This week we look at the stunningly beautiful 2024 Lexus LC 500h, a luxury coupe that turns heads no matter where you go.
As you glance at the exterior of the vehicle, you’ll see the LC gets wider to the rear, has just beautiful 21-inch wheels, distinctive lines, and an updated mesh Lexus grill, that is not as bold as previous years.
There is a speed-activated rear spoiler, or you can open it manually. Flush door handles pop out when you approach the LC and have the key with you.
The “H” designation means this is a hybrid, so under the hood you’ll find a 3.5-liter V6 mated to two battery-powered electric motors, and together they put out 354-horses.
The powertrain is mated to a CVT multi-stage transmission that simulates shifts and it has large shift paddles on the steering wheel. While I am not a CVT fan, this one doesn’t feel like a CVT and performs well. This car will take you from 0-to-60 in a respectable 4.7 seconds, pretty amazing for a rear-wheel drive hybrid sports car.
Open the door to reveal a well-appointed interior that looks rich and comfortable. As you sit behind the power tilt and heated steering wheel with controls, you see a highly configurable gauge cluster that is colorful and changes with each drive mode.
Stitching is all-around and my tester is the Bespoke Edition, which gives you a unique interior that is white and navy blue and just stunning. With the Bespoke addition, you can essentially custom order to your exact tastes.
The center console houses the shifter, the auto hold button, the EV controls, and the button for the rear spoiler to raise.
From there, you can operate the sound system, navigation system, load your favorite apps, and enjoy wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Alexa services, all from a new 12.3” screen.
There are a couple of oddly placed round knobs to the left and right of the dash that operate the traction control and drive modes, and of course my favorite is Sport+ mode.
The LC does have a back seat, but to be honest, it’s worthless for humans, but a good place for briefcases and purses. Lexus makes it easy to access the area with electric sliding front seats.
For a coupe, the cargo area is pretty impressive size-wise, and this is a car you can travel in.
This car comes completely loaded with all the latest safety features, heated and cooled seats, a power moo roof, Mark Levinson 13-speaker sound system, and much more. You will lack for nothing in this luxury vehicle.
The LC is very balanced, not unlike the C8 Corvette but quieter and not as fast. My preference to own would be the LC with the 5.0 V8 that puts out 471-horses, but everybody knows I have a heavy foot.
Fuel economy is exceptional at 26 City and 33 highway, and for a hybrid, I was surprised how good the acceleration was. It looks like a fast sports car and it feels like one, except with much better fuel economy.
MSRP as equipped is $109,705 and for a head-turning car that gets amazing fuel economy, that price does not seem out of line at all.
Warranty: 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper, 6-year/70,000-mile power train warranty with roadside assistance, 10-year/150,000 mile warranty on the hybrid components, first two maintenance visits are free.