2008 Lexus LS600hL review
11 May, 2008
30 Comments 
At $233,000 for the five-seat model and $240,000 for the four-seat model (being test driven), it does significantly undercut its German competition (think S-class, A8 and 7-series), it has nothing on them when it comes to the drive though.
The LS600hL – even in sport mode – wallows through corners. The lack of steering feel and the sheer mass of the car prevent it from fitting any type of sporty image. This isn’t too much of an issue though when you consider that it will predominantly be used for ferrying passengers – opposed to tacking tight bends, but it is one aspect that the Lexus’s competitors have over it.
Lexus claims a combined fuel economy figure of 9.3-litres/100km. If that figure is true, I was born on the moon. The closest I could get with a mix of city and highway driving was 13.5-litres/100km. The other far-fetched figure is the 0-100km/h time of 6.3-seconds. Again, my outer-space birth place stands if that figure can be achieved, the closest I could get was around 7.0-seconds.
As far as a luxury hybrid car goes, the Lexus LS600hL has all bases covered. The features list really is endless, it includes things you didn’t even know existed – all as standard fitment.
It’s not a driver’s car though, it really is built for passengers. If that doesn’t concern you, you really can’t go wrong with the LS600hL. But if it’s an all-rounder that you’re after; you will have to look at its German opposition. If you do that though, be prepared to reach deeper into your wallet, as they certainly don’t come cheap.
Anthony Crawford:
First and foremost Lexus means luxury. Few, if any, will ever argue that point. But then, there’s the build quality. On par with the world’s most prestigious marques, and that includes Rolls Royce and Bentley.
If you take into account the colossal R&D, which has gone into the LS series cars, then I doubt the company books would show anything but a loss. But you simply cannot view such outstanding automotive achievements in this way.
Do you remember that TV advertisement many years ago, where an LS Lexus drove into or out of (can’t quite remember the details) one of those Posh US country clubs, whose car park resembled a multi-franchise BMW/Mercedes Benz showroom, and the voice over said something like, “there goes the smartest guy here.”
Location: Home / electric, Lexus, Hybrid, Behind the Wheel / ...
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(8 votes, average: 4.38 out of 5)
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May 11th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I love the rear seats! Just wonderful! How come the 5 seater is cheaper than the 4 seater though?
Id love to hire this car from an airport!
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May 11th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
The 4 seater is proably more expensive because of all the stuff u get instead of the 5th seat
(Anti-Spam word is Lexus)
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May 11th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
can’t wait for the Ls-F.. saw a video review from the states where they rated it higher than its Audi rival..
god I cant WAIT.
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May 11th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Paul/Anthony -
How would you rate the 19 Speaker Mark Levinson sound system?
I bet it blows away the IS250 (14 Speaker Mark Levinson) you tested a while back =)
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May 11th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
the one thing id change is to put an anolog clock where the digital one is.sat in one at brizzy motor show and it was mad.also 5 seater cheaper because id doesnt have the divider its just one seat
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May 11th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Camski:
It’s a great sound system, but the Bang and Olufsen sound system offered as an option in some Audis, along with the DynAudio and Harman/Kardon systems offer more clarity and better sound in my opinion.
But, by no means, it’s not a poor sound system, there are just better offerings on the market in other brands.
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May 11th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Camski: It’s not often I completely agree with my colleague Paul Maric, but when it comes to sound systems, he is one-hundred percent correct.
It’s so close between Dynaudio and Harmon Kardon that chosing a winner, is near impossible.
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May 11th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Great photos as usual Paul.
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May 11th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Well Tony and I spent the greater part of a day being chauffeured around Melbourne by Paul in this car, and let me tell you, the rear seats are simply bliss, much better than the new S-class IMO.
Specially with the shiatsu message going.
As for the Audio, it was great, but as both tony and paul said, its probably not the best, in fact, i’d go as far as to say the Volvo S80 with the Dynaudio (worth 1/3 of the price) was comparable.
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May 11th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Good god, at nearly 2.5 tonnes it would want to be bulletproof with titanium door skins!!
Looks like the Koreans have them beat and they’re playing the same game. Build the “Hyundai” of the luxury car world. More bling and eletric features for a smaller price, while bypassing the driving and handling abilities. Selling purely on paper. Certainly a lot for the money vs competitors as back seat limos go.
Sure it’s a nice car, but the only comment enthusuasts on here will say is that for a little more you can buy a limo that drives well. Then again, Toyota have worked out that limo drivers don’t drive like hot hatch drivers, so perhaps a smart move!
