The Lexus LS 500 FSport AWD

The Lexus LS 500 FSport AWD is one of those cars that perform perfectly without a fuss. They are luxurious, detailed, silent and superb. But is that enough these days? Napleton News recently had a go in the Lexus flagship recently and came away impressed. But that’s not to say we were satiated. Read on to find out what we mean.

What about the Lexus LS 500 FSport AWD?

The Lexus LS 500 FSport AWD is a large luxury sedan from Lexus, which is the high-zoot division of Toyota. It’s a four-door, five passenger sedan that does just about everything right. But more about that later.

The LS 500 FSport AWD is available in three trim levels with two engine choices. The LS 500 is the standard model, while the LS 500h (Hybrid) is the headliner. It features a 3.5-liter V6 with dual electric motors for a total of 354 horsepower. Our tester is the mid-range LS 500 FSport that offers an attempt at (perceived) sportiness. It’s muscular, alright, but is it sporty? How does 416 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque from a 3.4-liter twin turbocharged V6 sound?

The normal LS and LS FSport models connect to rear or all-wheel drive powertrains with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The LS 500h features a specific 10-speed designed for the hybrid powertrain.

Is the FSport Sporty?

It definitely looks sportier. It features nicely bolstered seats, red accented leather, a revised suspension, and sporty FSport badging around the car. Sadly, though, it’s no sportier than the standard LS because it has no more power than that model. Yup. They both make 416 hp. That’s not slouchy but at a point you have to weigh what’s more important in your large sedan: Comfort or performance?

On the other hand, years ago, Lexus has the IS 500 FSport performance sports sedan. It truly was a high-performance vehicle with a 472 horsepower V8, special suspension, sport seats and more. Sadly, it is smaller and the LS models do not offer V8 engines.

How does the LS 500 FSport look?

Start up front with the Lexus spindle grille. Scan your eyes down the long slippery nose leading up to the aerodynamic sweepback of the acoustic windshield. Over the fastback greenhouse the roofline leads to a short deck that hides a surprisingly large trunk.

Boomerang daylight running lights flank the grille and chrome brightwork circle the side windows. They all do their part to add a certain sparkle to the overall package. There are cameras located everywhere on the LS FSport. We just hope the forward pointing lenses can be used for front facing cameras to record bizarreness on the street ahead of you. Because you never know and can never be too careful.

Inside the LS 500

The interior of the new LS FSport is the most luxurious portion of the vehicle. And boy, is it. A pair of red and black leather-covered thrones await the driver and front seat passenger. Seatbacks are bolstered more than the standard LS models and will keep you in place should you decide to perform some corner cutting maneuvers.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel offered heating for those cold Florida mornings (As if) and, when coupled with the paddle shift levers, allowed you to channel your inner F1 self. A 12.3-inch display screen offered configurable gauge displays. Over the center console was another which offered the typical technology found in cars of this stature.

That means audio from the available 23-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Audio system, navigation, smartphone connectivity and more. Oh! The most exciting news of all: Lexus has removed the touchpad controller from the center console. Those days of distracted driving are gladly gone.

And if you’re ready to lux out, check out the executive seating package with leg cushions and more. But then you’ll end up never wanting to leave the backseat, anyway.

Behind the wheel of the LS 500 FSport

Even though sport is part of the name of this Lexus, let’s call the LS 500 for what it really is. It’s a luxury car, plain and simple. The engine does not leave a thump, thump, thump in the rear as it drives away. In fact, it’s more soft and silky smooth than anything else. If you need to pass someone in anger, though, stomp on the skinny pedal for a satisfying rush that will soothe the heart of most gear heads.

But let’s get serious. The LS 500 FSport AWD is not a high-performance sports car. It does everything well, as we would expect for a vehicle pushing 90-large. But think of it as a sporty-looking luxury car, rather than a luxurious looking sporty car.

2023 Lexus LS 500 FSport AWD Specifications

	2023 Lexus LS 500 Fsport AWD Specifications
Engine Type	3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6
Horsepower	416 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque	442 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission	10-speed automatic transmission
Fuel Economy	21 mpg (17 city/27 hwy)
Suspension F/R	Multilink/Multilink
Turning Circle	39.4 ft.
Also Available	3.5-liter V6 gas/electric hybrid engine
Specs
Warranty	4 years/50,000 miles
Powertrain Warranty	6 years/70,000 miles
NHTSA Safety Rating	Not Rated
Max Seating Capacity	5
Wheelbase	123.0 inches
Overall Length	206.1 inches
Width	74.8 inches
Height	57.5 inches
Headroom, Front	37.3 inches
Legroom, Front	41.0 inches
Headroom, Rear	37.3 inches
Legroom, Rear	38.9 inches
Shoulder Room, Front	58.8 inches
Shoulder, Rear	56.4 inches
Cargo Space	16.9 cubic feet