2022 Lexus LS
Overview
Lexus’ flagship LS 500 returns to the luxury auto scene for model year 2022. This exquisite four-door sedan remains a prominent force in its class and continues to earn accolades with its rich interior appointments, dramatic good looks, and exceptional performance. For 2022, the base LS 500 is now eligible for a deluxe Mark Levinson audio system, and the Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 suite has been made standard. Furthermore, special hand-applied Haku door ornamentation is now offered on models with either the Luxury or Executive packages.
Trims and Performance
Two trims are offered for the 2022 LS 500: the Base and F Sport. They both have a 3.5-liter V6 engine that stirs a heart-thumping 416 horsepower and 442 lb.-ft. of torque. A 10-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters completes the powertrain; rear-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is optional. Despite the LS 500’s status as a potent powerhouse, it’s actually quite fuel efficient. With FWD, this full-sized sedan returns 18 mpg around town and 29 mpg on the highway; with AWD, it achieves 17 city/27 highway. If speed is more your concern, you’ll be pleased to know that the ’22 LS 500 can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 4.6 seconds.
Choice Amenities
The Base trim’s adaptive triple-beam headlights use bright LED bulbs, and its side mirrors have a convenient auto-dimming feature along with integrated puddle lights. This trim also has an adaptive variable suspension, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a hands-free trunk, striking dark silver 19-inch wheels, and an advanced keyless entry system known as Smart Entry, which lets you lock, unlock, and start the vehicle without using the key fob. The interior pampers its occupants with a power moonroof, heated and ventilated front seats with power adjustments, a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, active sound control and noise cancellation technology, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a power rear sunshade. Even more features are included in conjunction with the optional AWD: a Torsen limited-slip differential, a windshield wiper de-icer, and headlight washers.
The F Sport changes up its exterior with a few sportier touches, and it adds a sport-tuned suspension, dark chrome 20-inch wheels wrapped in summer performance tires (RWD only), power front seatbelt buckles, perforated leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, performance instrumentation with a sliding bezel, aluminum sport pedals, a svelte suede headliner, and heated rear outboard seats. The AWD version also gets the Torsen differential, but it lacks the windshield wiper de-icer and headlight washers.
Packages
Lexus offers some significant optional bundles to take your LS 500 to the next level. The Interior Upgrade Package for the Base trim supplies quilted and perforated semi-aniline leather interior trim, a massaging driver’s seat with a leg cushion extender, heated rear seats, a suede headliner and sun visors, power front seatbelt buckles, and wood interior trim. The Luxury Package provides most of those items, along with a semi-aniline leather-trimmed rear armrest with a 7-inch touchscreen controller, remote adjustment for the front passenger’s seat, power side-window sunshades, reclining outboard seats with memory, a passenger-seat power cushion extender, and rear seat-cushion airbags.
The Executive Package is the third package on offer. It contains most of the contents from the Luxury Package, in addition to power-retractable butterfly headrests, a right-rear power recliner with a sliding ottoman and massager, and power-adjustable rear seats with position memory, massage capability, heating, and butterfly headrests. A variation of the Executive Package is offered with special Kiriko glass trim.
For the F Sport, the Dynamic Handling Package will issue variable gear ratio steering, active stabilizers, and active rear steering, which can turn the rear wheels of the vehicle for enhanced cornering. For both trims, the Cold Weather Package is offered to deliver a windshield wiper de-icer, a fast-response interior heater, and headlight washers. If the Cold Weather Package is ordered along with both the Luxury and Executive packages, it will get a bonus: a four-zone Climate Concierge with heated/ventilated front and rear seats.
The final package (available on both trims) is called Lexus Safety System+ A. It adds all-speed dynamic radar cruise control with lane change assist, front cross-traffic alert, a pre-collision system with intersection support, a head-up display, and pedestrian alert. Some of those features can be ordered on their own. Other singular add-ons not mentioned above include an adaptive suspension with rapid height adjustment, high-gloss wheels, premium wood interior trim, a 24-inch head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, a surround-view camera system, a 23-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, a power lift-up buckle, and bespoke Haku door trim.
Technology and Safety
Both trims come with the confidence inspiring Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 suite, which includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane tracing assist, lane departure alert with steering assist, road sign assist, all-speed dynamic radar cruise control, and automatic high beams. Not only that, but a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert and active parking assist with automatic braking are also standard.
The ’22 LS 500’s infotainment system suits this vehicle segment, as both trims get a 12.3-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation, voice recognition, Bluetooth (for hands-free calls and audio streaming), Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, a premium 12-speaker sound system, and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot.