Driven: 2023 Lexus LC500 Is An Infotainment System Away From Perfection

Let's get a few things out of the way before we get stuck in because we need to manage expectations: First, the Lexus LC isn't meant to be a tack-sharp sports car that can go up against the like of a Porsche 911 on a backroad. Second, it's a four-seater, but the rear seats won't accommodate anyone over the age of five. Third, it has Lexus's old infotainment system with the horrible touchpad that nobody ever liked.

That's it.

Because despite its faults, we adore this car. It's beautiful in a way that will cause even non-car enthusiasts' eyes to follow it down the road. It has one of - if not the - best-sounding V8s ever put into production and a cockpit that's as stylish as it is comfortable. In fact, if you're a seriously minted individual with a hundred grand or so to play with and a spare slot in your garage for a grand tourer, just go out and buy one of these. For the rest of us that should know exactly what we're getting into before dropping the kind of cash on a car that could change a life, read on.

Other than a suspension update, the only other change for 2023 is a new color option that joins the palette of gorgeous hues. The new color is Cloudburst Gray, but our test model arrived in Flare Yellow. The correct color for this beauty is Nori Green Pearl, which is no longer a special edition color. That's an opinion, of course, but it is the correct one.

The sheet metal is curved and bent like a concept car, and that's because the Lexus LC is one of the few cars that made it to the road without drastic changes from the concept it was based on. As standard, the LC comes with triple-beam LED headlamps, a glass roof with sunshade, and 20-inch staggered-width machined finished split-10-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in run-flat summer tires. It has to have run-flat tires because there's no spare, which we discovered through a puncture some time ago, is not ideal.

The Lexus LC is not a young car anymore, but we still rate it as having one of the best-in-class interiors on the market. Our tester arrived with a sportier interior than we would choose, but there's no wrong option. The interior space up front is beautifully crafted, and the seats are built for long cross-country drives.

The dashboard blends futuristic and old-world luxury into a seamless stretch across the car and features an analog clock that's only job is to remind you the LC is a luxury car. The LC 500 also features magnesium paddle shifters and dual-zone automatic climate control, but the 10.3-inch LCD color display feels dated. We'll get to that, though.

There are rear seats, but the amount of legroom available with a couple of adults upfront is comical. Genuinely. Almost everyone that looks inside as you fold a front seat forward chuckles. However, that rear area gives a feeling of space and adjustment for the seats you don't get in something like a Toyota Supra, Nissan Z, or any mid-engine car.

It's useful for stowing bags or laptops and as extra storage space on trips since the trunk isn't particularly large. Speaking of, trunk volume comes in at five cubic feet, which will store two carry-on-size bags - Lexus definitely made sure it would serve a weekend getaway for two and allow for the industry luxury sports car standard measurement of a golf bag with clubs.

This is straightforward: You can go back to any pre-2022 Lexus review and see why the Enform infotainment system wasn't much appreciated. Most of that is down to the bad touchpad controller in the center console. It's unintuitive, slow, and annoying to use. Navigation is standard, but you'll want to use the app on your phone because Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Alexa compatibility are also standard - although not wireless. Just assume you'll use one of those, and the infotainment system becomes acceptable.

The infotainment in 2024 LCs get a substantial upgrade, but at the time of writing, this was only for European-spec models, which is a huge disappointment. Even the standard 12-speaker audio setup isn't mind-blowing, but at least buyers can opt for the Mark Levinson 13-speaker, 915-watt surround sound system on the options list.

The LC's 5.0-liter V8 engine is a peach. Complete with quad cams, four valves per cylinder, and a power output of 471 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 pm, it's a dream for cruising, and the exhaust note is tuned for enthusiasts' ears. It's not an engine for taking people on at the lights, but it's not shy about getting up to speed. Once it settles on the freeway, it's quiet but always waiting to open up and, when it's time to overtake, pounce. Carving through backroads with all that torque is a hoot.

