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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  Best sedan Ive ever owned - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By Bruce Saxe - August 12 - 9:23 am

  This is the finest automobile Ive ever owned. The quality of build, ride, creature comforts, style and amenities are second to none. Even better is the reliability of Lexus built into this vehicle. Yes this is expensive, but compared to the competition, this car is a bargain.

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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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  Lexus 430 - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By msd947@aol.com - August 10 - 2:00 am

  2004 model follows our old 91 Lexus with 111,000 miles. So far, so good. Gets about 25 mi. per gallon.

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  Best Car - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By Paul Rapaport - August 7 - 1:06 am

  This automobile rides like a dream and on the highway, it is smooth and quiet. Recently, I averaged 25 + mpg on a 1200 mile trip. I have owned 3 Lexus autos and this is the best and all of them were extremely reliable.

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  New Owner - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By Lexus Novice - August 4 - 10:00 am

  Because of a decline in Mercedes quality I traded my trouble proned E class for a new Lexus LS 430. Its a fantastic car! Only car Ive purchased in 35 years that had zero defects. Two months later , still zero. Love it.

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  Love my Lexus...Would not buy German again! - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By SebastianJames - July 17 - 10:15 pm

  Ive owner later model German Cars before and while you cannot beat their handling, this car is something out of its own breed. I call it my "Japanese Mercedes" less all the maintenance costs but all the luxury and ride of a Cadillac. Its the BEST of all worlds if you are looking to feel like a MILLION bucks and drive a vehicle that originally stickers for over $68,000 (I still have the original paperwork). All maintenance has been performed on the vehicle by either Lexus or an Independent Lexus-Certified mechanic who only uses genuine Lexus parts. The vehicle has had synthetic oil from the very first time the second owner owned the vehicle. Only have 115,000 miles and Ive been told by an independent Lexus mechanic that the car should easily drive another 100,000 miles or more! Talk about a return on your investment. Fuel charges are high for city driving. Average 11mpg for Los Angeles driving (no freeway driving). During trips, the Lexus just averaged 23-25. I just had it services and drove it cross country from Tennessee. Brake job, inspection, detailing and synthetic oil change from THE Lexus dealer in Knoxville, TN. Next scheduled maintenance is 116,000 miles. LEX-TECH in Silver Lake is the VERY BEST Lexus mechanic around. Ive tried to ask them to do more to the vehicle that what was recommended at the time and they actually REFUSED to do the work. They are a very customer-centric and operate under a budget friendly conscious business model. Cant say enough about LEX-TECH if you live in the Greater Los Angeles area.

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  Brooks review - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By Stephen Brooks - June 24 - 2:10 pm

  Very impressive handling. The LS 430 surprised me with its ability to accelerate, handle curves, and gas mileage on the road. Very spacious interior, with beautiful leather seats and wood grain interior. Beautiful car.

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  Best Car Ive ever owned - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By Great Car - June 23 - 1:50 am

  I love driving this car, the only thing that improved the car was putting Michelin tires on it. In the 4 years Ive had it, not once has it been in the shop. It is a bit hard on tires, but for the ride and preformance, its worth it. Probably the worse thing about the car, is its looks, but the inside is perfect, great ride, lots of power.

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  Still Going - Best Car Ever Built - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By lexusls430 - June 21 - 4:12 pm

  Its 2012 and my 2001 LS430 is still running strong. For all who have the Levinson system, its great until the speaker rattles. Dont buy a new one, you can have it re-coned for $40.00 rather than $400.00 for a new one. Ive done that twice and replaced an o2 sensor. Aside from regular maintenance those are the only issues Ive ever really had. I have a buddy who racked up 280k on his and still going. Im now at 160k and have no plans for a new car. Before this, I was a euro lux driver. Ill never go back.

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  Car King - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By Mike Mc Nish Pak - June 17 - 10:00 am

  I caught a Porsche! A BMW 745iL! S500! Forget about Caddies and Stupid American Cars! It ride super smoothly, I cant believe its a car! Like youre cruising through a lake! It just consumes only 22 mpg however an S320 consumes like 20 to 22! My only little objection is if you could change the rear light style to a more sporty one. By the way, my girlfriends S600 with its V12 engine is worth about 65,000 GBP; why should we pay 28,000 GBP to get the Lexus tunning package of 590 BHP? And why should we have to pay 9,000 GBP for an AWD car!? Have you ever thought that its almost 7,000 GBP more expensive than the S600!? Come on men!