2012 Lexus LS 460 Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Lexus LS 460 review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 LS 460, and includes Lexus LS 460 safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The 2012 Lexus LS 460 is a full-size luxury sedan with seating for up to five passengers, optional all-wheel drive, and a choice between regular- and long-wheelbase models. It competes with the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

As it enters the 2012 model year, the Lexus LS 460 soldiers on largely unchanged. The only notable tweak to the program is the addition of Nebula Gray Pearl to the color palette.

High-end luxury sedans are usually filled to the brim with creature comforts, and the 2012 Lexus LS 460 is no exception. Offered in regular- and long-wheelbase styles, this top-of-the-line, executive-caliber four-door is equipped with a long list of standard features.

Highlights include dual-zone automatic climate control; a 16-way power-adjustable seat for the driver and a powered 12-way seat for the front passenger, each heated, wrapped in leather, and equipped with memory settings; a 10-speaker sound system with a six-disc CD changer, a subwoofer, a USB port, and a complimentary three-month subscription for satellite radio service; and Bluetooth hands-free calling capability.

That’s a nice selection of amenities to start things off, but it takes more to compete in this lofty sedan segment, which is why Lexus has also fitted the LS 460 with heated, auto-dimming sideview mirrors with integrated turn signals; HID headlights and LED taillights; a power moonroof; keyless entry with push-button ignition; a power tilt and telescoping, leather- and wood-trimmed steering wheel with integrated audio controls; and a choice between Walnut, Ash, or Maple interior trim. Rain-sensing wiper and a rearview camera are also standard, along with 18-inch alloy wheels.

Like any legitimate luxury sedan, the 2012 LS 460 can also be dressed to the nines with a variety of options. For buyers in areas with frequent inclement weather conditions, we suggest taking Lexus up on the offer of all-wheel drive, which brings with it a heated steering wheel and access to an available air suspension system and variable gear ratio steering (provides better feel as speeds increase).

With or without those bits of upgraded hardware, the 2012 LS 460 can be made more luxurious by adding a navigation unit paired with a 450-watt Mark Levinson surround sound system; Comfort and Comfort Plus Packages with items such as ventilated front seats, massaging rear seats, Lexus’ Intuitive Parking Assist technology, and a power-closing trunk; an Advanced Parking Guidance System that allows the LS to essentially park itself; and the company’s Enform with Safety Connect option which, much like General Motors’ OnStar system, offers emergency response services, real-time navigation assistance, and much more.

Reserved specifically for the rear-drive LS 460 are Sport and Sport Special Edition Packages boasting upgrades like Brembo brakes, a performance-tuned suspension, a lower body kit, thickly bolstered front seats, and paddle shifters with a rev-matching feature.

A commensurate level of highbrow motoring can be had with the 2012 Lexus LS 460 L, with the added benefit of extra rear legroom courtesy of a longer wheelbase. Accompanying this oasis for long-limbed passengers is a greater bounty of standard amenities, among which you’ll find a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, headlight washers, and vanity mirrors for all occupants. Power door closers are included, too, just in case you cannot be bothered with cinching them shut yourself.

Many of the LS 460 L’s options are shared with the shorter LS 460, though there are a few unique to the long-wheelbase model. First is the Luxury Package, in which Lexus has bundled an Alcantara headliner, power rear sunshades and semi-aniline (premium-grade) leather. Second is a rear seat upgrade comprised of a four-zone automatic climate control system, rear audio controls, heated and cooled rear seats with a massage function, and a rear cooler. Finally, we have the Executive-Class Seating Package, which is your ticket to infrared sensors used to measure the body heat of rear passengers, individual rear seats with a power-reclining feature and a foot rest for the right-side occupant, and an entertainment system with a nine-inch display screen.

Charged with moving up to 4,740 pounds of LS luxury is a direct-injected 4.6-liter V8 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. In rear-drive guise, output measures 380 horsepower and 367 pound-feet of torque; all-wheel-drive variants work with 357 horses accompanied by 344 pound-feet of torque. Based on EPA figures, you can expect to average 16 mpg in the city and up to 24 mpg on the highway.

Money may not buy love, but it sure does open the door to an array of advanced safety features. Like lesser Lexus models, the LS 460 is equipped with items such as four-wheel-disc antilock brakes and a traction and stability control system, but, unlike many other cars on the market, the 2012 LS 460 is also available with up to 10 airbags, an intelligent cruise control system, and a lane departure warning system.

The piece de resistance is an advanced pre-collision system designed to detect objects in the LS’s path, determine the direction of the driver’s face using an infrared camera, sound an alert if he’s not looking at the road ahead, and boost brake pressure in preparation for a collision.

Unfortunately, published crash-test results are incomplete at the time of this writing, though the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has awarded the 2012 LS 460 its top rating of Good for front-impact protection.

In terms of reliability, prospective buyers can take comfort in knowing that the LS is listed among the models that Consumer Reports recommends, and is predicted to provide above average dependability. All Lexus models are backed by a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty, and four years of free roadside assistance.

Few people would likely view the 2012 LS as a performance car, so it may come as a surprise to learn that this large and heavy luxury sedan can reach 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. If your company’s CEO always arrives to work with a smile, now you know why.

Safety and overall refinement continue to make the Lexus LS 460 a contender in the high-priced luxury sedan segment, but, as we noted last year, an update is needed to match fresher competitors. Perhaps that will include the development of a sportier and more powerful answer to the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and others.

By Thom Blackett