Lexus LS 460 Is The Hunt Finally Over?
While would be treasure hunters continue to seek the buried Volvo XC90 in conjunction with Pirates of the Caribbean, my personal hunt for a perfect family car could well be over. As in all treasure maps, ‘X’ marks the spot and in this case it is the ‘X’ from the fourth generation of the Lexus LS 460 on the SE-L trim.
This is an executive car that parents deserve as there precious children grow older and the need for an SUV or MPV becomes unwarranted. To find the perfect family car many boxes need to be ticked from comfort, safety, performance, that’s just for the adults, to being child friendly. So let’s be selfish here for starters, lets forget about the children just for once, put us first for a change and work out exactly what we want in a family car.
Well first up has to be street cred in looks and here, the Lexus gains plenty of brownie points along with ripples of jealousy at the school gates when other mums realise there is life after MPV’s. The LS 460 is the flagship model for Lexus, and boasts such a sleek sophisticated design that incorporates prominent wheel arches, a deep front air dam contrasting with sheer elegance of the concave and convex lines to profile, colour coded door handles and auto dimming electrically adjustable heated and folding door mirrors with the large 19” alloy wheel cementing its authenticity as an aristocratic pedigree. These cars will soon wipe the smile of the playground mafia’s faces.
Next thing we need as drivers is comfort and here the Lexus LS SE-L pulls out more punches.
Starting with the leather heated and air conditioned lumber supported front seats, that sees the drivers having 10 way electrically adjustable function, electrically adjustable head restraints and seatbelt height with memory in addition a to a memory function for front seats, steering wheel door mirrors with three pre-sets - mine, him indoors and the nanny’s.
The passenger seat gets off lightly with only an 8 way similar function. Thankfully the electronic duel zone climate control with separate driver and passenger controls keeps us cool calm and collected as the growing up fast children still indulge in their squabbles. For drivers convenience the Lexus 460 comes with a host of sumptuous luxuries such as smart entry and start system, illuminated entry system with puddle lights, cruise control electric multi adjustable steering wheel with easy exit and entry auto retracting facility which is even heated! The windows are obviously electric as is the electric rear and rear window sunshade, and sunroof.
Right lets check the list; ah yes, a decent entertainment system would be rather nice and in the Lexus 460 SE-L well, you might as well be inside a recording studio as the 10 speaker audio system with in dash 6 disc CD changer blasts out a bit of Green Day while Bluetooth connectivity will keep you from a possible three point on license and the colour satellite navigation system will stop any argument over ‘why can’t you read a map’ you useless husband!
Performance is a readily needed asset now and a new 4,608 cc V8 engine that is the most technologically advanced unit Lexus has ever built powers this new Lexus. Matched to a new unique eight speed automatic transmission the V8 will accelerate 0-62 in 5.7 mph - see who needs to go to Chessington when they have the Lexus? Top speed sadly limited to 155 mph yet despite being a high performance engine, is actually surprisingly economical returning 25.4mpg on a combined cycle with CO2 emissions in at 261g/km.
The ride and handling is faultless thanks to the new platform and body shell that gives 30% more rigidity than its predecessor while the suspension comes with an improved Adaptive Variable Suspension System that now features a vehicle posture control keeping the passengers more comfortable when cornering. Manoeuvring the Lexus is precision personified thanks to the high power 46V motor driven speed sensitive Electric Power Steering that gives the best response and feedback according to the vehicle speed. Reassuring even the most pernickety of parents is the electro hydraulic braking system that the LS 460 is the only car to have in its segment. The revised electronically controlled braking systems uses a new ECU than basically provides better braking for all four wheels.
The next thing in looking for the ideal family car has to be safety and here we see more worlds first than the UK will ever see at any Olympics. The Lexus has the world first on Advanced Obstacle Detection System, Driver Monitoring System, Emergency Steering Assist, Rear Pre-Crash Safety System with Lane-Keep Assist a segment first. This is in addition to the comprehensive airbag protection that includes front and knee airbags for the driver and front passenger, front and rear side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Have I mentioned the ABS, Brake Assist System, EBD, Emergency Brake Signal, Electronically Controlled Braking, Traction Control, Vehicle Stability controls along with Adaptive Cruise Control? Oh silly me or if you are still not entirely sure about the length of protection the SE-L model has an additional advanced safety pack that, well, even if you two year old managed to start the car would come out without a scratch if he crashed it. However highly unlikely as being sensible parents, you would make sure the anti theft system with immobiliser, intrusion sensor, inclination sensor and siren along with the double door locks were firmly on.
So I can honestly say us parents taken car of but what about the children. Well I think the electrically adjustable rear head restraints with memory settings, along with electric rear seat slide and recline adjustment will get them comfortable for the DVD they are about to watch from the roof mounted console - just decide in advance which one is to be in charge of the remote controls. If this argument gets a little heated they have their own air conditioning controls.
Last but by no mean least is the fifty million dollar question, is the boot large enough for the family holiday, and the answer is yes made even easier by the powered button to open and close the boot so your not standing there like a lemon trying put a suitcase or holding onto the shopping trolley whilst trying to open the boot. .
So that is it. I believe I have found the perfect family car. OK it will set you back a £71K for this model but the entry level comes in at £57,090 while middle of the road SE at £65,090 so money spent might just cover the extra in insurance groups jumping from 18 E to 19.
You have just dedicated the last few year to your offspring - now is time to re-enjoy driving and this Lexus LS 460 SE-L is the perfect car to do it in. Go on, you deserve too.
FemaleFirst Motoring Jackie Violet
Lexus LS 460 Is The Hunt Finally Over?
While would be treasure hunters continue to seek the buried Volvo XC90 in conjunction with Pirates of the Caribbean, my personal hunt for a perfect family car could well be over. As in all treasure maps, ‘X’ marks the spot and in this case it is the ‘X’ from the fourth generation of the Lexus LS 460 on the SE-L trim.
This is an executive car that parents deserve as there precious children grow older and the need for an SUV or MPV becomes unwarranted. To find the perfect family car many boxes need to be ticked from comfort, safety, performance, that’s just for the adults, to being child friendly. So let’s be selfish here for starters, lets forget about the children just for once, put us first for a change and work out exactly what we want in a family car.
Well first up has to be street cred in looks and here, the Lexus gains plenty of brownie points along with ripples of jealousy at the school gates when other mums realise there is life after MPV’s. The LS 460 is the flagship model for Lexus, and boasts such a sleek sophisticated design that incorporates prominent wheel arches, a deep front air dam contrasting with sheer elegance of the concave and convex lines to profile, colour coded door handles and auto dimming electrically adjustable heated and folding door mirrors with the large 19” alloy wheel cementing its authenticity as an aristocratic pedigree. These cars will soon wipe the smile of the playground mafia’s faces.
Next thing we need as drivers is comfort and here the Lexus LS SE-L pulls out more punches.