It amazes me how many journalists got it wrong with the transmission back in the day with this car...it's an ECVT, it operates of a planetary gear set, completely different to a conventional CVT, mechanically speaking they are completely different which is why the ECVT can take alot of torque and power.
it's not a CVT, it's an E-CVT, composed of planetary gear sets just like an Allison transmission. No reason it would not cope with insane amounts of torque...
I love Brian Cooley. He is the most entertaining car presenter in the world. The intro is brilliant; "If you want everything Lexus knows how to put into a production car, this is your Huckleberry! But are you a dumbass for buying one?"
the way they've integrated those controls on the console, in groups of buttons surrounded by that wood, reminds me of the old Mercs from the 80s and 90s (like the W140)
It depends on each person. Personally I have a Class S550 year 2011 and year 2013 Lexus LS460L. I can comment that the Lexus exceeded my expectations, did not think his driving was so comfortable and traveling as a passenger ahun definitely much better. My next car will be a Lexus Luxury LS version.
This guy is the best auto reviewer. With each car, its a personal preference of course but in this LS600hL, you are not benefitting from a hybrid, the sound system is fairly average at 460+ watts, and controller IS distracting while driving. You simply can get better for $140K.
This guy is awful. He hates the car from the very beginning which sets the mood for the rest of the review. I don't mind that he's not a "fan", but at least review the car without acting like a pillock. They crammed as much crap as possible into a car so people would stop complaining they left out some option. A CVT isn't good at handling torque??? They freaking used CVTs in formula 1 cars until they were banned for being too quick and unfair to competitors. Of course why would you expect better gas milage from an almost 3 ton car with a large V8 and a ton of electronics? Yes a turbo diesel might get better gas milage, but just because its a hybrid doesn't mean its going to get 50+ mpg like a Prius. Even hybrid versions of Tahoe's only get a few extra mpg. Why would anyone expect an almost 3 ton luxury hybrid sedan with a long wheel base to handle like a sports car around turns? This guy couldn't even drive around corners without using the entire other lane and he wants to say it can't corner? It never showed him throwing it into a turn to see what the car could do. Please use a better car reviewer...
Finally somebody who actually dares to criticize a car. A sensible buyer would observe different reviews, which offers him different angles, and then finally visit the showroom prepared and finally actually test the car himself.
To me, this model suffers from a confused set of priorities. It's a hybrid, but it doesn't really save gas. It wants to perform more, but it's too heavy. It just feels like all the extra expense over a regular ls 460 ultimately didn't go anywhere, an engineering stalemate. I also don't like the mouse interface. If i wanted an LS, i'd just get the regular one at this point.
You clearly don't understand that point of the LS hybrid system lol. I won't waste the keystrokes, I'll just say this... it's not meant to really save on gas.
I happen to own one of these and i think that CNET needs to get someone that is a real car enthusiast and know what they are talking about and not someone to just run through a car in 10minutes complaining about true luxury. This video definetly does not give people a true review of the car(and i am not just saying that because i own one). Big ups to Lexus for designing such a flagship sedan.
Between my LEXUS GS and Lexus RX i have ,and my retired ES accumulated over 26 years of excellent problem free best driving years !!!!simply LEXUS is the best !!!thank you Lexus keep up the good job !!!!
Agreed. But compare the way he emphasizes on the negatives rather than the positives. He reviews cars like they're pointless stupid things and nothing but means of transportation. I hate this guy.
Mohammed Reshi He would be doing a disservice to not emphasize on the negatives, when you're buying a car you dont want to end up finding something you dont like about it a few weeks after driving it. Its important to know the good and the bad of a car rather than just focusing on the good, thats what separates an enthusiast and a person who just needs transportation.
Lexus is THE highest rated car; to be exact, 7 out 8 world best cars is Japanese, and Lexus finish 1st (Subaru's next). Mercedes (just below SMART, Jeep, and VW) is one of the lowest.
you get a lot of tech tech tech on line, this video clip is as honest as they get. as you can see, the luxury was covered well and not in anyway skipped. this clip show the good, bad and ugly! only a knowledgeable person with confidence can do that.
