The LS 400 offers as satisfying and sophisticated a blend of performanceand comfort as any car in the world. It won't outdo the Mercedes E-Class
or BMW 5-Series cars on a winding Alpine road, but the LS 400 is still
quite capable.
What the Lexus does superbly, though, is most evident in everyday driving.
First, the LS 400 is supremely quiet. Likening the silence inside the
LS 400 to a cathedral is the most overworked metaphor in car reviews, and
this car is the source of the metaphor. Wind and road noise are virtually
nonexistent, even at high freeway speeds.
It has rear-wheel drive, just as you'll find on the German sports sedans.
When it comes to absolute handling on dry pavement, rear-wheel-drive is
still the best. And its four-wheel independent suspension is as sophisticated
as anyone's. It's even more sophisticated with the optional ($1850) air
suspension system, which automatically adjusts ride firmness to driving
conditions. But our test car's more conventional steel spring setup served