2022 Lexus LC Convertible

The 2022 Lexus LC Convertible is a drop-top for right-brained individuals. It's said that this side of the brain focuses on aspects like intuition, imagination, and emotions. Well, if any car appeals to the emotions at the expense of some logic, it's this one. The thirsty, 471-horsepower, 5.0-liter naturally-aspirated V8 can't compete with the turbocharged units in the Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet or BMW 8 Series Convertible, but the LC's engine is more evocative by some distance. The Lexus also has striking styling, a sumptuous cabin finished in the finest materials, and eschews fast lap times for a buttery smooth ride. The more sensible left side of the brain tells us that the 911 is faster, more dynamically talented, and more fuel-efficient - and it would be right. Both it and the 8 Series also have the option of a secure all-wheel-drive system. But the way the rear-wheel-drive Lexus panders to the senses is second to none. It's an object of desire first, and everything else follows. For that reason, it's hard not to love.

The Lexus LC 500 Convertible is simply beautiful. While the brand's spindle grille is a bit overdone on other models, it works well on the seek LC. The sharp headlight and taillight clusters give both ends of the car a distinctive look. Being a six-figure car, the LC Convertible comes with premium triple-beam LED headlights, flush exterior door handles, and shiny 20-inch split-10-spoke alloy wheels. The power soft-top roof can be opened or closed at speeds of up to 31 mph, a process that takes no more than 16 seconds. Nine paint colors are offered this year including the likes of Nori Green, Flare Yellow, and Cadmium Orange, with default black or Sand-colored soft-tops.

The Inspiration Series is distinguished by a power soft-top roof in Dark Rose and larger 21-inch forged alloy wheels with a Gloss Black finish and machined accents. Whether with the top up or down, the Lexus looks fabulous.

Other than height, the LC 500 Convertible shares its dimensions and size with the LC 500 Coupe. The Lexus measures 187.4 inches in length, 75.6 inches in width, 53.2 inches in height, and has a 113-inch wheelbase. It's a heavy car at 4,540 pounds which does blunt performance somewhat. By comparison, the base LC 500 Coupe is 200 lbs lighter.

The 5.0-liter naturally-aspirated V8 engine powering the Lexus is both a strength and a weakness. The absence of turbocharging means that it isn't as powerful or economical as some competitors, yet it's because of this fact that the V8 provides smooth and linear power delivery. It also emits a delightful growl that is greatly appreciated with the roof down.

The V8's specifications are good; it generates 471 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and directing power to the rear wheels only, the LC 500 Convertible takes 4.6 seconds for the 0-60 mph run. It can reach a top speed of 168 mph, electronically limited. Both the BMW 8 Series Convertible and Porsche 911 Cabriolet have better performance specs and come with all-wheel drive, but the old-school powertrain in the Lexus adds to the emotional appeal of the car.

Lexus and luxury may as well be synonyms, so closely associated is the marque with comfort and effortlessly shutting out the annoyances of the outside world during every commute. Most of the time, the LC Convertible supports this sterling reputation. Despite the large wheels, the Lexus soaks up bumps and rough patches of tarmac with aplomb, with no jostling of driver or passenger to detract from the premium experience. When the layered fabric roof is up, it does a remarkable job of isolating occupants from road noise. When it's down, it's possible to speak to your co-pilot at over 60 mph without shouting.

As a GT, then, the LC Convertible is quite excellent. But what about as a sports car? Here, the weight of the Lexus and some shudder visible via the rearview mirror are reminders that it isn't as athletic or rigid as a 911. Despite this, the steering's weighting is spot-on and, as long as the bends aren't too acute and the speeds illegally high, the LC is enjoyable to drive. Extending the V8 on open stretches of road is hugely fun, but try to keep your eye off the fuel gauge when doing so.

A Torsen limited-slip rear differential and Yamaha rear performance dampers are available optionally, and although these do make for a more dynamic car, we don't believe the LC Convertible needs them.

Unlike the LC Coupe, the LC Convertible doesn't have the option of a hybrid powertrain. As a result, the gas mileage figures aren't great. The drop-top returns an EPA-rated 15/25/18 mpg city/highway/combined, making it far less efficient than the BMW 840i Convertible's 22/29/25 mpg. Even the much more powerful M850i xDrive is 1 mpg more efficient on the combined cycle.

Equipped with a 21.7-gallon gas tank, the Lexus LC open-top can cover approximately 390 miles on a full tank.

Although there are back seats, they are exceedingly small with only 28 inches of legroom. For that reason, the LC 500 Convertible is best approached as a two-seater with space for small children or some extra cargo at the back. Those seated in front have a much more generous 42 inches of legroom and a fair amount of headroom at 36.7 inches. The front seats are both power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated. They remain comfortable even after extended periods behind the wheel. From here, the driver and passenger will appreciate one of the classiest cabins in the business. Materials are plush and there are many creature comforts to make every trip a pleasure.

The standard leather interior comes in a choice of Black or Toasted Caramel. With the optional Touring Package, Circuit Red leather replaces the previous choices. The limited Inspiration Series adds special stainless steel scuff plates, Black/Dark Rose semi-aniline leather seats, and embossed headrests.

Packing lightly will be crucial for every extended trip in the Lexus LC Convertible as the trunk measures a measly 3.4 cubic feet. The trunk is particularly shallow so taller items won't be able to fit as they would in a sedan. Fortunately, the back seats provide more storage space but nothing stored here will be quite as secure.

Inside, there is an extremely tiny glovebox and only one cupholder sited ahead of the shift lever. There are door pockets but these are also smaller than average, and odds and ends can also be placed beneath the center armrest.