You're a dumba** if you think that barely cost $50,000. Not even Hyundai's luxury brand Genesis G90 is $50k and yet you think a V8 RWD LS would be that cheap? You're just trolling or seriously out of touch with the luxury market.
I also worked for mb and you are right there were many cars that did have issues new but for the masses in the first few years the cars overall that were new were fine. but i did work for them in 2010...
Hey guys, Bryan review the tech on cars and lightly performance. I would rather double check the bads or cons that a car has than the pros that you already know that make you select that car of you like. He's honest in all about tech, because he reviews high end cars to the entry level cars, and surprisingly you'll find nicer and newest tech sometimes on under 30k cars than the luxury ones... Bryan, you are the coolest guy ever..!
In fact, an earlier model of the LS Hybrid made the top 5 list for "brownest hybrids" (the ones that barely get better mpg over the conventional gas-engined counterparts).
As much a Lexus fanboy that i am, i really liked and agreed with much of this review. My LS400 for some reason gets a lot more MPG than labeled on HWY.
GlockLord i dont like the exterior aesthetic either. In my case i just hate how fat and boring it looks. Cedes does a much better job with how their cars look
I prefer the LS430 cause you could see out of it, all these more modern cars have windows which are too small. I bought an S Type jaguar and its up for sale cause you feel claustrophobic in there compared to our 32 year old XJ6 which has a softer ride too.
I can say that I hate the way CVTs perform but my 2007 dodge caliber has 140k on it and it still runs almost as good as it did when my mother bought it in 2007.
Nice but I would like to see how the new Equus compares to this. I'm willing to bet it's an inferior product but considering the money a much more sensible purchase.
the Lexus Ls 600hL and Lexus 460 are so much different. so you can't say how long or how many miles does it takes to get your money back for the price different. I test drive both, the Ls 600hl is much more smooth, much better car. I love every second of my driving experience. its such a luxury car. the only problem is it's way too expensive. it's better idea to buy a used one if you like to have one.
jspr2k5 No its not. Depending on your size and the length of your arm. Im only 5,7 and its not comfortable to me in the IS350F in combination with the recessed screen
WuWei Xu Never owned a Lexus? I've owned 4 Lexi's since the age of 18. Currently in a IS250 08 model but I've driven the latest versions with this media interface. Had no problems. Your turn.
The LS600h in summary: Too much of everything. Controls, settings, luxury appointments (a surprise really) and the hybrid powertrain is more Toyota boasting what they can do than going for a solid goal like increased performance or MPG.
I have a 2015 LS 600hL and my dashboard de-lamented - faulty installation from Lexus. Mine is garaged with 51K miles. Lexus did nothing to correct the problem and replacement cost were - honestly - 16K for new dashboard and 2.5K to install. So I had is re-wrapped and a restoration shop in Denver for 3K. What I also did was legally tint the front windshield to eliminate the UV rays. Disappointed that Lexus did not stand behind their mistake. I want to share my story with all Lexus owners.
These are all valid points. Lexus catastrophically missed a chance to target S600 performance here. You more or less get LS460 performance whilst dragging LS600 weight around in the corners.
eCVT != CVT. It can handle more torque than conventional torque converter auto. It's a really smart way to get a continuous range of gear ratios using a single planetary gear set --- the design is ingenious. Maybe the drive still feels CVT, though. For cruising, this is perfect; but for high speed driving this thing revs too high.
the mileage is awesome for that much power and weight. how can you say it's not that great? where in the world is a car that weights this much produces this much power can give you that much mileage?
