Summary
On sale from 2017 to 2024, the Lexus LC certainly made headlines. Top Gear described the coupe as “the most outrageous thing to come from the maker of posh Toyotas since the LFA supercar in 2010.”
The LC was launched as a 2+2 coupe, very mildly refreshed in 2020 with a convertible joining the range at the same time.
There were two powertrain options for the coupé – the LC 500, as its name suggests, boasted a 5.0-litre V8 of 464hp. Being a Lexus, the other option had to be a hybrid, and the LC 500h mated a 3.5-litre petrol engine to an electric motor for 359hp. Naturally, this car was slower to 62mph, taking five seconds compared to the 4.7 seconds of the V8. The convertible was only available with the petrol V8.
The Lexus LC was designed for those who wanted something different to the standard-bearing Porsche 911, though reviewers believed it rivalled everything from the BMW 8 Series to the Aston Martin DB11.
Reviewers were unanimously positive about the 5.0-litre LC 500, with Evo describing it as “a fantastic coupe”. The hybrid earned mixed reviews, however – Evo, once again, describing it as “not inherently bad, but more a calmer GT cruiser”. Top Gear called the hybrid “clever but flawed” whereas the V8 offered lots of character and performance, with a much more effective automatic gearbox.
Testers also preferred the LC 500 V8’s handling, saying that the additional weight of the hybrid model, especially in top spec Luxury trim, made it more cumbersome in corners.
The interior layout also earned praise – despite having very many buttons and switches. Reviewers liked the way the driver’s surroundings were laid out, but added that the rear seats were effectively nothing more than luggage racks.
As of March 2026, the Lexus LC holds a Used Car Expert Rating of E, with a score of 49%. It gets good media review scores, but its ownership costs are inevitably high.
Lexus LC highlights
- V8 offers exciting performance and handling
- Suspension upgrades improve ride
- Hybrid’s clever gearbox better than plain CVT
- Hybrid good for urban stop-start drives
- Complex interior well executed
Lexus LC lowlights
- Indecisive auto gearbox on V8
- Hybrid can’t match V8 for performance
- Hybrid weight affects handling
- Lots of interior buttons
- Back seats only good for luggage storage
Key specifications
Body style: Large 2+2 coupé and convertible
Engines: petrol, petrol-electric hybrid
Price: From £98,960 on-road
Launched: Summer 2017
Last updated: Autumn 2020
Update due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: LC 500 Convertible
Score: 9 / 10
“The Lexus LC 500 Convertible proves that as well as rock-solid reliability and an outstanding dealer network, Lexus has finally learned how to deliver a car that can stir emotions. That achievement might well mean that the LC Convertible has significance way beyond its sales figures.”
Read review
Model reviewed: 5.0-litre petrol automatic LC 500 Limited Edition
Score: 8 / 10
“The Lexus LC is overlooked as a two-door sports car. It may not have the Porsche 911’s precision, but its 5.0-litre V8 is one of the finest engines on the road, and the car looks like nothing else – especially in this Limited Edition spec.”
Read review
Model reviewed: Coupé range
Score: 8 / 10
“Hi-tech Lexus luxury coupe piles on the style to take on the Mercedes SL and BMW 8 Series”
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Auto Trader
Model reviewed: 5.0-litre petrol automatic LC 500 coupé
Score: 8.6 / 10
“The Lexus LC is an eye-catching, beautifully made coupe that has different characters depending on which version you go for. The hybrid is a great cruiser but is not particularly engaging to drive. The V8 model, though, is a really solid touring sports car, with great performance and handling.”
Read review
Car
Model reviewed: LC 500 Convertible
Score: 8 / 10
“Taken on its own merits, the Lexus LC Convertible is a wonderful achievement. It’s a Lexus worth getting excited about, with a glorious engine, stunning styling and all the hallmarks unique to Lexus ownership.”
Read review
Model reviewed: 5.0-litre petrol automatic LC 500 coupé
Score: 8 / 10
“By offering the hybrid LC 500h for the same money as the V8, Lexus is polarising its customers. The hybrid will appeal to early adopters and those who like the idea of a relatively environmentally friendly GT car that’ll cover serious mileage in comfort. The V8 is the better drive.”
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Car Keys
Model reviewed: 3.5-litre petrol/electric hybrid LC 500h coupé
Score: 8 / 10
“The Lexus LC 500h is a car that is hard not to love. It looks incredible, is exceptionally comfortable and would make a fantastic grand touring car. While those wanting a sportier drive are better suited with the V8, if you choose either we’re sure you won’t be disappointed.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: LC 500 Convertible
Score: 8 / 10
“The Lexus LC Convertible is a cultured open-top tourer with a fantastic V8 engine”
Read review
Model reviewed: Coupé range
Score: 8 / 10
“The Lexus LC isn’t the ultimate drivers’ car, but it is a powerful, comfortable and well-built GT.”
