Lexus enters 2004 with an extensive revision to its flagship sedan, the LS430. The new features and enhancements give Toyota’s luxury wing an exceptional luxury car in a very competitive market. The LS430 simply must be on the shopping list of a serious luxury car buyer. The reasons are many: quality, price, luxury amenities, safety and performance. Yes, the performance quota has been upgraded in the LS430, an area formerly dominated by the European brands. 

On the other hand, despite a number of styling tweaks, I still find the car’s design about as exciting as Wonder Bread. The original Lexus came to market nearly 15 years ago with a visage loosely adopted from the Mercedes S-Class sedan of the 1980s. That direction may have been a safe strategy to get started, but the last decade has produced some exceptionally attractive full-sized luxury cars, such as the Audi 8L and the current Mercedes S-Class, but the 2004 LS430 doesn’t make the cut. 

On the other hand, the newest LS 430 is a step forward on the performance scale. Let’s look at some specifics. With the aid of a new six-speed automatic transmission, the big sedan gets up to speed quickly. You’ll see 60 miles per hour flash by in less that six seconds and 100 mph in 14.5 seconds. Top speed is around 130 mph if this figure is of interest to anyone old enough to vote. The message is that the car has all of the power you need. 

But an improvement in the car’s handling is perhaps the most important performance enhancement. With the optional Sport Package (priced at an exceptionally reasonable $220), which adds a tuned suspension, 18-inch wheels and special high-performance tires, the full-size sedan felt much like a mid-sized vehicle, offering excellent feedback and control. Yet the ride quality feels every bit as comfortable as the outgoing model. Steering precision is enhanced with speed-sensing progressive power rack and pinion technology. When you move the steering wheel, the car responds instantly and precisely. 

Let’s look at some of the other areas mentioned above, such as quality, price, luxury amenities and safety. First off, Lexus’ LS series has won more industry awards for quality than any other luxury car, probably more than any car in any other segment. The most important award is that J.D. Power recognized the LS430 for the ninth straight year as the most-problem-free car after three years of ownership. 

The new LS430 also represents a strong value. To the base price of $55,000 our test vehicle added the Sport Package mentioned above and the $4,980 Modern Luxury Package, which contained the Levinson sound package, navigation system, rear-view camera, as well as climate-controlled seats that both cool and heat. The resulting 60 grand buys you about as much luxury content as it’s possible to obtain at any price.

The luxury amenities are too numerous to mention. But one in particular stands out. The Mark Levinson sound system in the LS430 is simply the best available. An automotive interior presents multiple factors to be considered including cabin volume, interior angles, the different sound absorption characteristics of the materials used (glass, leather, carpet, etc.), as well as occupant location. Using highly sophisticated electronics, the Levinson system comes the closest to actually reproducing the presence of live music in the interior of an automobile. For example, you feel like you could reach out and touch the saxophone in a jazz quartet. The illusion is wonderful and almost a little scary.

The LS430 has abundant safety features and adds new ones for 2004. The first is knee air bags for the drive and front-seat passenger. The bags deploy as the legs move forward to potentially make contact with the lower part of the dashboard in a frontal impact. 

Even more important is the Pre-Collision System, which represents a frontier in passenger safety. The system combines a radar sensor that detects obstacles in front of the car. This information is then run through a computer that compares it with vehicle speed and other factors to determine if a crash is impending. If the system predicts a crash, it instantaneously cinches the driver’s and front passenger’s seatbelts and prepares the braking system for a fast stop. This kind of technology will be put to wider use in the future to lessen the impact of crashes and Lexus is one of the first to take it to market. 
 

Vehicle: Lexus LS430
Price as tested: $61,019
Engine:
Type: 4.3-liter V-8
Horsepower: 290 @ 5,600 rpm
Torque: 320-ft. lbs. @ 3,400 rpm
Fuel economy, automatic transmission 
City - 18 mpg
Highway - 18 mpg
Curb Weight: 3,990 lbs.