Overview & Reviews

Since its inception, the Lexus luxury division has been steadfast and relentless in its pursuit of, well, perfection. A challenging benchmark to be sure, but one the brand has been exceedingly successful at meeting with home run after home run. The original first-generation LS 400 was a smash hit that quickly rose to the head of the luxury sedan class with a large and loyal owner base and a slew of industry awards.

For the mid-'90s second-generation makeover, Lexus was wise enough to leave well enough alone and not fix what wasn't broken. So when a third-generation redesign was slated for 2001, exactly how would Lexus better its top-rated sedan in the premium luxury segment? The answer was to swing for the fences yet again with more of everything: design edginess, interior room and comfort, performance, safety and technology.

The resulting Lexus LS 430 was one of the finest luxury sedans available anywhere. A two-time winner of an Edmunds.com Editors' Most Wanted award, the LS 430 boasted a top-notch interior, a superb ride, excellent build quality and an impressive array of features. The only thing that gave shoppers pause at the time was the car's price. Loaded with options, this was the first LS-series car to finally reach the price levels of premium European luxury sedans.

With price depreciation having set in, that's less of an issue now. As a previously owned model, the Lexus LS 430 provides the same exceptional luxury sedan experience as it did when it was new. For shoppers in this segment, especially ones wanting a luxury sedan that's a bit more demure than its German rivals, the LS 430 is an excellent choice.

Most Recent Lexus LS 430

The Lexus LS 430 was produced for the 2001-'06 model years. As a redesign of the previous LS 400, it featured a 4.3-liter V8 engine, a freshened aerodynamic shape and a new suspension that offered greater stability and a smoother ride. The new LS 430 also offered a richer, more stylish and roomier interior with advanced safety and luxury features.

The sedan's V8 provided 278 horsepower and 312 pound-feet of torque. Initially, power flowed to the rear wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control. (In 2004, Lexus upgraded the transmission to a six-speed.) A full complement of airbags came standard, as did antilock brakes with brake assist, traction control, the VSC stability control system and tire-pressure monitoring.

Naturally, plenty of luxury features came standard as well, including dual-zone climate control (with air registers that swept back and forth), a 14-way power driver seat with memory positioning, cruise control, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, auto-dimming mirrors, an in-dash CD changer and a power trunk closer. Many used LS 430s will also have the optional upgraded leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, moonroof, voice-activated navigation system and 240-watt Mark Levinson premium audio system.

Additional options included rear-window and rear-door sunshades, parking assist, rear seat heaters and power door closers. The Lexus LS 430 was also available with adaptive cruise control, a smoother-riding air suspension, power-adjustable rear seats and a separate rear air-conditioning system.

The cabin of the Lexus flagship was warm and inviting given its high-quality leather, abundance of rich walnut or maple trim, sharp electroluminescent gauges and wonderfully comfortable seats. It offered plenty of headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers, and the large trunk held 20-plus cubic feet of luggage.

Serene in nearly all situations, the Lexus LS 430 excelled in both urban commuting and long-distance road trips. The suspension easily soaked up road irregularities, especially when equipped with the optional air suspension. Although they excelled in nearly all other areas, previous LS models weren't known for inspired driving dynamics -- and though capable in the curves, the LS 430 also did little to engage more passionate drivers. Therefore, if you expect some excitement from your luxury sedan, we think one of its European rivals will suit you better.

In terms of selecting a particular vintage of LS 430, there are only minor changes to be aware of. Nothing really happened until 2004 when the LS received a major midcycle update that consisted of mild exterior revisions, the aforementioned six-speed automatic transmission, adaptive headlights, knee airbags for front occupants and a standard moonroof. New options included the Pre-Collision system, SmartAccess keyless start, a Sport package with 18-inch wheels and an enhanced navigation system with a rear back-up camera, expanded voice recognition functionality and Bluetooth phone capability. The upgraded Mark Levinson stereo, also part of that refresh year, provided optimized sound for different seating positions, and satellite radio was also offered.

