Anthony’s Analysis: 2022 Lexus LC 500 Bespoke

by  Anthony Fongaro  - Photos by Lexus- 05/30/2022

I remember when I first saw the Lexus LC 500. Like a lot of people, I thought that it looked like a concept car and one of the most beautiful cars on the road. Last year, I had the chance to test out the convertible 2021 Lexus LC 500. That convertible had two things that were a fantastic combo: an open roof and a beautiful sounding V8. There is a hybrid, but, as Mike Satterfield found, it’s not as enjoyable. Check it out here. Even though this is a 2022 model,  there aren’t too many changes from 2021. The big change this time is that I tested the LC 500 coupe. This definitely has a different feel compared to the convertible. 

I’ll talk about the differences later because for now, let’s just bask in this LC 500’s gorgeous silhouette, extremely pointed nose with massive grill, and Cadmium Orange Paint. A part of the $9,500 Dynamic Handling Package, this LC 500 had a carbon-fiber roof, speed-activated rear wing, and 21-inch staggered wheels. For me, there is no bad angle for the LC 500. Don’t be surprised that the trunk isn’t that big because that isn’t the point. Instead, focus on all the jagged lines, complicated exterior lights, and that giant carbon-fiber roof. There are some fake exhausts, but the overall design is still stunning.

In the past, I wasn’t a fan of basically an orange-on-orange car. I’ve never really seen an orange-on-orange car. Surprise surprise, this has the Toasted Caramel leather and Satin Metallic trim. Not much has changed for the interior, so you have very-high quality materials, chic door handles, and a few last-generation bits of tech that need to be changed ASAP. The usual array of media and cruise control are on the large steering wheel which has the only piece of cheap plastic. As with other, now “last-gen” Lexus, this LC 500 has a single digital dial and knobs that look like ears sticking out for drive modes. Mine had an upgraded head-up display with all the info you need to be safe while driving.

Looking past the dash to the central design, I found it both handsome but confusing.  Having a “last-gen” interior, the LC 500 still uses one of the most infuriating infotainment systems. It’s a non-touchscreen with a trackpad that makes driving almost dangerous when you have to interact with it. I almost always used the secondary controls on the steering wheel. If you want to see what a modern Lexus looks like, check out the Lexus NX. Lexus does give the driver physical buttons for the climate control, but they still have a CD player. What cars still have a CD player in them, especially a $106,000 coupe? Still looking at the center, you’ll see only one cupholder that’s too close to the climate control buttons and a snappy little gear-shifter.

Of course, not everything in the LC 500 is bad. The seats were extremely comfortable with heating and ventilation, and the steering wheel was heated. I’ll say this more than once, but this sports coupe felt like a comfortable car with sporting credentials. Both front seats and steering wheel are power operated so I was able to find that perfect driving position to relax and hear that sonorous V8. There are technically two “seats” in the back, but I’d only use those for a bag or an extremely unfortunate friend. Lexus usually uses Mark Levinson sound systems, and this 13-speaker system sounded like one of the best in the business.

There are two reasons to get an LC 500: the looks and the engine. We already went over the looks, so let’s look at the engine. This non-hybrid uses a 5.0-liter V8 producing 417-horsepower/307 kW and 398 lb-ft/540 Nm. With a 10-speed automatic and RWD, the LC 500 gets from 0-60 MPH in 4.7-seconds. I love this engine. Even on start-up, you get this loud growl and in Sport Mode, it sounds fantastic. Speaking of, there are a few different drive modes including, Normal, Comfort, Custom, Sport S, Sport S+, and Eco. You may be surprised, but I mostly drove in comfort because this is a comfortable Lexus. That and my fuel economy of 18-mpg plummeted every time I wanted to safely hear that V8. 

This may be a Lexus, but it handles quite well. A part of the Dynamic Handling Package included a limited-slip differential and performance brake pads which really helped in the corners. This felt flatter than I thought, although ride comfort did have one negative. You may not feel the bumps, but there were a few times when I was lifted out of the chair when I went over a particularly nasty bump. Driving in Eco dulled the experience but not as much as I expected. Between all of those driving modes, I still think that Comfort is the best and makes the most sense. If you want to constantly hear that great V8, hit it into Sport and put the transmission into manual mode. Just remember this has 10 gears so there’s a lot of shifting if you do it yourself.

Now for the tough part: is the Lexus LC 500 worth it? That question took me some time. Before I do my inner look, let’s talk about price. The LC 500 starts at around $95,000 and this highly-optioned model was around $106,000. After thinking, I came down with this. If you just want style, then yes. Personally, I love this color but would get a different interior combo. If you want all the modern features of a Lexus, this is still last-gen so it uses a horrible infotainment system. Techno-lovers may want to stay away from the LC 500, as would die-hard sports car fans. This is a sports coupe for the discerning few that want a high-quality car with stunning looks and a loud V8 with a comfortable ride to cruise around in. It may be a little too flashy for me, but the Lexus LC 500 could be the right car for you.