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Lexus LS
Car and Driver says the 2026 Lexus LS500 Heritage Edition will be the last production year for the luxury brand's flagship sedan, priced at $99,280, about $18,000 more than last year's base price, and will be the only LS model sold for 2026, since the hybrid LS500h was quietly discontinued after the 2025 model year. CarBuzz says the 2026 Lexus LS Heritage Edition debuts as the final model in the sedan's 36-year run. Kelley Blue Book says for 2026 the LS gets a new Heritage Edition that Lexus says serves as a tribute to a model that has defined luxury for over three decades, paying tribute to the model that launched the Lexus brand.
The end of the flagship sedan
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says the 2026 Lexus LS500 Heritage Edition will be the last production year for the luxury brand's flagship sedan, priced at $99,280, about $18,000 more than last year's base price, and will be the only LS model sold for 2026, since the hybrid LS500h was quietly discontinued after the 2025 model year.
A 36-year run comes to a close
CarBuzz (opens in a new tab) says the 2026 Lexus LS Heritage Edition debuts as the final model in the sedan's 36-year run.
A tribute to the model that launched Lexus
Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) says for 2026 the LS gets a new Heritage Edition that Lexus says serves as a tribute to a model that has defined luxury for over three decades, paying tribute to the model that launched the Lexus brand.
Questions buyers ask
Is the Lexus LS discontinued?
Yes — Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says 2026 is the last production year, with a Heritage Edition send-off.
How much does the 2026 Lexus LS500 Heritage Edition cost?
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says $99,280.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2026 Lexus LS is built around 3.4L twin-turbo V6, rated at 416 horsepower across its full-size luxury sedan body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 1 trim.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2026 LS seats 5 and is a Full-size luxury sedan.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2026 LS.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 Lexus LS
MY2026 is the LS's final model year, sold as a single 'mono spec' trim: the LS 500 AWD Heritage Edition, limited to 250 US units, with the 416-horsepower twin-turbo V6 and standard AWD.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
4 indexed Lexus LS model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Lexus LS | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Lexus LS | 2025 record → | |
| 2024 Lexus LS | 2024 record → | |
| 2015 Lexus LS | 2015 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Lexus LS.
The Lexus LS is a series of full-size luxury sedans that have served as the flagship model of Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota, since 1989. For the first four generations, all LS models featured V8 engines and were predominantly rear-wheel-drive. In the fourth generation, Lexus offered all-wheel-drive, hybrid, and long-wheelbase variants.
Source: Lexus LS (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Lexus LS at a glance
- Production
- May 1989 – present
- Model years
- 1990–2026 (North America)
- Assembly
- Japan: Tahara, Aichi (Tahara plant)
- Class
- Full-size luxury car (F)
- Body style
- 4-door saloon
- Layout
- Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, Front-engine, four-wheel-drive layout, Front-engine, all-wheel-drive (since 2006)
- Also called
- Toyota Celsior (Japan, 1989–2006)
Lexus LS generations
The Lexus LS has been redesigned in 1994, 2000, 2006, 2017, gaps of 5, 6, 6, 11 years, an average of 7.0 years between generations. The current generation (fifth generation, XF50) began in 2017.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | XF10 | 1989–1994 | In August 1983, Toyota chairman Eiji Toyoda initiated the F1 project ("Flagship" and "No. 1" vehicle; alternatively called the "Circle-F" project), as a clandestine effort aimed at producing a world-class luxury sedan for international markets. |
| Second generation | XF20 | 1994–2000 | The second-generation Lexus LS 400 (UCF20) debuted in November 1994 (for the 1995 model year) with a longer wheelbase and similar specifications as the original model. |
| Third generation | XF30 | 2000–2006 | The third-generation Lexus LS 430 (UCF30) debuted at the North American International Auto Show in January 2000 as a 2001 model, introducing a new body design with a host of new interior and technological features. |
| Fourth generation | XF40 | 2006–2017 | Introduced at the January 2006 North American International Auto Show for the 2007 model year, the fourth-generation Lexus LS became the first Lexus model to be produced in both standard and long-wheelbase versions. |
| Fifth generation | XF50 | 2017–present | Developed under the 200B program, the fifth-generation LS made its debut at the January 2017 North American International Auto Show. |
Recent recalls (2 campaigns across the latest model years)
- October 2025, Back Over Prevention:Display Function. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview… Consequence: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- September 2025, Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and… Consequence: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Year by year
The Lexus LS across 12 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Lexus LS | 21 | $3,800 | 1 | ||
| 2025 Lexus LS | 21–25 | $3,100–$3,700 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2024 Lexus LS | 21–25 | $3,100–$3,700 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 Lexus LS | 21–25 | $3,100–$3,700 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2022 Lexus LS | 21–25 | $3,100–$3,700 | 3 | ||
| 2021 Lexus LS | 21–28 | $2,750–$3,700 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 2020 Lexus LS | 21–28 | $2,750–$3,700 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 Lexus LS | 21–28 | $2,750–$3,700 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 Lexus LS | 21–28 | $2,750–$3,700 | 4 | 2 | 10 |
| 2017 Lexus LS | 18–19 | $4,100–$4,300 | 4 | ||
