identical — there simply is no road or wind noise.

Click Image to Enlarge

At 120km/h the engine turns a paltry 1,100 rpm, barely enough to keep it idling. In the city, once the car is warmed up you can sneak along easily on battery only and achieve excellent fuel consumption in this rather large and heavy sedan with a 5.0-litre V8!

There are three available suspension settings: normal, comfort and sport. I have been leaving the vehicle in comfort for the most part. A quick switch to sport proved to me that the suspension became stiffer and potholes and cracks in the road were felt, while in comfort mode, which feels slightly softer than normal mode, those same manhole covers I ran over in sport mode seemed to disappear — the suspension is one of the softest I have ever enjoyed.

Acceleration and braking in this big sedan are achieved much like everything else is done in this vehicle — with zero drama. None of the quirks from less expensive hybrids exist in this vehicle. The engine starts and stops unbeknownst to the driver or passengers and the braking system feels “normal” with no way to discern regenerative braking from friction-based braking.

No drama certainly is the name of the game here: mash the accelerator to the floor (which by the way is hinged at the bottom so it cannot get stuck on a mat) and the LS600h L just marches forward, no jerky downshift and surges of noise and power, just smooth push-you-back-in-your-seat acceleration as you watch the speedo swing around the dial and a little touch of V8 roar soothes your senses.

Day 4

Click Image to Enlarge

It is not sporty, but it doesn’t claim to be and nor does it try to be. Instead, the Lexus LS600h L defines luxury and, with Toyota’s hybrid system, allows owners to save a little money at the pumps — perhaps to pay for valet tips.

On the highway, I averaged approximately 9 L/100km but as I drove more and more in the city my average for the week crept up to 11L/100km — still a great showing for a heavy AWD sedan powered by a 5.0-litre V8 engine.

Summer weather should improve mileage considerably, as short trips in the winter do not allow the engine to warm up enough to rely on the electric assist. On longer journeys engine shutdown occurred often and electric-only driving was ample.

Competitors for this big Lexus include the Mercedes-Benz S-class, which compares very favourably, as well as the BMW 7 Series and Audi A8L sedans, which are more sporting in nature. All are large sedans I would not mind having in my collection!

*Rating out of 5: