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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  Simply the best! - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By Lexus freak - October 3 - 12:23 am

  I already purchased 6 LS400s, and last year, i decided to try a Benz S430. I was just about to buy it until I went to the autoshow and sat in the Lexus LS430 Ultra-lux. It was the best car Ive seen! Well, guess what, I have myself a 2001 Lexus LS430 Ultra-luxury, millenium silver on black leather. The best, even better than an S-class!

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  MFG Lexus Review - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By MFG - August 30 - 10:00 am

  Great vehicle. Very quite ride. Beautiful and smooth ride. Has unbelievable power when accelerating. Voice activation of accesories are awesome. Turning radius is unbelievable.

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  Initial Impressions with Used LS430 - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By new2lexus2 - August 15 - 9:43 am

  Finally decided to treat ourselves to some luxury and research led us to the Lexus LS...test driving lead us to the 2004 LS430 we recently purchased. At 92,500 miles, and timing belt service just done, we felt this was a bargain luxury vehicle. Initial driving impression has been WoW! Car does have the often reported passenger side-view mirror problem, but that is easily worked around. We opted for the base model with some extras as opposed to the luxury model (we did test drive one). Since our desire was for a vacation and special occasion road car (instead of our 2001 RX300), we wanted the larger trunk. Still plenty of amenities to make it a true pleasure to drive and ride thus far.

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  My Lexus - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By Beth Young - August 12 - 2:00 am

  I love my Lexus, I have owned 3 BMW"s and 2 Mercedes recentley, and I will always go back to Lexus from now on!! Lexus of Orlando was wonderful and very responsive. A great deal also!

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  LS430 - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By DoubleT - August 7 - 10:00 am

  The LS430 has the best electronic wonder I have ever had. The voice activated, touch screen GPS is wonderful and the Mark Levinson stereo amazing. The car, however, is truely boring to drive and cannot corner worth a darn.

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  MY LEXMOBILE - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By FOURSTRIPES - July 29 - 2:00 am

  GREAT CAR OVERALL, FUN TO DRIVE , LOVE THE TOUCH SCREEN NAV, LEVINSON STEREO BETTER THAN IN MY HOUSE. WHEN EXITING CAR ALL DOORS LOCK EXCEPT DRIVERS, CAN BE ANNOYING, ALSO WINDOWS TOUGH TO GET USED TO ONE TOUCH UP OR DOWN IS OK GETTING WINDOW TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE IS THE TRICK, OVERALL A NICE CAR,

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  Great - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By Kingsly - July 19 - 10:00 am

  This car is da bomb. It drives and handles like an F1 and could still hold luxury. AMAZING

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  Leuxs kills the S class ! - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By Ramachandran Ramnath - July 19 - 10:00 am

  Bought this after my 2000 S 500 was totalle din a freak flood from heavy rains. Felt stupid within a week that I plunked 20k more for a less competent S 500. Double the fun, One third the price. Better everything than the Benz. Ok the Benz has 1 inch of extra leg room. I am any day willing to sacrifice 1 inch and putting 25000 in the bank and having a better riding, quieter and flawless car than showing th 3 pointed star and coughing up 25k more. rattle( yes the benz rattles far more than the LS 430) Lexus, u finally nailed Benz in their own game.

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  Money Pit although very comfy - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By tj49er - July 17 - 12:59 pm

  I have owned this car brand new for almost 7 years. In the beginning I was flabbergasted at the wonderful level of support and service. I trusted the reviews of reliability and long lasting promises of this car, as it was our retirement car and more money than we have EVER spent for a vehicle. We have done every service recommended and not let anyone but the dealer touch the car. It was treated impeccably. It would take several pages to tell you what has gone wrong with this car! Things like shocks/struts leaking, AC compressor, seat belts, battery, interior malfunctions, trunk button/shock lifts, brakes, tire indicators malfunction, auto door closer, ETC! Lexus says, too bad, no warr

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  Thats All There Is...No Need For More! - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By JPHB - July 14 - 5:43 pm

  Every advertised benefit, attribute, and quality indicator was present. The LS 430 lives up to its reputation in every respect.