| 2016 Lexus LS | 18–20 | $3,900–$4,300 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2015 Lexus LS | 18–20 | $3,900–$4,300 | 5 | 2 |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Lexus LS, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 to 2026 | 4 to 1 | 23.0 to 21.0 | Labels: LS 500, LS 500h AWD; Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl SIDI & PFI; Hybrid, 3.5L 6-cyl SIDI & PFI; Hybrid; with ADS; Transmissions: Automatic (AV-S10); Drives: Rear-Wheel Drive | |
| 2023 to 2024 | 5 to 4 | Labels: LS 500h | ||
| 2022 to 2023 | 3 to 5 | Labels: LS 500h; Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl SIDI & PFI; Hybrid; with ADS | ||
| 2021 to 2022 | 4 to 3 | 24.5 to 23.0 | Labels: LS 500h | |
| 2018 to 2019 | Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl SIDI & PFI; Hybrid | Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl SIDI & PFI | ||
| 2017 to 2018 | 18.5 to 24.5 | Labels: LS 500, LS 500 AWD, LS 500h, LS 500h AWD; Engines: 3.4L 6-cyl SIDI & PFI, 3.5L 6-cyl SIDI & PFI; Transmissions: Automatic (AV-S10), Automatic (S10) | Labels: LS 460, LS 460 AWD, LS 460 L, LS 460 L AWD; Engines: 4.6L 8-cyl SIDI & PFI; Transmissions: Automatic (S8) | |
| 2016 to 2017 | 5 to 4 | 19.0 to 18.5 | Labels: LS 600h L; Engines: 5L 8-cyl SIDI & PFI; Transmissions: Automatic (AV-S8) |
Buying used
What the Lexus LS recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); back over prevention (display function) | None |
| 2024 | 2 | electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); back over prevention (display function) | None |
| 2023 | 2 | back over prevention (display function) | None |
| 2021 | 1 | air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2020 | 1 | air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2019 | 1 | air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2018 | 2 | tires (sidewall); air bags (sensor) | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| unknown or other | 4 | 22% | 2018 (3) |
| wheels | 4 | 22% | 2018 (3) |
| electrical system | 3 | 17% | 2018 (3) |
| service brakes | 2 | 11% | 2015 (2) |
| forward collision avoidance | 2 | 11% | 2015 (1) |
| engine | 2 | 11% | 2019 (1) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Lexus LS trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LS 500 Heritage Edition | AWD | 3.4-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 416 | 442 | 4,905 | – | 21 | $99,280 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Lexus LS model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 3.4-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 416 | 4,905 | – | 21.7 |
| 2025 | 3 | 3.4-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 (Hybrid) | 354–416 | 4,905–5,093 | – | 21.7–22.2 |
| 2024 | 3 | 3.4-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 (Hybrid) | 354–416 | 4,696–5,093 | – | 21.7–22.2 |
| 2023 | 3 | 3.4-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 (Hybrid) | 354–416 | 4,696–5,093 | – | 21.7–22.2 |
| 2022 | 3 | 3.5-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 (Hybrid) | 354–416 | 4,696–5,093 | – | 21.7–22.2 |
| 2021 | 3 | 3.5-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 (Hybrid) | 354–416 | 4,696–4,839 | – | 21.7–22.2 |
| 2019 | 3 | 3.5-liter V6 (Hybrid) / 3.5-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 295–416 | 4,707–4,850 | – | 21.7–22.2 |
| 2018 | 3 | 3.5-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 (Hybrid) | – | 4,707–4,850 | – | 21.7–22.2 |
| 2017 | 2 | 4.6-liter V8 | 386 | 4,233–4,277 | – | 22.2 |
| 2016 | 3 | 4.6-liter V8 / 5.0-liter V8 (Hybrid) | 386–438 | 4,233–5,115 | – | 22.2 |
| 2015 | 4 | 4.6-liter V8 / 5.0-liter V8 (Hybrid) | 386–438 | 4,233–5,115 | – | 22.2 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Lexus LS.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0W-20 | – | – | – | – |
| 2017 | 0W-20 | – | – | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Lexus LS: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | not available | ||
| 2025 | 2 | not available | electrical system, backup camera |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | electrical system, backup camera |
| 2023 | 2 | not available | backup camera |
| 2022 | not available | ||
| 2021 | 1 | 5 | airbags |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | airbags |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 | airbags |
| 2018 | 2 | 10 | tires, airbags |
| 2017 | not available | ||
| 2016 | 0 | ||
| 2015 | 2 |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Lexus LS model years 2023, 2025 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Lexus LS?
Federal recall records don't single out a best Lexus LS model year: recall counts across the 7 published model years checked here stay within a normal range of this nameplate's own average (about 1.6 recalls per year), with no year standing out as notably higher or lower. Recall count is one input, not a purchase verdict. It says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record.
Q02What are common recall-related problems on the Lexus LS by model year?
2025: electrical system, backup camera. 2024: electrical system, backup camera. 2023: backup camera. 2021: airbags. 2020: airbags. 2019: airbags.
Q03Why do some Lexus LS model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Lexus LS model years 2023, 2025 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Brakes, tires and steering, Buying, records and recalls, Climate and electrical.
Compared with
Models this Lexus LS is most often compared with.
Nearest Lexus models
Other Lexus models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2026 LS come in?
The 2026 Lexus LS (full-size luxury sedan) is offered in one trim, LS 500.
Q02What are the 2026 LS trims?
The 2026 Lexus LS comes in one trim, LS 500.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2026 LS use?
The 2026 Lexus LS is built around 3.4L twin-turbo V6, rated at 416 horsepower across its full-size luxury sedan body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2026 LS have?
The 2026 Lexus LS is rated at 416 horsepower (3.4L twin-turbo V6).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2026 LS?
The 2026 Lexus LS is offered with AWD.