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Carwow
Model reviewed: LC 500 Convertible
Score: 9 / 10
“The Lexus LC Convertible is a gorgeous looking car, with a fabulous interior. It’s not the fastest convertible, though and the infotainment system isn’t at all easy to use.”
Read review
Model reviewed: Coupé range
Score: 8 / 10
“The Lexus LC’s styling is so jaw-dropping – and the V8 model’s performance is so invigorating – you may be willing to accept that it isn’t that practical, even for a coupe.”
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Eurekar
“The Lexus LC 500 Convertible Sport Plus is absolutely stunning.”
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Evo
Model reviewed: 5.0-litre petrol automatic LC 500 coupé
Score: 9 / 10
“Charismatic, challenging, distinctive and above all fun to drive, the Lexus LC 500 might be the most underrated new car on sale.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Coupé range
Score: 10 / 10
“where does the LC sit amongst the competition? Well for similar money you can get a BMW M6 or a Jaguar F-Type with the supercharged V6 engine. To be fair, you wouldn’t say no to either of those given the opportunity, but the LC just has that something extra that makes it feel that bit more special.”
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Motors
Model reviewed: Coupé range
Score: 8 / 10
“The LC is Lexus’s range-topping coupe, and it feels just that, with its stunning exterior design and high-quality and classy interior. Luxurious elements such as a standard glass roof and full leather interior cabin are also a key attraction to the cabin.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Coupé range
Score: 8.2 / 10
“High-tech four-seat GT looks like the future.”
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: LC 500 Convertible
“A ten-gear tornado that refines the art of overtaking.” (Jeremy Clarkson)
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: LC Convertible
Score: 8 / 10
“This is an exquisite grand-tourer, backed up by the sanity of Lexus’s build quality and a fabulous warranty. It’s a pity more people who are in the market for such a thing won’t buy one. Frankly, they don’t know what they’re missing.”
Read review
Model reviewed: LC 500 coupé Limited Edition
Score: 8 / 10
“There are few cars that can turn heads quite as well; few that offer such a dramatic switch in character from laid-back grand tourer to whip-crack sports car. If you’re lucky enough to be in a position to buy a car like this, you may well want to pop into your Lexus dealer next time around.”
Read review
Model reviewed: Coupé range
Score: 8 / 10
“In terms of styling, the Lexus LC has to be one of the most desirable GTs on sale today. If you can live with rear seats that are barely useable, and a boot smaller than you’d need for proper touring, it delivers a compelling level of performance, particularly with the V8 under the bonnet.”
Read review
Model reviewed: LC 500h coupé
Score: 8 / 10
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but under the skin this is an old-school GT; refined and comfortable, with good handling, but even greater comfort.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Coupé range
Score: 8 / 10
“Quite simply the Lexus LC is the boldest, most outrageous thing to come from the maker of posh Toyotas since they turned our knees to jelly with the LFA supercar in 2010.”
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
The Lexus LC was not assessed by Euro NCAP during its production life.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
The Lexus LC was not assessed by Green NCAP during its production life.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of March 2026, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Lexus LC to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the LC, we’ll publish the score here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Fuel consumption | Average | Score |
| Petrol models | 24 mpg | E |
| Hybrid models | 35 mpg | D |
| CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Petrol models | 265 g/km | E | ||
| Hybrid models | 184 g/km | D |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 49 | E |
| Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
| Year 1 | £533 | E |
| Year 2 | £1,217 | E |
| Year 3 | £1,826 | E |
| Year 4 | £2,106 | E |
| Year 5 | £2,644 | E |
| Overall | £8,326 | E |
Unsurprisingly, the Lexus LC is not just an expensive car to buy but also an expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Fuel consumption for the 5.0-litre LC 500 is among the worst new cars in the UK, while the hybrid LC 500h is not massively better. Obviously, road tax will also be high as CO2 emissions are very much linked to fuel consumption.
Insurance and servicing costs will also be very high, which is not surprising for a £100K sports car.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Lexus LC has received
2021
- UK Car of the Year Awards – Best Open Top Car
- Women’s World Car of the Year Awards – Best Luxury Car
- Carwow Awards – Best Convertible
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Lexus LC, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Aston Martin DB11 | Bentley Continental GT | Bentley GT Convertible | BMW 8 Series | Jaguar F-Type | McLaren GT | Mercedes-AMG GT | Polestar 1 | Porsche 911
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Lexus LC at The Car Expert
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