‘Car and Driver’ Loves the Lexus LC500
Despite C&D‘s Devotion, However, Iconic Auto Publication Is Far-Less Thrilled with the Lexus Hybrid LC500h
As the reviews for the new 2018 Lexus LC500 keep rolling in, one thing is becoming very obvious: We neeeeeed to drive one of these things!
The latest words of praise come from the wordsmiths over at Car and Driver. If you’ve been reading the other reviews floating around, then a lot of what C&D says will sound like an echo. The 5.0-liter V8 in the LC500 receives high marks across the board, for its plentiful power, quick response and glorious exhaust note. And the 10-speed transmission was lauded for its quick shifts. Other strong points for the Lexus LC500 include superb steering feel; a suspension that is the perfect combination of sporty and comfortable; and a style that is easily one of the most attractive in its class.
The car isn’t perfect, however. Steering feel may be great, but thanks to an aggressive adaptive system, Car and Driver feels the car behaves strangely at the limit. The LC500 is also called out for being a bit portly. With a weight well over two-tons, the Lexus LC 500 is one of the heavier cars in the segment, and that translates to dulled speed and performance.
Other complaints are leveled directly at the hybrid LC 500h. With dramatically-less horsepower and an ancient four-speed automatic transmission behind it, the hybrid drivetrain lets the LC down. It becomes a tale of far more “show” with very little “go” to back it up. The engine noise is also far-less appealing, with the Atkinson-cycle V6 thrumming away under the hood. At least the hybrid maintains the same suspension setup, so it can still dispatch with the twisty bits of the road with competence. It is also worth mentioning that the Lexus LC500 does have four seats, but the two rear thrones are about as useless as the minuscule trunk.
If you need to know more of the gritty details from Car and Driver’s first drive, feel free to read their full review. Otherwise, just check out their massive gallery of photos, then let us know what you think.
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Via [Car and Driver]
