Lexus LS460 Attractiveness: How Does it Stack Up in Comparison to Other Models?
Previous generation Lexus LS460 sparks passionate discussion among community due to its pre and post refresh looks and features.
When it comes to automotive styling, people like what they like. There’s really no metric or standard as to what exactly ignites the passion of most people. And for the most part, Lexus existed as a brand that created relative styling successes without controversy. The Lexus LS460 straddled two significant eras in the brand’s design history.
Lexus “grew up” and decided to dramatically alter their styling. Some people aren’t fans of what they did. And that’s okay! A recent thread titled “Gosh, the ’13+ has aged well…” created by “AJT123” reflected the divisive sentiments around the modern Lexus aesthetic. Essentially, the debate boiled down to how people felt about Lexus switching over to more aggressive front ends in the early 2010s. But it soon proliferated and grew into an all-encompassing discussion about all things Lexus. Fortunately, things are pretty cordial and everyone seems game for some lively debate.
OP initiated the thread to express his love for the previous generation LS460:
I never disliked it at all but it seemed a tad busy to me at first.
Now I gawk at every late 460 I see.
I think the spindle looks mean and the car has serious presence.
Also, it’s way more attractive than the LS500 in my eyes.
In an effort to appeal to a younger audience, Lexus began outfitting their vehicles with much more aggressive-looking grilles. This phenomenon started in the early 2010s and continues to the present day. That move turned off a number of enthusiasts, who felt the look was a bit much. That definitely explains why “Fwhomeboy” replied the way he did:
I just don’t like the PREDATOR nose.
Using the extraterrestrial antagonist of the 1987 science fiction film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger to criticize a modern automotive front end is a fairly common tactic among enthusiasts. After all, the alien did have a very distinctive mouth opening, just like the grilles on so many vehicles. And it’s not an entirely unjustified critique either. The aesthetic change was bound to ignite debate. Additionally, there’s room for nuance in the debate too. OP demonstrated as such when he followed up:
Oh I do. It’s perfect without being over the top. (like the newest spindles)
Many people will try to be as rational as possible when buying a car. But the truth is it can never be an emotionless affair. That’s why vehicular styling prompts so many discussions. Forum member “Tanorway” voted with his wallet and opted for a white LS600HL. As a result, he experienced more compliments on the styling than his older vehicle, prompting him to conclude that the grille looked too aggressive on darker color models:
Agree. After I changed my car color from black to white, people are like “heeey nice new car”
Overall, a diverse amount of opinions surfaced about how people feel about 21st century Lexus styling, among other things. Later on in the thread things got a bit more complex. Debates about styling morphed into opinions on the entire LS lineup. OP stayed in the game and has been active in the thread, which is somewhat rare. But he had more to say about Lexus circa 2010:
Nobody is knocking the ’10-’12+, either. Or the ’07-’09. They’re all great cars. But Lexus went cheap with the interior until 2013, it was unacceptable to me personally. I could spend an hour listing examples. That ugly grey metal looking plastic by the vents is one.
That reply prompted the thread to switch gears into talking about Lexus quality. Basically, not everyone agreed if Lexus cut corners with later models. But people chimed in with their thoughts on the matter. One such person was “Mikesrx350.” He definitely doesn’t like the LS430, at least when it’s compared to the newer LS460:
AJT, I owned a ls430 and a 460 and only ones man opinion but I enjoyed my 430 but it is worlds antiquated and not as comfortable as the ls460.. I loved my 430 5 speed auto with that motor, but interior to interior its night and day with the new gen.
And the wood in the 430 is from a Sopranos episode, not in my taste going into 2020
Beyond debating Lexus quality, the thread also delved into hybrid battery reliability and the metrics for determining when a vehicle becomes problematic. A discussion about the merits of touch screens also surfaced. “Jrmckinley” isn’t a fan of vehicles with a separate joy stick or touch pad interface:
Still a struggle for me to adapt to it. A few of my buddies have newer GS’s (I’d say 2016-2018) and I assume those are using the same track pad as the LS (??) – I just don’t like it and find it hard and sometimes overly sensitive. Also any time I have been given a loaner from Lexus with a RX or ES that uses it, I realize how much I dislike it. I not only dislike the trackpad/mouse, but also find the actual interface of the infotainment incredibly non-intuitive and unnecessarily complex.
The ride quality of the LS is unmatched by anything else I’d consider (other than a pre-owned S class), but that infotainment setup kept me away from a 2013+ before and it may keep me away again.
As it stands right now, the thread is mired in debating the legitimacy of quality complaints surrounding the older LS models. Ultimately, it is an incredibly diverse thread that will no doubt continue to host lively discussions about seemingly everything related to Lexus. Don’t hesitate to jump in and contribute to the thread, as it is a very accommodating discussion.
Photos: Lexus, Club Lexus Forums
