2019 Lexus LC 500 Review: Is This The Ultimate Luxury Coupe?

The Lexus LC 500 is everything you want in a luxury coupe, or at least everything I want. It draws more attention than almost anything I've driven thanks to its sculptural looks. The V8 sounds fantastic with a great sounding V8 that roars and crackles as you hurtle down the road. Inside, you'll be amazed by comfortable seats, soft surfaces and curved lines. The optional Mark Levinson sound system has the power to melt the world and bless your ears with the best version of any playlist to get you there.

Is the LC 500 perfect? No, it still uses a frustrating trackpad control system, but it supports Apple CarPlay so you no longer have to clutter the dash with a phone mount. There is no Android Auto support yet. There is a small trunk but you can put golf clubs in it. Luckily you can use the back seat for storage as you won't be carrying any passengers in it. Fuel economy isn't amazing, but it's not terrible considering the V8 under the hood.

Aside from the complaint about the infotainment system, the rest of the catches come with owning a sports car, even one masquerading as a luxury coupe.

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Driving the LC 500

The 2019 LC 500 is fast and fun, but still offers a smooth ride as you cruise across the state. From winding back roads to a jog through Ohio and Indiana to test out Verizon's fast technology, the LC 500 delivered a fun and comfortable ride.

The LC 500 is a great ride.

As you cruise the Autobahn in Comfort mode, the adjustable dampers soak up the road and ride effortlessly, just as you'd expect from a GT. Turning the dial to Sport or Sport+ gives you a more lively driving experience. It's still smooth as acceleration builds rather than springing to life immediately. I love the sound of the V8, which comes to life as you roar down a driveway or through slow-moving traffic. There's a satisfying pop when you downshift to pass. While the automatic transmission focuses on smooth starts and shifts, you can shift manually to get the gear and performance you want, whenever you want. Shifting is slightly sportier in Sport and Sport+ with a more pronounced feel for acceleration and handling in the driving modes.

Lexus really nailed the 2019 LC 500's handling and driving dynamics, and it's particularly good with the 20-inch tires on the rental car I tested. You can have fun with the LC 500 on the track, but ultimately this is a car designed to cruise and look great doing it. I definitely prefer the V8 over the LC 500h. The hybrid just can't match the V8's 471 hp and the amazing sound it delivers.

Fuel economy is rated at 19mpg combined with 16mpg city and 25mpg highway. This is consistent with what I saw when testing the LC 500.

Design, style & interior

The interior is comfortable and luxurious.

The LC 500 draws attention wherever you take it. The sleek lines, bold grille and wide rear combine in an amazing way. The fit and finish are top notch and the infrared just adds to the style. In black, the LC 500 might make some people think you're Bruce Wayne in a somewhat unremarkable Batmobile.

There is plenty of space in the interior for the driver and front passenger. Heated and ventilated front seats with an impressive range of settings allow you to find the perfect position and support. I love the driver-focused interior design, as well as the leather and Alcantara materials throughout the cabin.

The back seat is not used for passengers, just plan to use it for purses and bags. The trunk is big enough for golf clubs or two pieces of carry-on luggage. We also filled it with camera gear and backpacks without using the back seat.

Technology & Security

With the 2019 LC 500, Lexus still sticks with the trackpad and no touchscreen option. The large in-dash display looks beautiful and you can split two parts of the system side-by-side, but using the trackpad to control the system is distracting and unintuitive to use while driving.

We're finally seeing Apple CarPlay support, which is a major upgrade from last year. This eliminates the need to use Lexus navigation and gives you easier access to all your messages, calls, music and apps. There is no Android Auto support. So if you're using Android, you're stuck with the default Enform system. Enform also brings Alexa support and a personal WiFi hotspot to the party.

The star of the show is the Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound upgrade for $1,220. With this upgrade the stereo is amazing, delivers crystal clear sound even at high volumes and is one of the best factory car sound systems I have ever heard.

On the safety side, you get Lexus Safety System+, which includes pre-collision with pedestrian detection, Lane Keep Assist with Steer Assist, Lane Keep Assist, automatic high-beam headlamps and dynamic cruise control with radar for all speeds. You also get a blind spot monitor, which comes in handy on the freeway. With the convenience package, you get a parking assistant that uses sensors to let you know when you're approaching an object, as well as a head-up display. The Head Up Display is good, but I wish you could move the content left or right for better visibility while driving.

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