We think of it as a muscle car engine built to get away quickly and cruise effortlessly. Part of the reason it's so smooth to drive just about anywhere is the 10-speed automatic transmission feeding the power to the rear wheels. It's quick, responsive, and knows what gear to be in at all times. Just don't expect it to compete at the track.

As for fuel economy, we burned through more gas over fewer miles in a Civic Type R over a week. The EPA says 19 mpg combined, but we didn't do much city driving and averaged better mileage in the early twenties. It has a 21.7-gallon fuel tank which is good for over 400 miles on one burn. There is a hybrid version, but, well, it removes one of the main ingredients of this excellent recipe: A Lexus LC without the V8 is like a beef burger made with Beyond Meat. Sure, it's still a burger and can taste great, but it's not a beef burger anymore. It's a plant protein sandwich, which isn't bad at all - but if you're craving a beef burger, nothing else will do.

The LC 500 is smooth and comfortable around town and makes for a lovely daily driver. It's also a lovely way to arrive at a restaurant and is guaranteed to impress a date in at least one way. However, it's at its finest when the destination is an hour or two away and the navigation is set to avoid freeways. It can attack a road, and the suspension is supple but firm while the steering is on point; but if you're looking to keep up with a Porsche 911 in full attack mode, you're going to be somewhat disappointed.

The LC's joy is keeping up the pace with rhythm and drinking in the journey in comfort and with that V8 providing the soundtrack. If you're stretching out the map and heading cross country, it's a freeway cruiser that eats up the miles - just beware of people holding up their phones to grab a photo or catch it on video.

The ride quality through the newly improved suspension is great no matter how you option the LC 500, even on the available 21-inch wheels. The updates see the front and rear suspension optimized to enhance "ground contact feel and linear steering response", according to Lexus. The brakes have plenty of stopping power without being jarring in everyday use, and the pedal is linear and natural-feeling.

The Lexus LC isn't small, and it does weigh in on the heavy side, but it hides its bulk well on the road while still feeling substantial as well as athletic. There's a bit of muscle car feel in how the V8 pulls, but the comparison ends there as the Lexus is a sophisticated piece of machinery rather than a brute. It's one of the few cars that we drive regularly, and we're sorry to see it go every time, which is about as high of a score as we can give a car. It's just a pleasure to drive and cover miles with.

Our tester was equipped with the Dynamic Handling Package that includes variable-steering, adaptive rear-wheel-steering, a Torsen limited-slip differential, a speed-activated rear wing, a carbon fiber roof, Alcantara sports seats, and some carbon fiber accouterments. All this sharpens up the LC as a sports car but is far from necessary. We would rather luxuriate in leather-trimmed seats. The carbon fiber door scuff plate looks out of place, and Alcantara is for race cars, not luxury sports cars, in our opinion. We would leave the Dynamic Handling Package option unchecked, enjoy the base configuration, and spend the $9,570 on fuel and the cost of maintenance of putting miles on an expensive luxury car.

The 2023 Lexus LC starts at $95,600, but we would add the heads-up display for $900 and the Mark Levinson sound system for $1,220. Premium paint colors cost $595, but Nori Green isn't in that category, so we'll put that in the tire replacement fund.

We adore the Lexus LC to the point that this writer is watching the used car prices and will forgive the infotainment setup for the sheer joy of the driving experience. However, for those that don't want to spend over $100k and have to compromise when other Lexus vehicles are now shipping with excellent infotainment systems, it's a problem that needs to be acknowledged.

What Lexus will do with the aging LC is up in the air, despite announcing an updated 2024 model with an improved infotainment setup - the US doesn't seem to be on the receiving end of what would undoubtedly be the best LC yet. The LC 500 is six years old now and doesn't need a facelift from an aesthetic and driving perspective since we believe it's timeless. But it would be deeply disappointing if the 2024 models bound for the USA didn't get the infotainment update. That's all it would take for the LC 500 to become a perfect car.