User Reviews:

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  Love this car! - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By Norge - August 26 - 2:00 am

  Purchased as a CPO with 43,000 on the clock. Looked high and low for a black on black and finally found one. I have put 60,000 miles on the car (it has 104,000 now) and love it every time I get in it. Drives great, handles well and brakes hard and solid. Very smooth ride and still beautiful! Only issue was one of the mirrors would not fold all the way. Dealer replaced both under warranty with 2006 mirrors and promised they will outlast the car. Trunk struts went out too and were also replaced. Only issue is with the center arm rest. All the padding is gone. No idea but it is flat. Everything else works like new! Ac is ice cold and the heated seats could cook eggs.

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  Lexus LS 430 - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By Leighb44 - August 22 - 2:00 am

  Lexus has taken care of everything you can think of, and then some. I have never owned such a well appointed, quality car.

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  ls 430 - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By abassi - August 21 - 10:00 am

  I had an LS400 back in 1994 and was very happy with it but after about 100k miles I drove a 1997 Mercedes S420 and I liked it and bought it drove that for about 40k miles and trouble began after all it was a mercedes and not a lexus traded it for another lexus and have driven nothing but lexus ever since and now I own 2 Lexus vehicles and I love my new LS430 it is quieter and has a softer ride and the best navigation in the market due to it being touch screen.

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  Move over MB 500S - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By dr. ted - July 29 - 10:00 am

  Traded in a 2000 M/B 500S. This car is far superior in construction, engineering, performance and is also "fun to drive." I cant imagine that I did not make the switch before! Finally, every trip to the dealership is met with courtesy and a caring that was never there with the Mercedes dealers. Lexus is happy that you came in; Mercedes always had the attitude that "you should be glad we are here to help you!"

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  Great car! - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By lymanls2 - July 22 - 10:43 am

  The car does everything a luxury sedan should do, and does it well. It is dependable, good looking, smooth riding, powerful, spacious inside without being bulky outside, and has a big trunk for lots of cargo. I could not be happier with a car.

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  Sophistication - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By Zoomer - July 9 - 7:26 pm

  After trading in my Jaguar S 4.3, this car is a pleasure. Scheduled service and XM radio install were the only service visits. Treated like royalty in the service and sales departments. The ride is unmatched. The drivers seat has a crazy number a possible adjustments including "depth" for taller or shorter than average drivers. Lexus has thought of everything.

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  Had Them All....540, M5, S500, C4Turbo - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By imvulpine - July 9 - 10:00 am

  This machine is an excellent balance of power, comfort, design and efficiency. Reliabilty speaks for itself. Punch it, it moves. Not like a C4, but pretty close. Sit in it. You pick: drive it if its moving. Sleep if its still. Looks are conservative, but interesting. Gas mileage is as advertised, 18 city, 25+ highway. I drive very fast. Machine handles the same at 115 mph as at 30 mph. Quiet, smooth, stuck to to the road. Very nice.

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  25000 and rolling - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By KEITH HARTMAN - June 20 - 2:30 am

  The best car Ive ever owned, so good that mentioning a few nit-picks seems out of place. Still, the front door are too long for easy opening in a parking lot. The nav. system was very hard to me to learn. The voice-operated controls are not useful and I keep hitting the "on" button for them with my left knee. But -- the mileage average over 25 in my rural medical practice, the sound system works flawlessly, guests in the backseat keep raving about their experience.

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  Looking forward to 2006 Model - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By M Bell - June 3 - 4:13 pm

  It seems reliability has finally become an issue with Lexus with the LS 430 2004 model. My car is 12 months old and has already had 4 recalls, some rather serious like a bad fuel pump and faulty automatic transmission. I have also had my park-assist quit which was not a recall. However, Lexus dealerships are the best and you couldnt be looked after better unless they put you up at the Ritz while they worked on your car. Mercedes and BMW seem to care less, which is why my 2006 will also be a Lexus.

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  Kevins review - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By Kevin714 - May 24 - 2:00 am

  Ive only owned my LS for a few weeks but I cant find and problem, and I have looked! The ride is fantanstic! Smooth and comfortable. The interior is nicely done and the seats are comfortable even with long drives. The power and acceleration of the LS is surprisingly quick, and this comes from a sports car fan. In addition, the service I recieved from the dealership and my sales person was 2nd to none. All this, and I have found that the LS has the best "bang" for the "buck", when comparing similar cars in its class, such as the BMW, Mercedes, and Jaguar.