2021 Lexus LC 500h Review

This week we look at the stunningly beautiful 2021 Lexus LC 500h, a large, luxury coupe that turns heads no matter where you go.

Exterior

As you glance at the exterior of the vehicle, you’ll see the LC gets wider to the rear, has just beautiful 21-inch wheels, distinctive lines, and the bold love it or hate it signature Lexus grill. Flush door handles pop out when you approach the LC and have the key with you.

Performance

The “H” designation means this is a hybrid, so under the hood you’ll find a 3.5-liter V6 mated to two battery powered electric motors, and together they put out 354-horses.

The powertrain is mated to a CVT multi-stage transmission that simulates shifts and it has large shift paddles on the steering wheel. While I am not a CVT fan, this one doesn’t feel like a CVT and performs well. This car will take you from 0-to-60 in a respectable 4.7 seconds, pretty amazing for a rear-wheel drive hybrid sports car.

Interior

Open the door to reveal a well-appointed interior that looks rich and comfortable. As you sit behind the power tilt and heated steering wheel with controls, you see a highly configurable gauge cluster that is colorful and changes with each drive mode. A button push on the steering wheel moves the center gauge to the right and back to the center depending on what you want to see.

Stitching is all-around and my tester has contrast red and black soft touch material everywhere. It’s stunning.

The center console houses the shifter, the auto hold button, and the Lexus trackpad which operates the big Lexus Enform screen.

From there, you can operate the sound system, navigation system, load your favorite apps, and enjoy Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Alexa services, all from a 10.3” screen.

As much as I love Lexus products, I’m not sure I’ll ever embrace the track pad that controls everything. For me, it’s just not user friendly, but people who own Lexus vehicles tell me they get used to it.

There are a couple of oddly placed round knobs to the left and right of the dash that operate the traction control and drive modes, and of course, my favorite is sport plus mode.

The LC does have a back seat, but to be honest, it’s worthless for humans, but a good place for briefcases and purses. Lexus makes it easy to access the area with electric sliding front seats.

For a coupe, the cargo area is pretty impressive size-wise, and this is a car you can travel in.

Safety, Features and Options

The LC comes completely loaded with all the latest safety features, and also has a head-up display, heated and cooled seats and more. My tester has the optional Touring Package which is a terrific $2500 option that includes the Mark Levinson 13-speaker sound system and more. You will lack for nothing in this luxury vehicle.

Ride and Drive

The LC is very balanced, not unlike the C8 Corvette, but quieter and not as fast. My preference to own would be the LC with the 5.0 V8 that puts out 471-horses, but everybody knows I have a heavy foot. New for 2021, the LC 500 comes in a convertible, and we have reviewed it.

Fuel economy is exceptional at 26 City and 34 highway, and for a hybrid, I was surprised how good the acceleration was. It looks like a fast sports car and it feels like one, except with much better fuel economy. Even the exhaust sound was exceptional.

What You’ll Pay

MSRP as equipped is $104,430 and for a head-turning car that gets amazing fuel economy, that price does not seem out of line at all.