US News luxury car rankings

The 2015 Lexus LS is one of the smoothest-riding cars in its class, but its acceleration and handling aren’t up to the standards of its European counterparts, critics say.

Test drivers write that the 2015 Lexus LS 460’s V8 engine has sufficient power, but they say it feels weak compared with the turbocharged engines in most of its rivals. Others comment that the LS 460’s eight-speed automatic transmission shifts slowly. The hybrid LS 600h L has a larger V8 engine and two electric motors. It’s more powerful than the LS 460 but also heavier, and auto writers say it feels slower as a result. According to the EPA, the 2015 LS 460 gets 16/24 mpg city/highway, which is slightly low for the class. The Lexus LS Hybrid gets 19/23 mpg city/highway, which is poor compared to what rivals like the BMW 7-Series Hybrid and diesel Audi A8 L earn. Reviewers are very impressed with the LS’ supple, whisper-quiet ride, but they say it has dull handling compared to rivals.

With top-notch materials and excellent build quality, automotive journalists agree that the interior of the 2015 Lexus LS is very luxurious. They note that supportive front seats add to the opulence, as do the spacious rear seats, particularly in long-wheelbase (L) models with the available massaging and reclining features. Standard features include leather upholstery, push-button start, a rearview camera and an infotainment system with a 12.3-inch display, Lexus’ Remote Touch controller, navigation, smartphone integration, Bluetooth, satellite radio and a USB port. Available features include heated and cooled front seats, power-adjustable rear seats with heating, cooling and massaging features, a rear-seat Blu-ray entertainment system, a rear-seat cool box, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, active lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, driver drowsiness monitoring and a 19-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound audio system. Many critics say the Remote Touch infotainment controller can be distracting and difficult to use.