LOOKS

When you’re comparing luxury cars, they all tend to offer an attractive look, so it’s the little things that get your attention and make a car stand out.

in the Lexus LS460, one of those things I immediately noticed was the steering wheel -- with high-quality wood on the top and bottom, and a feel that was just right. That kind of detail sets the tone for the interior of the LS460. For a vehicle at this price range, it has to be high-class or it will get passed over. The LS460 delivers with top-notch leather, soft touches all around, and with the exception of its tech setup does a tremendous job on design exterior and interior.

There are some other nice features offered -- including power rear sunshade and the ability to heat that wood steering wheel in the wintertime.

Roominess is a big home run too, as sitting in the back seat you can easily stretch out comfortably, even if you are a taller person. That’s key in these large luxury sedans -- maintaining comfort throughout the vehicle.

Exterior design is sleek and attractive, too, but it’s the interior that really sells this car.

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER

To haul a sedan this big you want something powerful under the hood. The LS460 offers a 4.6-liter V8 engine that provides 386 horsepower and 367 lb.-ft. of torque. It also features an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Rear-wheel-drive is standard but you can upgrade to all-wheel-drive, and my test vehicle had the upgrade.

I would describe the overall drive quality in the LS460 as smoothly strong, with the ability to quickly get moving if situations required.
This is an elegant full-size ride, not something you’re going to be punching at stop lights to get the fastest zero-to-60 time. But if you ever do need to go fast, you surely can.

Handling also did not disappoint, responding well to driver input.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

My main concern with the LS460, and many other Lexus vehicles, is the Remote Touch mouse-like controls of the infotainment system. While it’s something you can get used to, compared to other vehicles in the luxury realm it’s one of the most disappointing/less user-friendly control systems, and I’m not a fan of its design/placement in the vehicle.

That’s not to say the tech features in the LS460 aren’t strong overall. It features one of the best screens I’ve seen, an extra-large 12.3-inch screen, that can split in three parts to a variety of information to the driver (navigation, radio and climate, for example).

Voice commands worked well most of the time on the LS460, so that’s another positive. And the navigation system did its job well. A premium sound system features 10 speakers that come through loud and clear, and music can be played from AM/FM/CD/Satellite or Bluetooth audio.

In the safety arena, you get the usual array of airbags throughout the vehicle, traction control, anti-lock brakes and brake assist. Lexus’ Safety Connect system features automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle location, and SOS button, plus enhanced roadside assistance.

The very helpful Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert is offered, but only as an option -- It would be nice on this level of vehicle to have more of those kind of safety features included as standard.

MPG
Official fuel mileage numbers on the LS460 are 16 city/23 highway/18 combined. This is about mid-pack compared to what you’ll find on full-size sedan offerings from other luxury automakers (Audi being the most fuel-efficient).

PRICE
The base price of the 2015 Lexus LS460 is $72,520, by my test vehicle came in at $80,630. These are not small numbers, but when you compare the full-size LS vs. equivalent full-size offerings from luxury competitors such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, it can actually look somewhat affordable.

BOTTOM LINE

Lexus has vehicles for all different purposes and lifestyles, and this full-size sedan is aimed at the well-to-do family who wants to travel in style, or a businessman wanting a nice ride to chauffeur around his clients. It’s not as roomy as an SUV, but still has plenty of space and comfort, and the materials are top-notch.

I can’t say it’s the best full-size luxury sedan I’ve tested (That honor would go to the Audi A8), but it’s not too far behind, and has a lot going for it. Anyone shopping in this class/price range should definitely give it a test drive.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.