This video is exactly why people on this channel, including me, dont prefer to watch other staff host the show. Tell me how you feel and dont be afraid. The rest could learn a thing or two, however i do understand big shoes to fill
$121,000 base!!! I spat out my coffee when I heard that! I was not expecting that number at all! That is Maserati and Maybach coin right there. Who the hell is really buying this car with that money? Someone that doesn't want an S Class, or M6 Grand Coupe, or Benz AMG SLS!
That's a gorgeous looking Lexus but the price going over 130K? Despite Toyota's obsession with quality assurance and engineering I don't see it as a six figure car. But this LS will probably sell very well in Japan...
Dude...chillax! that is the color code the tend to give wood. The wood in my BMW is Eucalyptus and there is Piano Black Wood and Myrtle Wood. Go figure.
Why not get rid of all that hybrid complication and weight and drop the 5.7L tundra motor in with a TRD supercharger, rework the exhaust and whatnot to make it quieter (which would've been cheaper than developing this low volume hybrid setup) and bam its done.
It amazes me how many journalists got it wrong with the transmission back in the day with this car...it's an ECVT, it operates of a planetary gear set, completely different to a conventional CVT, mechanically speaking they are completely different which is why the ECVT can take alot of torque and power.
Cooley + Sarcasm = Priceless!
it's not a CVT, it's an E-CVT, composed of planetary gear sets just like an Allison transmission. No reason it would not cope with insane amounts of torque...
and insane amount of torque it has good for 500K kms at least. Using a term 99% of the world uses.
I love Brian Cooley. He is the most entertaining car presenter in the world. The intro is brilliant;
"If you want everything Lexus knows how to put into a production car, this is your Huckleberry! But are you a dumbass for buying one?"
No wish to buy Benz or BMW , Lexus is the best!
Agreed!!!!
@YungGBone124127134 their sedans look good but their SUV's are questionable
the way they've integrated those controls on the console, in groups of buttons surrounded by that wood, reminds me of the old Mercs from the 80s and 90s (like the W140)
Good way to tell you are really old is when you actually like that wood trim.
The best executive sedan of this Planet.
Why do you lie so much?
I think that the cat just made this video. Its really cute omg
It depends on each person.
Personally I have a Class S550 year 2011 and year 2013 Lexus LS460L.
I can comment that the Lexus exceeded my expectations, did not think his driving was so comfortable and traveling as a passenger ahun definitely much better. My next car will be a Lexus Luxury LS version.
Having owned Lexus Ls series 92 and 99 no comparison with S430 or S550 I would rather drive Mercedes just feels better and tons of power
Have a ls 500 now but the quality of when I first drove the 1990 Ls 400 was like a Bentley of today.. wish I kept it sold it in 2004
This guy is the best auto reviewer. With each car, its a personal preference of course but in this LS600hL, you are not benefitting from a hybrid, the sound system is fairly average at 460+ watts, and controller IS distracting while driving. You simply can get better for $140K.
This guy is awful. He hates the car from the very beginning which sets the mood for the rest of the review. I don't mind that he's not a "fan", but at least review the car without acting like a pillock. They crammed as much crap as possible into a car so people would stop complaining they left out some option. A CVT isn't good at handling torque??? They freaking used CVTs in formula 1 cars until they were banned for being too quick and unfair to competitors. Of course why would you expect better gas milage from an almost 3 ton car with a large V8 and a ton of electronics? Yes a turbo diesel might get better gas milage, but just because its a hybrid doesn't mean its going to get 50+ mpg like a Prius. Even hybrid versions of Tahoe's only get a few extra mpg. Why would anyone expect an almost 3 ton luxury hybrid sedan with a long wheel base to handle like a sports car around turns? This guy couldn't even drive around corners without using the entire other lane and he wants to say it can't corner? It never showed him throwing it into a turn to see what the car could do. Please use a better car reviewer...
His last line really nails it...LOL
Why does this guy find ways to make the good things he says about Lexus sound like complaints?!
The auto laser cruise control is absolutely amazing in traffic… it will keep up in traffics but still prevent you driving into the back of someone.
