The LS is the sedan that launched the Lexus brand back in 1990 and the latest 5th generation come out in 2018. In the LS Lexus has prioritized giving the driver high levels of comfort and a luxuriously detailed interior. However in 2021 the LS is up against a series of contenders like the Audi A8, BMW 7-series, Mercedes-Benz S-class and newcomers like the Genesis G90.

Lexus has made some minor alterations for 2021. The signature spindle grille, now coated in a darker finish, still dominates the front end. It is flanked by vents with a more rectangular shape, and headlights that now integrate the LED accent strip. If we flip to the rear the taillights swap chrome detailing for black trim. The biggest improvement, however, comes in the form of a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, which replaces the previous display that has been a point of contention for so many years.

The 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 engine sends 416 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels (AWD is a $3,250 upgrade). The engine is content to provide nearly no soundtrack, owing in part to an extremely well isolated cabin. A 10-speed automatic handles gearchanges quietly and efficiently.

However, despite its F Sport designation, this is really not a sporty vehicle. Moving the dashboard-mounted mode switch to Sport or Sport Plus does have an appreciable and immediate effect; the active suspension stiffens and the throttle response wakes up, but the gear shifts remain prioritized for smoothness. A ($7,800) Dynamic Handling Package is available that adds rear-wheel steering, variable-ratio power steering and active anti-roll bars, but I don't think the LS buyer is really looking to tick this box.

In practicality even in F Sport guise, the LS 500 is built for long, steady cruising. We would suggest that you leave everything in Comfort mode. Lexus has put an immense amount of effort into making this one of the smoothest rides in the segment, which is quite the tall order.

Not using a V8 also has the neat side benefit of tolerable fuel economy. My tester's F Sport RWD setup is rated at 18 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, which is not too shabby for a 5,000-pound luxury sedan.

The back seats are lovely, as they should be in a car that's for both drivers and the driven. Passenger space is as expected generous for four adults, legroom and headroom abound, and the bench itself is just as plush as the buckets up front. The rear seatbacks are fixed, so bulky cargo items may not easily fit in the LS. However the trunk is generously sized at nearly 17 cubic feet, besting most of the segment.

All LS models come with Amazon Alexa, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability, all controlled through the touchscreen. That means the fussy touchpad on the center console is no longer the only way to adjust vehicle settings, switch audio sources, or set a destination in the navigation menu. But when using the system I can't help but feel that the software is not meeting the expectations of a flagship sedan. The graphics are way behind the times and the system's offerings fall behind offerings from Audi, Genesis and Mercedes-Benz.

In front of the driver is a gauge display, with a large central tachometer that can shuffle sideways to expand what information is being conveyed to the driver, whether it's basic things like road speeds or more ancillary facts like fuel economy. It, too, is old, but it gets the job done. However on the newer side, the optional ($1,220) head-up display above the gauges offers a whopping 24 inches of real estate, which is more than enough to include almost every piece of information your need. One thing I always enjoy and I will never get tired of seeing in the LS, or any Lexus for that matter, is the optional Mark Levinson sound system, ($1,940) which sounds incredible, and includes 23 speakers and 2,400 watts of power.

No matter the trim, every 2021 Lexus LS 500 comes with a standard suite of active and passive safety systems that includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, full-speed adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams. For an extra ($3,000) you get my loaner's enhanced safety package that adds cross-traffic warnings at intersections, the ability to reduce adaptive cruise speed in curves and active lane-change assist. As expected, all these systems work incredibly smoothly, just keep your eyes up front and hands on the wheel and let the system guide you down the highway in total comfort.

In the large executive luxury sedan segment, nothing is really truly inexpensive, but the 2021 Lexus LS represents a "decent" bargain. My loaner's starting price of $80,625 including destination rings in well below the Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series, and it's way under the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which requires a six-digit cost of entry. Nearly fully loaded, the LS on my driveway carries a window sticker of $98,630. If anything, Lexus' biggest cause for concern is from Genesis and the G90. The LS is a big, attractive sedan, especially in F-Sport guise, and its design is so aggressive that it still feels modern several years after debuting. Lexus is leaning on all its strengths with the LS and it shows, now if only they could do something about that infotainment software.

2021 Lexus LS 500 F-Sport