As soon as you step inside the 2021 LS 500, you will notice that there are a lot of features and subtle hints that remind you of the country of origin of the brand. It comes with a mixture of black and red upholstery with Kirko glass trim, which is a clear homage to Japan. To live up to its “luxury sedan” stature, Lexus fills the vehicle abundantly with quirky features and comfort creatures. These include a dual-zone climate control system, a heated steering wheel, and interior air filtration. Additionally, buyers can also equip the sedan with an optional heads-up display, a digital rearview mirror, and all-weather carpet lining.
Inside the F Sport trim, you will find that the front seats come with better and tight upholstery which provides a sporty feel. The front bucket seats are extremely comfortable and improve the riding experience by providing both power adjustability and heating and cooling functionalities. However, at the back, while the company claims you can seat 3 people, in reality, it would be a tight squeeze because of a hump that eats up into the middle leg- and knee room. So, it is better that the rear bench is occupied by two adults, especially during long journeys.
Unlike other rivals in the class, the LS proves to be a vehicle that is meant to be driven and not to be driven-in as rear headroom is not as good, and with the optional panoramic sunroof, it further goes down from the standard 37.3-inches to 36.8-inches. While legroom at the rear might not be as generous as the competitors, Lexus ensures the availability of better cargo space. With a trunk volume of 17 cu.-ft, the 2021 LS 500 F Sport is the perfect companion for your family, when out on a weekend trip.
Models
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2021 Lexus LS 500 F Sport
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2021 Audi A8 L 60 TFSI Quattro
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2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
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2021 Genesis G90 5.0L Ultimate
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Seating Capacity
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5
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5
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5
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5
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Front Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Legroom; inches)
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37.3/58.8/41.0
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38.3/59.1/41.5
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42.1./59.6/41.7
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41.1/59.1/46.3
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Rear Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Legroom; inches)
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37.3/56.4/38.9
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38.5/57.6/44.3
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39.4/59/43.8
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38.0/57.9/37.8
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Cargo Capacity (cubic feet)
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17.0
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12.5
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12.9
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15.7
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When compared to the competitors, the Genesis G90 has the maximum available legroom upfront, but at the rear, it is the Audi A8L that steals the show. With ample space, the Audi feels as if it were developed as a chauffeur-driven vehicle. But it, alongside the Mercedes-Benz, fails to impress with its less voluminous trunk that can hold just under 13 cu.-ft.
While the Lexus and Genesis are more practical sedans that do indulge in flamboyance, the Merc and Audi, which embody German craftsmanship do have a slight advantage over the competitors. So, if luxury is the name of the game for you, then there is no doubting that German sedans do make for viable options.
Some of the standout interior features are as follows:
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- 28-way Power-adjustable front seats
- Heated front and rear seats
- Active noise cancellation
- Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
- Leather Upholstery
What’s there to keep you entertained?
The first thing that you notice when you step inside the 2021 LS 500 F Sport is the new 12.3-inch infotainment screen that supports touch functionality and the absence of the finicky mousepad track controller. The touchscreen display is an improvement over the outgoing model, however, it is not the most intuitive system available in the segment. Though it does get designated buttons for ease of control and access to functions, the system in itself lacks refinement. However, we expect it to improve with the upcoming models.
The revamped infotainment system of the LS 500 F Sport comes with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth Connectivity, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The standard available sound system is a 12-speaker premium Lexus sound system, but for an extra cost of $1,940, you can opt for the available 23-speaker Mark Levinson sound system which is surely worth the price and is quite a good system for all audiophiles.
Some of the highlights of the infotainment system are as follows:
- USB audio ports
- Speed-sensitive Volume Control
- 12-speaker Lexus premium sound system
- Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Amazon Alexa
- Rearview camera
- 4G LTE Wifi hotspot