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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  Smooth and reliable - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By Chad - November 19 - 9:10 pm

  I have owned my 2001 LS430 for 2 years. Not one one complaint. I cant believe how perfect it is after 19 years. No leaks, and drives better than much newer cars.

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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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  Inadequate low beams - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By lawman430 - May 7 - 2:32 pm

  The first time I drove my 2006 LS 430 at night, I thought I did not have my headlights properly turned on. I could not see well enough to drive over 30 mph. When I called the dealer the technition mentioned that I was the third person that week to make the same complaint so I left it for diagnosis. Result- "no problem, "everything checked out to specs." When I pushed the saftey issue, I basically got a shrug and was told that the headlight system takes a while to get used to. I got caught in a rainstorm on the interstate last night and had to slow down to 35 mph. I could not see anything but other cars were passing by with no problem. Anyone else?

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  Dealer wont take insurance for 10k mice! - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By V12COUPE - April 2 - 5:10 pm

  The car is pretty, quick, very flashy with the 18" chrome alloys and gold paint, mileage in city for me 11-12 mpg. Mice got into the interior ate the leather! $10,000 to replace! dealer said they wont deal with insurance companies! what? $64k on a top line car and this? they should have said that on purchase day and I never would have purchased it! I have a 91 bmw 850 cherry so this cars power and stability to me isnt great!

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  The very good and the not so good - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By Jack Johnson - April 1 - 1:06 am

  Let me start off by saying this is a very, very well put together car. Its fast, quiet has great electronics and the build quality is top notch. Very good gas mileage for such a strong V8. No rattles or squeaks. What it is not is exciting to drive. If you like the old American Caddy ride, this it the best ever. If you want to feel the road, have some steering wheel feel and be able to corner, this is not the best choice. If I had a driver, I would love to sit in the back. For those who like driving dynamics, you may prefer the Euro cars.

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  Annoying but feels good... - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By scott 40 - February 13 - 2:00 am

  Guess what? Im 40, eschewed the Beamer and Q and went for the safe bet..the LS 430. I love the car, but has been beset with annoying problems...orange peel paint on roof (fiexed by dealer), shuddering steering wheel retraction mechanism (replaced by dealer), annoying tick tick sound in the dash and door are (allegedly fixed, but I can still hear it; the car is soo damn quiet) and I too have noticed the frigging tires are almost worn at 17K miles! I have obviously been disappointed in Lexus "quality" and chose not to buy my wife the new GX470. Sorry guys, Acura MDX wins the SUV race. I do however love the way the car drives and accelerates.

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  One flaw ruins the whole car - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By kwahaus - December 29 - 7:56 am

  Bought this used last year after a ton of looking. Found what I wanted and was happy with the deal. I would rate the car a 9 or better if it werent for one issue. The drivers seat is one the most uncomfortable I have ever had. Certainly not at all what one would expect. Dealer says nothing is wrong and is unwilling to consider a replacement seat even though it is still under warranty. Others who have driven the car, say the same thing. Unfortunately, this one issue will force me to sell the car. Looks like my 3rd Lexus may be my last.

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  Great automobile - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By JKROME - December 21 - 10:40 pm

  This is my 6th LS and each one has been even better than the last. This is a very smooth riding and handling car. Very quiet ride and the service has always been excellent.

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  Be reasonable in expectations - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By Eriks - December 17 - 3:00 am

  After following Edmunds reviews I finally decided to purchase the 2002 model with all options included. The car is reasonably well built but has its limits. The engine starting process is rather loud to compare with idle. Steering wheel leather deteriorated quickly. Instead of road noise, the wheels/tires seem to produce constant unpleasant hiss. Two separate thermometers show outside temperature while the driver has no idea what the inside temp levels are. Sound system is good but with very limited adjustment possibilities. Radio often loses station in city driving and this downgrades the overall sound. Change of gears from 2nd to 3rd is late for 1 sec driving normally without kick-down.

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  I purchased a lemon - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By Jack F. - July 12 - 5:33 pm

  This is my 3rd new Lexus and the only one that I have had trouble with. My side view mirrors needed to be replaced, the struts holding the trunk lid up were also replaced, 3 parts to my steering column were replaced, my drivers seat needed 2 parts to repair the movement, to wit, front to back etc. It got stuck and would not stop. Last but not least, one of my wheels developed a large crack above the lugs which caused my service manager to call to inform me that it was to dangerous to drive the car the way it was and the cost of a new wheel was $ 550. Thats the bad news. The good news is, all the above was repaired under warrantee, including the wheel. Get the extended warrantee, I did.