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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  For the long ride - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By roger lance - August 24 - 10:50 pm

  Good road car, not so much around town given low gas mpg. Exterior quality is not so great, paint pealed in one spot on roof post. Car handles very nicely with good suspension that quiets the ride. Seats are ok for tall folks - over 6 - good for those less tall. Interior fit and finish is very nice and looks very well finished. Corner acceleration is hampered unless your turn off the AFS. Car doesnt need a lot of repairs but maintenance is costly.

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  Our worst new car - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By thedriscolls - August 11 - 5:43 pm

  This car has been a problem since we first bought it. Every temperature change causes the low tire presure light to come on and can only be reset by Lexus. The transmission was replaced by a recall notice as well as the fuel pump! Last month the switches in the drivers doors stopped working, it took Lexus 4 business days to replace it. By the way Lexus still does not have a software fix for the low tire presure light, so come fall we have to return to Lexus to reset it. Our next car is going to be a Toyota Avalon.

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  And its still a 96 S-Class - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By CarLover_1 - December 8 - 10:00 am

  You would except to buy a unique and original vehicle when you aiming to spend $60K. However, with Lexus LS you always get an exact copy of 6-8 year- old Mercedes for the price of the current model. In my opinion, it’s just pathetic that the “luxury” automaker copies old competitors styles. Essentially, Toyota is meant to be cheap but reliable car and this is what Lexus is. I might have leather seats and decent audio system, but it’s still a Toyota, not a Mercedes or Jag in any way. Personally, for $60K I better get the original, that the 2-generations- behind replica.

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  LS 430 - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By Jeff Centers - March 27 - 4:43 am

  I just traded an S55 AMG in for this Lexus. There are many pros and cons to this car but it could definitely use more horsepower, more high speed capabilities, and features geared to the driver and front passenger rather than just to the rear passengers. Really how many of us have a chauffeur. I do enjoy driving the car but admit I was a bit spoiled by my German auto performance and its being geared to make driving fun for the driver.

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  They are not as good as they say. - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By Michael OBrien - December 23 - 3:13 pm

  My LS430 has been plagued with some minor and one major problem. Lexus and the dealership have given up. Is this what I paid $70k for? It is not the reputation I had heard about and influenced me into buying a Lexus. Navigation system very unfriendly and at times useless. I think I will try an XJ8L - at least it looks more stylish.

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  Intermittent Audio Problem - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By rm100 - July 15 - 10:00 am

  LS430 2004 has an intermittent Audio problem where even when you turn on the audio using voice command, there will be no sound. As per Lexus dealership this problem is with all LS430. I find that hard to believe but that is the story they gave me. I purchased it brand new from them last month. Lexus dealerships make a big deal about their service quality, but I have been very disappointed with my experience.

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  poor build quality - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By realist - June 12 - 2:00 am

  the facts are that most people that purchase and drive the ls430 are not as familiar with the workmanship of luxury cars. the ls is a reliable vehicle but the overall workmanship show several areas that corners are cut to save$. the dash in my car was 4 different colors. lexus admitted the problem but did nothing about it. Promised to fix it but never did. the driver door rattled from the beginning, never fixed. hinges and inside of truck were not painted to match car color. the list goes on so take a close look at the car paying particular attention to the exposed screws at the bottom of the door sills.

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  Avoid at all Costs - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By lexuslemon - February 26 - 11:16 am

  I have always owned Lexus cars, but the newer models have gotten so unnecessarily complex that they are prone to VERY expensive failures. I could go on and on, but take for example the most recent failure of the Navigation unit. At only 28k pampered miles, the screen just up and dies. Now, not only does this screen control the GPs, but it also controls the climate control/defrost, rear view camera, Stereo including radio/CD changer. So this one gadget failing has rendered the car undriveable (no defrost.) To get it replaced is 6k....SIX thousand dollars (and not covered by warranty even though the car only has 30k miles!!) This is BAD engineering plain and simple.

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  LS430 - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By michel - January 29 - 10:06 am

  My lexus ls430 is an o.k. car. The engine is under powered. It is very quiet and the ride is nice though I just dont like the car at all. It was a horrible buy. The dealers at the dealership treated me like I was buying a geo metro. I shouldve bought the new Q45. The sound system in the lexus is horrible! It is very tinny and doesnt sound very good at all.