The LS 400 offers as satisfying and sophisticated a blend of performance and comfort as any car in the world. It won't outdo the Mercedes E-Class or BMW 5-Series cars on a winding Alpine road, but the LS 400 is still quite capable. What the Lexus does superbly, though, is most evident in everyday driving.
First, the LS 400 is supremely quiet. Likening the silence inside the LS 400 to a cathedral is the most overworked metaphor in car reviews, and this car is the source of the metaphor. Wind and road noise are virtually nonexistent, even at high freeway speeds.
It has rear-wheel drive, just as you'll find on the German sports sedans. When it comes to absolute handling on dry pavement, rear-wheel-drive is still the best. And its four-wheel independent suspension is as sophisticated as anyone's. It's even more sophisticated with the optional ($1850) air suspension system, which automatically adjusts ride firmness to driving conditions. But our test car's more conventional steel spring setup served very well indeed.
This car doesn't bounce on washboard roads or wallow through sharp corners, and turns the worst of surfaces into a few minor bumps. We found ourselves on a winter-battered highway, a semi-truck on either side of us and a pothole the size of New Jersey right ahead. We clenched our teeth. The LS 400 flew over the crater with barely a thump.
The 4.0-liter 32-valve aluminum V8 develops 265 horsepower, plenty to get the LS 400 moving away from stoplights, going from 0-to-60 mph in a very respectable 7.1 seconds. Its top speed is 149 mph.
The four-speed automatic transmission changes gears without the slightest hesitation or jerk. It's a coddling performance that leaves you in awe of Toyota's enginering prowess.
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