Finally somebody who actually dares to criticize a car. A sensible buyer would observe different reviews, which offers him different angles, and then finally visit the showroom prepared and finally actually test the car himself.
To me, this model suffers from a confused set of priorities. It's a hybrid, but it doesn't really save gas. It wants to perform more, but it's too heavy. It just feels like all the extra expense over a regular ls 460 ultimately didn't go anywhere, an engineering stalemate. I also don't like the mouse interface. If i wanted an LS, i'd just get the regular one at this point.
That's true. I owned a SWB 600h in 2009 but the RWD 460 is a better option as it costs quite less yet feels more agile and responsive.
You clearly don't understand that point of the LS hybrid system lol. I won't waste the keystrokes, I'll just say this... it's not meant to really save on gas.
Thanks, I like your insight.
Khemistry the point is to purchase entry to HOV lanes while driving it solo.
@@quonsetthehutt3105 I honestly can't think of any better justifications.
this guy never disappoints to make me laugh
So your telling me he gets paid to hate????? ........
He gets paid to review the car, which is what he is doing.
He is brutally honest about the cars he reviews and he never sugarcoats things.
when stop at red light, hybrid has no noise and vibration at all. same when you gliding or slow down, nothing can beat that
And most importantly, zero pollution. Which is a critical issue in places like California, London or Paris
I happen to own one of these and i think that CNET needs to get someone that is a real car enthusiast and know what they are talking about and not someone to just run through a car in 10minutes complaining about true luxury. This video definetly does not give people a true review of the car(and i am not just saying that because i own one). Big ups to Lexus for designing such a flagship sedan.
You are stupid for buying this car over a REAL luxury car.
chrisak49 so what do you consider to be a REAL luxury car?
Probably the Equus lol
ZeeHakim you are probably right, lol
Roderick Thomas well, the equus can be a lot of luxury for your money concidering it's a hyundai
on what level of luxury it is, i don't know
Between my LEXUS GS and Lexus RX i have ,and my retired ES accumulated over 26 years of excellent problem free best driving years !!!!simply LEXUS is the best !!!thank you Lexus keep up the good job !!!!
Video is so great, nothing beats knowledge and expertise! Thx, Brian!
OMFG! This is the 4th review I'm watching by this guy. ALL he does is criticize. He wants you to hate the damn car.
he just tells the truth
Agreed. But compare the way he emphasizes on the negatives rather than the positives. He reviews cars like they're pointless stupid things and nothing but means of transportation. I hate this guy.
Mohammed Reshi He would be doing a disservice to not emphasize on the negatives, when you're buying a car you dont want to end up finding something you dont like about it a few weeks after driving it. Its important to know the good and the bad of a car rather than just focusing on the good, thats what separates an enthusiast and a person who just needs transportation.
Lexus is THE highest rated car; to be exact, 7 out 8 world best cars is Japanese, and Lexus finish 1st (Subaru's next). Mercedes (just below SMART, Jeep, and VW) is one of the lowest.
Long Doan Sorry what is this test based on?
"Drove through a flooring store..." that deserves to be quoted.
I love the matte bamboo inlays.
you get a lot of tech tech tech on line, this video clip is as honest as they get. as you can see, the luxury was covered well and not in anyway skipped. this clip show the good, bad and ugly! only a knowledgeable person with confidence can do that.
at first I thought, "That's a pretty nice $50,000 car." Then the price came up and I nearly peed myself. Wtf haha
What kind of 50k car has all of those features?
I thought the same so I saw the price and I spit water everywhere
You're a dumba** if you think that barely cost $50,000. Not even Hyundai's luxury brand Genesis G90 is $50k and yet you think a V8 RWD LS would be that cheap? You're just trolling or seriously out of touch with the luxury market.
The CT6 Platinum competitor is nearly $90,000.
I also worked for mb and you are right there were many cars that did have issues new but for the masses in the first few years the cars overall that were new were fine. but i did work for them in 2010...
