Unlike its rivals, however, Lexus shuns the single-big-button-that-controls-all-functions to fit lots of buttons. It’s actually too many buttons – but only just, and it’s preferable to BMW’s one-button i-Drive. Audi’s MMI system, however, which is somewhere between in terms of button count, beats both.
So, buttons aside, life is easy for the LS owner, but Lexus has given itself a problem with the car’s pricing. All that equipment means the price is artificially high, simply because there isn’t a rival car that well kitted-out as standard. The result is that the LS460 SE-L, the car we tested, is beaten on costs by all its rivals. Moving down to the LS460 SE gives a fairer comparison with the top-spec BMW 750i, Audi A8 4.2, Jaguar XJ 4.2 Supercharged and Mercedes S500, but event then the Lexus only manages third place with a cost per mile of 88.9p, down from 95.3pm, according to IDS Topcalc.
Judging cars in the luxury sector on cost per mile, may be using a blunt tool, but a difference of more than 8ppm between the BMW 750i and the LS460 SE-L is still a large business cost. Lexus will have to hope that bosses ordering an easy motoring life will find it worth the extra.