Straight out of the box, the Lexus LC 500 cabrio comes with many creature comforts. It has dual-zone climate control, a wind deflector, push-button start, an illuminated entry system, magnesium shift paddles, and a power-operated roof. Both front seats are heated, ventilated, and electrically adjustable in eight directions. As there are no other trims, it's not hard to spec your chosen model.

Driver assistance kit includes all-speed dynamic radar cruise control, intelligent high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and a backup camera. There are a couple of extras added to the limited Inspiration Series like a head-up display, a SmartAccess key card, a windshield wiper de-icer, a heated steering wheel, and upper body heating which is a useful feature in a convertible. Most of these features can be added to the base model optionally.

Lexus has only recently begun improving its infotainment interfaces but the one in the LC Convertible still needs some work. The Enform system's remote touch controller is complicated to use on the move and turns what should be simple tasks into cumbersome exercises. The actual 10.3-inch color screen looks clear, but it is simply not as good as more modern interfaces.

Features are plentiful, with the LC coming with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Alexa compatibility, a Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth, USB connectivity, HD Radio, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Navigation is standard, as is a 12-speaker premium sound system, but Lexus will replace this with a 13-speaker, 915-watt Mark Levinson system for an added cost.

Most Lexus models promise a trouble-free ownership experience. J.D. Power's LC Convertible review is evidence of this; the 2021 model attained a good score of 84 out of 100. Since being launched for the 2021 model year, the new Lexus LC Convertible has been entirely free of any recalls in the US.

Lexus sells the LC with a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. Complimentary scheduled maintenance runs for one year or 10,000 miles.

There isn't any Lexus LC roadster safety review to tell us how the car will perform in a crash. Of course, it's normal for expensive vehicles like this one to miss out on crash testing.

At least the Lexus has come to the party with its safety suite. As part of Lexus Safety System Plus, the LC Convertible comes with a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, all-speed dynamic radar cruise control, and intelligent high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are useful features that will often come into play in day-to-day driving scenarios. The drop-top also enjoys intuitive parking assist with automatic braking.

In the unlikely event of a rollover, active roll bars are designed to extend upwards to support the car. Occupants are also protected by six airbags, while the driver has access to a backup camera.

For the right kind of buyer, the Lexus LC Convertible is a wonderful car. Let's say, for instance, that the driver of an LS sedan is looking for something more exciting now that the kids have left the nest. In this case, the LC Convertible will be an absolute joy with its charismatic V8, tidy handling, and ravishing styling. The more hardcore enthusiast will prefer the razor-sharp responses of a 911, but not everyone wants to go tearing across a mountain pass at every opportunity. The LC Convertible delivers a measured amount of entertainment but wrapped in the classy veneer that is expected of a Lexus. Its engine is now one of the last of a dying breed without either forced induction or electrification, which is almost reason enough alone to buy the car. We lament the high price and the fussy infotainment system, but the LC Convertible remains a stellar drop-top. So long as you think of the LC as a grand tourer in the same vein as an Aston Martin DB11 rather than a sports car like the 911, you'll be in for a treat.

The 2022 Lexus LC 500 Convertible's price starts at $102,275, including the destination charge. At $116,655, the LC 500 Convertible Inspiration Series is quite a bit pricier than some other similar convertibles for sale in the USA. The base Lexus LC Convertible will cost well over $110,000 with a few options added. By comparison, the BMW 840i xDrive Convertible - as fast as the Lexus but more efficient - starts at a $97,300 MSRP. There is also a rear-wheel-drive 840i with pricing for this model starting at $94,400.

Getting hold of the Inspiration Series model won't be easy so we'll start with the normal LC 500 Convertible as a base. To this model, we'd add Infrared paint at $595, the Toasted Caramel interior, and the 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system at $1,220. That would bring the total to just over $104,000. We'd be tempted by the Touring Package's semi-aniline leather, upper body heating, 21-inch wheels, and other extras, but it's priced at a considerable $7,940.

The Inspiration Series adds 21-inch 3D machined wheels, black and Dark Rose trim elements, a Dark Rose soft-top, serialized badging as a 1-of-150 limited edition, and a few bits of extra kit like a head-up display and the 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.

At less than half the price of the LC Convertible, the RC Coupe is far more affordable than its bigger brother. Because of the massive price differential, we'll ignore the cheaper RC models entirely for the sake of this comparison. At the top of the range, the RC 350 F Sport begins at just over $50,000 and comes with a 311-hp V6. It's 1.2 seconds slower than the LC 500 Convertible to 60 mph and, of course, it doesn't have the novelty of top-down driving. The RC 350 F Sport is a little sportier to drive and has a comfortable cabin, but the LC feels a lot more special with its superlative quality and full list of features. Both cars have a minuscule back seat but the RC's trunk is far more practical. The RC is not a bad way to save $50,000 but the LC is the more desirable car here.

BMW has taken a much more modern approach to the 8 Series Convertible. It has a smaller turbocharged engine that provides comparable performance to the LC's V8 in xDrive guise, yet is a lot more economical. The 8 Series also starts off at a cheaper price, is a more agile and responsive car overall, and has superior integration of the latest technologies in its cabin. Despite all of this, the LC feels more unique. The 8 Series is a bit more anonymous and clinical than we expect a high-end drop-top to be, whereas the Lexus draws you in with its seductive design, beautifully tailored interior, and sonorous V8. It also promises to be more dependable than the German in the long run. The head says that the BMW is the superior car here but the heart aches for the Lexus.