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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  My favorite car - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By Lee - January 19 - 7:26 am

  Its like driving your living room. Nothing could be more comfortable to drive. Lexus has thought of everything and then some. The electronics are amazing. I was not overly impressed with the Mark Levinson radio which is an expensive item and must come with the Navigation. The service and delivery does live up to the Lexus reputation.

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  Too good to ignore - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By Marti - January 2 - 4:20 am

  It is quiet, luxurious, excellent responsive air conditioning, love the GPS, it is very comfortable to ride in, the sound system is great. Find the radio controls on the left just below the steering wheel get "accidently touched more often than I would like resulting in a change of the radio station.

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  A true luxury car! - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By Tim - December 30 - 8:20 am

  I traded a 2004 LS 430 for a 2005 LS 430 - wanted the 18" wheels and a lighter color. Although the Black Cherry Pearl of my 2004 was beautiful, it was a nightmare to keep clean. Traded for the Crystal White. Much easier to maintain the appearance and I love the sportiness of the bigger wheels. They cause a slightly stiffer ride, but coming from a cloud to a lesser cloud...? One amazing experience: I traveled from York, PA to Williamsburg, VA on a business trip so I had the opportunity to check strictly highway gas mileage. Amazing - I got just over 30MPG! 271 miles on nine gallons. In a V8, rear-wheel-drive car. Unbelievable if I hadnt done it myself.

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  2002 lexus 430 - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By jeff novak - December 23 - 10:00 am

  the quality and workmanship are supurb and the ride and handling beyond belief the technology rivals anything on the road today

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  An Old School Favorite - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By greetrob - December 19 - 5:00 pm

  So far everything works except for the expected voice activation portion of the navigation system. I purchased this car because I wanted to spend very little time dealing with repairs and fixes. IÂ’m expecting that nothing will require fixing and the only reason I will find myself at the dealership is to change the oil. This is a rear wheel drive car, so I hope it does well in the snow.

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  Q 45 killer - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By elim - December 16 - 10:00 am

  this car is the best!! i can easily beat the infiniti q45, s430 and other lux sedans hands down.

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  Lexus LS 430 2005 Model Type - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By John McLean - December 9 - 7:03 am

  The legendary LS 430 is hard to beat, especially when you factor in the price. With advanced robotic manufacturing methods second to none, incredible durability and reliability the LS 430 just goes on and on. You as the owner just make sure it gets an oil change every 5000 miles and use 93 octane gas. Keep the tire pressures at 35 psi all round. This is a sedan with the highest quality, very good performance and a thoroughbred to boot. A lot of misguided people say this car is a big Avalon. This is a myth, nothing could be further from the truth. Take the engine - this engine is a racing engine cut down from the F1 V12 to a V8 whereas the Avalon comes up to a V6 from the V4 Camry!!!

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  2001 Lexus LS 430 - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By Les - November 3 - 9:03 pm

  Flawless reliability, after 5 years and 95000 miles not one repair issue. My only visit to the dealer was to have the Nav system re-programmed due to a satellite change (they sent me $50 for my trouble). It is still as solid and tight as the day I bought it, still not a hint of wind noise.

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  LS 430 Ultra is the BEST of the BEST - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By system architect - October 23 - 6:36 am

  The LS 430 Ultra is the very best the car industry has to offer. Heated/cooled seats, perimeter parking sensors, laser-guided cruise control, integrated voice-activated phone - this has it all. My ONLY complaint is that Lexus disables 90% of the GPS functionality once you start moving. That is fine for safety (as the driver needs to pay attention to driving) but COMPLETELY ignores that there might be a passenger there who COULD use it. So instead, we pull over on the shoulder on the highway and risk death, to stop the car to put in the location - that we cant do otherwise because my Lexus is saving me from myself. This is going to be a GREAT lawsuit one day!

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  The car drives like a dream. - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By Mary Ann Timmins - October 12 - 7:36 am

  My last car was a Lexus LS 400.Car was 11 years old and ran perfectly. Will not own anything else. It is a quiet, comfortable and very reliable car. The car is almost maintenance free as long as you take it in for its checkups. The seats and interior are of the best quality and extremely comfortable. The sensors or parking guides are a big asset. The headlights shine 180, you are able to see the side streets at night to make a turn. You will have one of the smoothest rides you have ever had. Holds the road beautifully. The car drives itself. Will never own anything else.