Lexus LS 500h running costs, insurance, warranty & tax
Fuel consumption aside, the Lexus LS 500h's hybrid nature does little to rein in its quite considerable running costs – especially when compared to a plug-in hybrid alternative
| Insurance group | Warranty | Service intervals | 2021/22 company-car tax cost (20%/40%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 3yrs / 60,000 miles | 1yr / 10,000 miles | From £5,771 / £11,542 |
At around 37mpg, the fuel consumption of the Lexus LS 500h may match or beat its petrol and hybrid rivals, but aside from a (Lexus-claimed) unusually low rate of depreciation, other running costs fall squarely in line with what you'd expect of a big, heavy, petrol-powered luxury saloon.
Even the entry-level model is priced close to £80,000, and the "self-charging" LS 500h doesn't qualify for any plug-in car grant. As mentioned before, it offers company-car drivers a slight BiK advantage over its petrol and diesel rivals, but comes nowhere near matching plug-in hybrid models in this respect.
Consumable items such as tyres and brake parts will prove very costly if you make frequent use of all the car's performance, and service intervals are a relatively frequent 10,000 miles apart.
Lexus LS 500h insurance group
No matter which version of the Lexus LS you go for, your insurance premium will be calculated on the top group 50 rating, so it won't be all that cheap. It's worth seeking a quote before you make a decision to buy, as the cost will vary depending on your circumstances and location.
Warranty
Every Lexus sold in the UK is covered by a three-year/60,000 mile warranty, a three-year paintwork warranty and a 12-year anti-corrosion and perforation warranty. This matches the warranty offered by Audi, but falls short of the unlimited-mileage guarantees offered by BMW and Mercedes.
When your warranty expires, it can be extended at a cost of £1,495 for an additional year, or £2,395 for 24 months more cover. If you expect to cover more than 60,000 miles during the three years of your standard warranty, an extended warranty removes any mileage ceiling as well as providing an additional 12 or 24 months of coverage. A Lexus extended warranty can be applied to any car that's under 10 years old and whose mileage doesn't exceed 140,000.
Servicing
Relatively frequent service intervals mean the LS 500h will need to visit a workshop more often than its German rivals. An intermediate service is required every 10,000 miles, with a major service every 20,000 miles. The 100,000-mile service, meanwhile, includes a coolant change.
Every service includes a 'hybrid health check', which also covers the battery with a year or 10,000-mile warranty. Lexus service prices are standardised between the brand's official workshops, so there's no need to shop around – just choose which UK branch is most convenient.
Road tax
With a price list that starts at close to £80,000, the Lexus LS 500h smashes the £40,000 barrier for the higher rate of road tax (VED), so you'll pay £480 the first five times you renew its tax. From the sixth time of taxing it onwards, that figure reverts to the £145 basic rate for hybrids.
