Good points: Easy to use GPS, engine, room, features, quality build
Needs improvement: Feels disconnected from road, trunk opening

Okay, the base car sells for about A$170,600, but ours had A$20,000 in options. Naturally, we had to see if they were really worth it. They were. This is a car fast enough to make a fool out of most sports cars and still gets gas mileage that borders on 22 mpg in mixed driving. The backseat offers the most comfort of any car we have ever tested.

To that we had an easy to use navigation system, front seats that both heat and cool you, sunroof, a Mark Levinson sound system that can knock your socks off,

Dynamic Laser Cruise Control, power rear sunshade and side shades, power door and trunk closers, rear-obstacle-detection system, leather seats, Lexus Link to get help when you need it, rear air conditioning, rear radio controls, rear-seat power adjusters, rear-seat cooler box, self-adjusting air suspension

Plus 17 inch chrome rims, a 290 horsepower engine with 320 pounds of torque, five speed transmission, driver’s computer, antiskid/traction-control system, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, head-protecting curtain side airbags, selectable Euro-Tuned suspension and more. You get the idea. The Lexus LS 430 is loaded.

But even the base model has dual-zone climate control, a 14-way power driver seat with memory, cruise control, a power tilt-and-telescope steering wheel, auto-dimming mirrors, an in-dash CD changer and a power trunk closer.

Mom’s view: The LS is very large and feels like it. There is nothing cheap or flimsy about it. You know what you paid for and it makes you happy every day you drive it. The future is now as the LS offers laser-guided cruise control, sonar-based rear parking assist, a navigation system that uses satellites and a DVD database, and air suspension.

This car borders on the unreal. Just gently push the trunk lid down and it closes itself, as do the doors. Of course, I would like it if they trunk opened more when you hit the release so you could get your fingers under the lid without getting dirty.

The trunk space is quite adequate at 20.2 cubic feet trunk. Perhaps the most unusual feature on this Lexus, or any car anywhere, it the fact that the LS has two glove compartments to go with its excellent front storage pockets and centre console cell phone holder and deep cargo area. Most impressive.

Safety wise, the Lexus is loaded. You have crumple zones and steel reinforcements, seat-mounted side airbags and front air bags. There are side-curtain airbags mounted above the side windows, too. Of course, there are excellent xenon headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, ABS with brake assist that automatically applies extra force during emergencies, skid and traction control, and enough power to get out of tight situations. The only part I didn’t like of these features was the soft feel of the brake pedal.

I really loved the way the outside mirrors automatically tucked themselves in when you put the car in park which is a real safety feature and reduces the chances for damage to the car from owners who throw their door open in parking lots. In other words, the LS is a very reassuring car to drive.

This is also one of the ultimate highway cruisers, and its tight turning radius makes it easy to finagle the LS into the tightest of spots so getting around town is not as difficult as the vehicle’s dimensions might lead you to believe.

Overall, this Lexus is a fine luxury car with a great warranty and its high resale adds to your peace of mind. I also had to admire the quality of its paint. It appeared deep, glowing, and faultless.

Dad’s view: The car is luxurious, but the engine is the big news. You can get to 100km/h in well under 7 seconds, which isn’t bad for a 4000-pound car. More importantly, the variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) enables this 4.3-liter V8 engine and its 290 horsepower to earn ULEV certification.

Handling is fairly cushy, although not soft on the sports settings. Finally, the car is loaded with special features such as the laser cruise control. You select how far you want the Lexus to stay from cars in front of you, the speed you want to go, and the Lexus does the rest.

We travelled miles testing the system and it was marvellous, although a little frightening when you think that all you are doing is holding the steering wheel and the car is handling everything else.

Generally, this is a smooth car that relaxes you and provides a reason why you work for a living. It is not as spirited as a BMW, not as cramped as a Jaguar, and is more conservative than an Infiniti. Perhaps it compares best with the expensive Audi A8L.

Young working woman’s view: Spacious, elegant, classy, and does whatever you wish. This is a car filled with wants and it quickly spoils you with its sophisticated perfection. I loved the 22-gallon fuel tank that gave this travelling car its long legs and to go with its perfect highway manners. In town was another matter. The Lexus LS is a large car and needs its space whether parking it or in your garage.

Although I admired the essence that Lexus has given its vehicles, I am also aware of the criticism that they have gotten for making cars that isolate you from the driving experience.

To a degree, this LS does that. But after a hard day of work I really don’t want to feel the road or try my hand at finding the apex of a curve. I just want to drive home in comfort. The whisper from the engine, the five speed automatic transmission’s fluid gear changes, and the lack of wind noise are exceptional. That is where the LS is a winner.

College going male’s view: I know I am young and should be attracted to the Lexus IS and smaller vehicles, but the LS 430 is my favourite car. I love the way it rides, the quality build and its quietness. The LS does not shout at anyone, it quietly, literally and figuratively, shows it excellent.

For instance, the 0.25 coefficient of drag is unbelievable for a large sedan. There’s plenty of room inside for five, and the rear seat passengers are treated as royalty.

The armrest features both storage and an instrument cluster that puts the passenger in control of the environment. In back there are heated seats, a compact disc player, and rear climate system.

And there are other unique and useful items everywhere.

The automatic climate system reads temperature sensors around the interior, and sun sensing articulated air registers deploy in particular areas as needed to cool the warmest parts of the interior. The centre outlets move to provide more uniform cooling ala the late Mazda 929. Even front side window glass has been treated to help repel water.

Family conference: The best real luxury car for the money. You need to see its features, feel its ride, and see its quality, but be aware of its tempting options.

Written by The Car Family