A Closer Look at the 2020 LS500h

Car - Front

The LS500 series is Lexus's top of the line flagship. This fifth-generation model was introduced in 2018 and has no significant changes for this 2020 version. There are two choices offered, the model 500 powered by a turbocharged V-6 engine, and what we have here the 500h hybrid. This breaks tradition, as most hybrid vehicles are usually based on compact platforms to obtain maximum fuel economy numbers. At over 17 feet long and 6 feet wide, this barge is hardly a compact! However, the fuel economy figures in city commuting are impressive and can allow the driver to enjoy a large luxury car without the guilt of being a gas guzzler. 

Text and photos by Chad Haire

Engine

Under the hood of a 500h is a 3.5-liter engine attached to two electric motors, producing a total output of 354 horsepower. A transmission is a CVT unit. Claimed fuel economy is 25 mpg city, 33 highway, and 28 overall. This compares to the non-hybrid engine in the LS500 which also uses a 3.5 liter V-6, but it is turbocharged and rated at 416 horsepower and uses a 10-speed automatic transmission. As expected, gas mileage is rated less, at 19 mpg city, 30 highway, and 23 overall. In over 500 miles of driving, we observed 26/27 mpg in both city driving and mixed commuting in the 500h hybrid. This compares to 15/18 in the non-hybrid 500 V-6 turbo.

If you drive in these conditions, this will save about $3K in fuel costs over 50K miles. If you are using this car like a limo rental, this could be an advantage. At the track, the 0-60 mph time of the hybrid was slightly slower than the non-hybrid at 6.7 seconds vs. 5.5 seconds. But on the street, the hybrid is no slouch, thanks to the torque of the battery/electric output. At low speeds, there is plenty of grunt, and passing ability is there. This improves if the driver livens it up by choosing the sport/sport+ modes of operation. Yes, this is a hybrid, but it's not your mom's Toyota Prius! 

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Drive Mode Control

This is one of the more important controls issued. It has six modes of operation: Eco, Comfort, Normal, Custom, Sport, and Sport+. For commuting on rough city streets, the comfort setting is very plush, but a bit too soft for high-speed highway driving. For that, the sport choice works better, as it provides far superior stability without losing much ride comfort. Using the Sport+ puts some life into the beast, but this will suck up more fuel, defeating the purpose of driving an economical hybrid. 

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Touch Pad

Many Lexus vehicles operate their infotainment system with a simple stick, but here we get a finger touchpad. It is easy to use sitting still, but mastering it while in motion will take some practice. Above is a menu button to bring up eight different programs operated by the pad. Below is a button that will raise/lower a rear window sunshade. On the far left is a button for the air suspension, which can raise/lower the vehicle height as well. Next to that is an EV operation control. 

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Menu Screen

Once the menu button is pressed, the touch pad has eight programs to choose: Destination, Audio, Phone, Apps, Projection, Info, Setup, and Climate. The screen is large, which comes in handy when viewing the navigation mode. This car also had the optional Mark Levinson 23-speaker 2,400 watt sound system that will come in handy when you visit the next tailgate party and blow everyone away. At $1,940 extra, it is worth the extra coin. 

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Camera

The camera system is top-notch. The picture is large and clear, even in the dark. There is also a 360-degree scan to provide a complete surrounding view. This is an asset to such a large car. 

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Interior Trim

This particular car had the optional "Executive Package". This includes Kiriko glass door trim, quilted stitch leather trim, a 28-way power seat, suede headliner, heated rear seats, four-zone climate system, power side sunshades, rear touch screen controller, power massage rear seats, and more. This setup certainly improved the cabin appearance, and that this cost it should, a tidy $23,080 extra. No, that is not a misprint. Twenty-Three grand! This makes the $2K extra for the upgraded stereo look cheap! This is what that Kiriko glass and quilted stitch leather trim looks like. If the appearance does not impress your friends, tell them the price tag. 

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Massage Controls

The rear touch screen controller of the Executive Package has a large 7-inch screen. It operates the controls of the rear massage seats. There are also touch buttons for Audio, Climate, Seat Temperature, Sunshades, Lamp, and other settings. There is no ejection seat for your mother in law, but the massage programs will put her in a better mood. 

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Optional Wheels

The LS500h comes with 19-inch wheels and run-flat tires. These are the optional 20-inch split-spoke forged alloy wheels. They certainly add to the appearance of the car, but provide a slightly stiffer ride. Putting the suspension in the comfort mode will keep the ride soft. These wheels are $2,450 more. 

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POV Driving

The combination of smooth ride and low wind noise makes the LS500h a fantastic highway cruiser. Placing it in the Sport mode improves high-speed stability in crosswinds. Add to this comfortable seats, powerful sound system, and good fuel economy, this is just right for your next interstate trip. We put 525 miles on the clock and still had fuel in the tank, so the cruising range in impressive too. 

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Price Sheet

The base price of the LS500h is $79,980. As can be seen, the total tab can skyrocket with all the options, which in this case is $116,495. This can be reduced by not ordering that expensive Executive Package, but driving a Lexus should never be cheap. 

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Hybrid Emblem

Whether the buyer chooses the LS500 V-6 turbo, or the LS500h hybrid, both are nice luxurious vehicles that are a pleasure to drive. If the latter is picked, at least you can drive a gas saver in style. 

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