Best auto reviewer
Don't get a **** about what this guy says. It's 5 litre 438bhp engine and the fact it's a lexus sold me.
Hey guys, Bryan review the tech on cars and lightly performance. I would rather double check the bads or cons that a car has than the pros that you already know that make you select that car of you like. He's honest in all about tech, because he reviews high end cars to the entry level cars, and surprisingly you'll find nicer and newest tech sometimes on under 30k cars than the luxury ones... Bryan, you are the coolest guy ever..!
this guy sounds like he hates Lexus
He hates every car he reviews
Just because you want to maintain your biases doesn't make Cooley's points any less true.
It's selling at $679,000 in Singapore
It Cost was 13,790,000 THB in Thailand
That comment on the steering wheel wood is why I miss these Brian cooley reviews Ahahaha
Did you know that some of the most powerful industrial tractors and yard machines use CVTs?
In fact, an earlier model of the LS Hybrid made the top 5 list for "brownest hybrids" (the ones that barely get better mpg over the conventional gas-engined counterparts).
he gets to sit in a wonderful car and complains about it
Everything has an imperfection, y'know.
He's a reviewer. He wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't complain about things.
Love the review on this car.
Back seats look amazing to sit in on a road trip :)
I dnt understand alot he's saying but I like watching this guy review cars man!
This is just a critical, this car is amazing just go and test drive it.
As much a Lexus fanboy that i am, i really liked and agreed with much of this review. My LS400 for some reason gets a lot more MPG than labeled on HWY.
GlockLord
i dont like the exterior aesthetic either. In my case i just hate how fat and boring it looks. Cedes does a much better job with how their cars look
If you want to know Brian Cooley is reviewing a vehicle? No dislikes! I have never seen that before, on any video.
Love Lexus. Same car Ari Gold drove in Entourage too lol
I prefer the LS430 cause you could see out of it, all these more modern cars have windows which are too small. I bought an S Type jaguar and its up for sale cause you feel claustrophobic in there compared to our 32 year old XJ6 which has a softer ride too.
This guy is real.... I like his show..
It's CNET, the reviews focus on CAR TECH, which is made pretty evident in every one of their reviews.
This car is the most technologically advanced. Lexus is the best car today according to JD Powers. Nothing compares to the LS.
I can say that I hate the way CVTs perform but my 2007 dodge caliber has 140k on it and it still runs almost as good as it did when my mother bought it in 2007.
Nice but I would like to see how the new Equus compares to this. I'm willing to bet it's an inferior product but considering the money a much more sensible purchase.
4:16 AHHHH KITTY!!!!!!!!! SAH CUTE
the Lexus Ls 600hL and Lexus 460 are so much different. so you can't say how long or how many miles does it takes to get your money back for the price different. I test drive both, the Ls 600hl is much more smooth, much better car. I love every second of my driving experience. its such a luxury car. the only problem is it's way too expensive. it's better idea to buy a used one if you like to have one.
very cute cat!
I enjoy a lot of your reviews, but found this one to be way too negative.
That's because he was taking into account the hybrid part being worth it or not.
so basically using a mouse for this guy is too difficult to handle, lol..
jspr2k5 if you owned one you would know how stupid it is. Its not about being hard. Its a distraction while driving
TheSonyExperience
that's merely the case of having good hand eye coordination..
jspr2k5 No its not. Depending on your size and the length of your arm. Im only 5,7 and its not comfortable to me in the IS350F in combination with the recessed screen
+jspr2k5 >never owned a lexus
>insists on giving opinions
So glad you stopped talking. I couldn't stop laughing at you embarrassing yourself.
WuWei Xu
Never owned a Lexus? I've owned 4 Lexi's since the age of 18. Currently in a IS250 08 model but I've driven the latest versions with this media interface. Had no problems.
Your turn.
Dont think it's ever been a car he really loves
I think, for 140000 G's you can afford pretty loaded Merc S class.
That was a really good response.
Cute cat is cute!