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May 11th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
bob, i think you mean lead doorskins as titanium is one of the lightest metals known to man!!!!!
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May 12th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Car Advice, 3 stars + 3 stars + 4 Stars = 10. 10/3=3.33
Therefore should this car not get 3.33 stars????
Or are your ratings as arbitrary they seem?
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May 12th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
There are other factors involved Jimbo.
The final score includes value for money, features etc. The other rankings simply relate to their designated title and although they impact the final score, it’s not proportional to the ratings achieved in the other areas.
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May 12th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Oh ok fair enough
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May 12th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I have owned the LS600hL FULLY loaded in Canada for the last 9 months. It is everything you say it is and MORE, however, Lexus has dropped the ball on their Navigation system. It only gives “turn here” information not text to speech and it is not very accurate. The ETA information is highly inaccurate boarding on useless. Telephone reception on a Blackberry Curve within the vehicle is highly unsatisfactory due to the shielding the glass creates. It is sad to report these 2 or 3 main problems with such a fantastic vehicle, however, it is the truth. Lexus promises to look into the problem and we hope we can realize a resolution, but I am not too hopeful. They make a great car, but lack in “The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection” in these above mentioned areas.
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May 12th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
A lot of money for a rear drive Aurion.LOL.
Don’t u mean the relentless pursuit of profits?
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May 12th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Mmmm No comments from TP about his own preferred Manufacturer. How strange.
What a car a great luxury barge then. I don’t think people buy these for sporty driving. Bearing in mind the price difference to the commpetion its a winner. However having a bank of batteries won’t get it out of paying Londons congestion charge to many CO2 bit spewing out the exhaust for our dear Boris (New Lord Mayor of London).
I would still have an Auudi A8 over this though.
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May 12th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Hey NO NAME………….Boris is a eccentric one and seems likeable and odd as. Is cool Man U won. I watched it on BBC! Gee would love to live there as cool people, cool food and very cool climate
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May 12th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
I dunno whats happened Maximus but our weathers gone nuts. Summer last year didn’t get above 20degC rained all summer literally. Remember the floods?
Now in late spring its about 28dgeC today, wall to wall sunshine. Love it.
Food ain’t so cool either - not pricewise. And I don’t personally think the UK murder capital London is such a groovy place to bring kids up. 16 Murders of youths by youths this year.
off topic - oops. Yeh the Lexus. You can see why Toyota are so sucessfull, Irons in fires. Must admit to Lexus being OK but why would anyone want to pay the premium for what is a leather clad Toyota.
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May 12th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
This been out for ages here in the states,
work has a couple of people driving it, probably vice president or something hehe.
Its immaculate at first hand.
the 240K price range for Oz is slightly over priced.. haha, say that with a straight face.
In the states it sells for half of that or just slightly above it. Now.. for that figure its GREAT price.
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May 13th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Jamison - “In the states it sells for half of that or just slightly above it. Now.. for that figure its GREAT price.”
Don’t you mean ‘great car’? Hows the states, Bush invaded any countries today apart from Bhurma.
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May 13th, 2008 at 12:17 am
realcars Says:
A lot of money for a rear drive Aurion.LOL.
I do hope thats sarcasim because the only thing after that is stupidity.
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May 14th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
A lot of money to pay for a car with the same styling Qs as an Aurion or am I stupid?
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May 14th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
You mean the fact that it has four doors…?
Given the fact this would have been designed in Japan where the Aurion is an Aus only thing…
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June 7th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
This beats any German 4 door cars!
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June 7th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Only in terms of it offering hybrid drive, GTR. Everywhere else, it’s trounced.
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June 7th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I think that was supposed to be a question Golfy not a statement from him hehehe………Is that the worlds biggest Camry ? That is a question or can be a statement.
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July 4th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Lol, it was a statement!
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July 24th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
I think this car is ‘cool’ because of it’s hybrid system but i’d save some coin and opt for the ls460.
you said the 600h doesn’t like corners, but is the 460 considerably better given its about 500kg lighter? not sure if the suspension etc is the same.
if i was in the market for a luxury thing like this, i’d give the sclass and 7series a shot too. a difficult decision no doubt.
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July 24th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
just looked at the lexus site and the hybrid is 12cm longer. i guess for some people with a super keen eye like myself, we can tell the difference between the 460 and the 600. one appears to be more agile while the other looks more like a limo.
i’m shocked to hear that the ML audio system isn’t as good as it gets.
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