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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  Lexus LS 430 - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By Jarrard - August 30 - 10:00 am

  Excellent road car. Handles exceptional for its size. Great acceleration. Im not happy with the braking, however, this may be a problem with my particular car. 27 MPG on the highway is great.

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  02 LS 430 Ultra Lux - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By lex19703225 - July 26 - 2:00 am

  Great car! 800 miles per day is like a ride to the mall. Comfort from every angle. The seats, steering colum have many adjustments that can be easily changed for different positions for the long trips, including the climate controls.Just came back from Orlando Fla.Averaged about 24 MPG on the highway and hit speeds well above the posted speed limit. The Nav system is a must if you are not good on directions (like me ).

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  Absolutely superlative - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By PeteL - July 24 - 10:00 am

  The LS430 Ultra proves that its possible to conceive, design, and manufacture an automobile of such profound excellence and deep quality that it changes how you look at the concept of the car. It makes all the other cars seem irredeemably crude and tacky. Its so good in every respect that it simply cannot be appreciated without living with it and touring in it. How Lexus endowed a single automobile with all of everything is beyond me. This car is simply the highest quality manufactured artifact I have ever examined.

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  As close to perfection as it gets - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By DMH - July 15 - 10:00 am

  Having owned Mercedes and BMW, I know the competition. And the LS 430 Ultra Luxury I have the privilege to own beats anything under $130K. Uncanny combination of smooth ride and controlled handling. Quality of materials and workmanship second to none. Excellent outward visibility (the main downfall of the Audi A8). Tight turning radius (better than any of its competitors). Outstanding gas mileage for its considerable size and weight (27 mpg on the highway). Large trunk even with rear air conditioner. Doors open wide for passengers. Adaptive self-leveling HID headlights are amazing. LED taillights fast and bright. Stereo is like being there.

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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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  Simply great - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By Jim T - July 12 - 1:00 am

  I have owned quite a few cars, about 19, including a couple of Q45s and BMW 741iL and this one takes the title. The BMW was junk, the infinitis nice but not at this level. Only drawbacks, are drivers seat is so-so and has a cassette deck ( which I knew when I bought, no mp3) and the nav system is outdated, even for an 06. Otherwise, wow, what a ride and problem free for the past 23,000 miles having bought this new. It really does live up to its reputation, fun to drive, good performance when you step on it, and smooth as silk. Even my teenage daughters want to drive it, so the kewl factor survives, once you get into it.

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  A pretty good car. - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By jhodkin - June 19 - 2:00 am

  Rear passenger door glass cracked. replaced under warrantee. The car has had a dead battery two times for unknown reasons. roadside assistance was non-responsive two times when needed. once extremely late, one a no show.

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  ultimate car - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By paul b - June 19 - 2:00 am

  Great new features of parking assist, headlights are amazing, & comfort is unsurpassed. Should have standard sat radio & navigational system for the price

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  Outstanding Automobile! - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By dwmiller25 - June 14 - 12:41 pm

  Purchased this vehicle a month ago with 53k miles and after 3k miles and a month of driving I can say that this car is absolutely amazing. Just completed a road trip to Atlanta and averaged 27.3mpg!! Not bad for a 4,000 pound car. The fit and finish in this car is truly outstanding with no rattles or blemishes of any kind. The Mark Levinson stereo is one of the best I have heard. Althoug this car is a heavy vehicle it still has plenty of power when needed and handles very well on the road. The car has the feel of a well built automobile. This car reminds me of a better version of a 93 Mercedes 300E I owned. (The new benzs dont hold a candle to either of these cars in terms of quality.)

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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.