Verdict
The RM280,000 step up does not change the Lexus LS driving hardware: both use a 415 hp, 600 Nm 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6, 10-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive, with 0-100 km/h in five seconds. The dearer LS is for someone regularly driven in the back, adding 22-way rear seats with an ottoman, cooling and massage, plus 23-speaker Mark Levinson audio and dual 11.6-inch rear screens. For an owner-driver, the RM1,188,000 LS is the rational call and even carries 40 litres more boot space.
Pick the Lexus LS if you want the same 415 hp drivetrain and safety equipment for RM280,000 less, with a larger 480-litre boot.
Pick the Lexus LS if rear-seat comfort and entertainment matter enough to justify RM1,468,000.
Key differences
- Price: RM1,188,000 versus RM1,468,000
- Weight: 2,155 kg versus 2,135 kg
- Boot space: 480 litres versus 440 litres
- Rear seats: 18-way adjustment with heating and ventilation versus 22-way adjustment with passenger-side ottoman, heating, cooling and massage
- Audio and rear entertainment: Pioneer 12-speaker system versus Mark Levinson 23-speaker system with dual 11.6-inch displays, Blu-Ray and SD card
LS 500 Luxury
- RM280,000 lower purchase price
- 480-litre boot, 40 litres larger
- Same 415 hp and 600 Nm powertrain as the dearer LS
- Rear seats lack the 22-way adjustment, passenger-side ottoman, cooling and massage
- No dual 11.6-inch rear entertainment displays or 23-speaker Mark Levinson system
LS 500 Executive (Kiriko)
- 22-way rear seats add a passenger-side ottoman, cooling and massage
- Mark Levinson 23-speaker audio and dual 11.6-inch rear screens
- 20 kg lighter at 2,135 kg
- Costs RM280,000 more
- 440-litre boot is 40 litres smaller
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM1,188,000✓ | RM1,468,000 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Luxury | Luxury |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM4,133 | RM4,133 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC, twin-turbocharged with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing | 24-valve DOHC, twin-turbocharged with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 3,445 cc | 3,445 cc |
| Horsepower | 415 hp at 6,000 rpm | 415 hp at 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 600 Nm at 1,600 rpm | 600 Nm at 1,600 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | V 6 | V 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 85.5 mm × 100 mm | 85.5 mm × 100 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.476 | 10.476 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 10-Speed Direct Shift | 10-Speed Direct Shift |
| Gears | 10 | 10 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Aisin | Aisin |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5 seconds | 5 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 9.5 L/100 km | 9.5 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,235 mm | 5,235 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,900 mm |
| Height | 1,450 mm | 1,450 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,125 mm | 3,125 mm |
| Weight | 2,155 kg | 2,135 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 82 litres | 82 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres✓ | 440 litres |
| Front Tyre | 245/45RF20 | 245/45RF20 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/45RF20 | 245/45RF20 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloy | 20" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloy | 20" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) | Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 10 (Driver and Passenger, Front Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Side) | 10 (Driver and Passenger, Front Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Side) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | Manual for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on two outer rear passenger seats | Available on two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | For All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) with Auto Brake and Rear Pedestrian Detection with Auto Brake | Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) with Auto Brake and Rear Pedestrian Detection with Auto Brake |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 28-way Power Adjustable Seats with Memory, Heating, Ventilation and Massage | 28-way Power Adjustable Seats with Memory, Heating, Ventilation and Massage |
| Rear Seats | 18-way Power Adjustable Seats with Centre Armrest, Rear Touchscreen, Heating and Ventilation | 22-way Power Adjustable Seats with Passenger Side Ottoman, Centre Armrest, Rear Touchscreen, Heating, Cooling and Massage |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System with Lexus Climate Concierge | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System with Lexus Climate Concierge |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System with Lexus Climate Concierge | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System with Lexus Climate Concierge |
| Sunroof | Front, Tilt and Slide | Front, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Rear | 1 Front, 2 Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Powered Rear Sun Shade and Rear Door Window Shades | Powered Rear Sun Shade and Rear Door Window Shades |
| Audio | 12.3" Display with Lexus Remote Touch Controller, Navigation, USB, Bluetooth, WiFi and Pioneer 12-speaker Sound System | 12.3" Display with Lexus Remote Touch Controller, Navigation, USB, Bluetooth, WiFi and Mark Levinson 23-speaker Reference Surround Sound System, Rear Seat Entertainment with Dual 11.6" Displays, Blu-Ray and SD Card |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Panoramic View Camera | Yes, with Panoramic View Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | Soft close function, all doors | Soft close function, all doors |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used cars for sale
LS 500 Luxury vs LS 500 Executive (Kiriko) FAQ
Is the Lexus LS or Lexus LS better?
The RM1,468,000 Lexus LS is better for chauffeured rear-seat use because it adds an ottoman, cooling, massage and rear entertainment. The RM1,188,000 Lexus LS is the better buy for an owner-driver, as performance and safety equipment are the same.
What is the price difference?
The price difference is RM280,000: RM1,188,000 for the lower-priced Lexus LS and RM1,468,000 for the higher-priced Lexus LS.
Do both Lexus LS versions have the same performance?
Yes. Both have a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 producing 415 hp and 600 Nm, a 10-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive and a claimed 0-100 km/h time of five seconds.