It'd still be nice to have once you reach a certain price point (over $50k).
The LS600h in summary: Too much of everything. Controls, settings, luxury appointments (a surprise really) and the hybrid powertrain is more Toyota boasting what they can do than going for a solid goal like increased performance or MPG.
An engineering test bed at the expense of the buyer.
I have to dissagree on the controls. Remote touch way better logic than Bimmer or Benz I-drive etc.
Damn you're off!
I have a 2015 LS 600hL and my dashboard de-lamented - faulty installation from Lexus. Mine is garaged with 51K miles. Lexus did nothing to correct the problem and replacement cost were - honestly - 16K for new dashboard and 2.5K to install. So I had is re-wrapped and a restoration shop in Denver for 3K. What I also did was legally tint the front windshield to eliminate the UV rays. Disappointed that Lexus did not stand behind their mistake. I want to share my story with all Lexus owners.
Gotta love the last part...
6:59
So true.
And that cat is adorable.
If you want sporty driving, try the Jag XJ or something.
LOL!!! Watch them ankles in the back seat!! 😂
you are right
These are all valid points. Lexus catastrophically missed a chance to target S600 performance here. You more or less get LS460 performance whilst dragging LS600 weight around in the corners.
Hybrids have tank range advantage. Some buyers want longer range on tank of gas.
Would dependability be a concern if you just sold the vehicle for a new one?
4:13 good to know my cat would fit here
"...but are you a dumbass for buying one?" - I love this guy lol
eCVT != CVT. It can handle more torque than conventional torque converter auto. It's a really smart way to get a continuous range of gear ratios using a single planetary gear set --- the design is ingenious. Maybe the drive still feels CVT, though. For cruising, this is perfect; but for high speed driving this thing revs too high.
the mileage is awesome for that much power and weight. how can you say it's not that great? where in the world is a car that weights this much produces this much power can give you that much mileage?
this is sick
This video is exactly why people on this channel, including me, dont prefer to watch other staff host the show. Tell me how you feel and dont be afraid. The rest could learn a thing or two, however i do understand big shoes to fill
L stands for apparently not 3 rows like the Lexus rx
Hey Cooley. How many cups of espresso did you have before this review?
"But are you a dumbass for buying one?" I challenge John Davis to EVER say something like that
Cooley went for the gut shot while reviewing this car... Damn!
A sales rep makes a contribution.
LOL he was rock-in with that Busta Bus
What backroad is that, that youre driving on? Looks like somewhere in Marin
In ten years that lexus will still be on the road and running and that S class will be in the juck yard or in the shop
You can buy a 2007 LS600h (104k new) for $45k today. Hybrids are good deals only when buying used.
What a freaking DRAMA QUEEN!
$121,000 base!!! I spat out my coffee when I heard that! I was not expecting that number at all! That is Maserati and Maybach coin right there. Who the hell is really buying this car with that money? Someone that doesn't want an S Class, or M6 Grand Coupe, or Benz AMG SLS!
That's a gorgeous looking Lexus but the price going over 130K? Despite Toyota's obsession with quality assurance and engineering I don't see it as a six figure car. But this LS will probably sell very well in Japan...
Dude...chillax! that is the color code the tend to give wood. The wood in my BMW is Eucalyptus and there is Piano Black Wood and Myrtle Wood. Go figure.
still runs smoother than those brick like samsungs...
You just made me hungry mentioning a grill.
Why not get rid of all that hybrid complication and weight and drop the 5.7L tundra motor in with a TRD supercharger, rework the exhaust and whatnot to make it quieter (which would've been cheaper than developing this low volume hybrid setup) and bam its done.
A full size car-Prius with AWD and more comfort. And an E-CVT, that’s reliable...
Thanks
Nothing like Toyota,Nissan and Mercedes in terms of best luxury.
hehehe
I think the LS600hL is competing against the S600 and BMW 760Li
Cooley I wanna see more fords thanks
Nice car