My eight-year-old son got a taste of the high life this week. Comfortably ensconced in a tilting, heated, air-conditioned and massaging throne amid fine leather, wood trim and electronic gadgets galore, Mr President haughtily ordered the chauffeur, i.e. Daddy, to take him somewhere.

The Lexus LS 460L is a car that offers comfort, safety and performance in a package that stands out from the crowd. (Photo : Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)

My heir apparent had the privilege of sitting in the back row of Lexus’ standard-bearer, the mighty LS 460L. No way was he going to forgo watching the movie he’d started at breakfast: His Highness would enjoy his DVD on one of the entertainment screens mounted on the rear seats. Diego’s voice has never sounded so clear. Which is only natural, as Lexus put Mark Levinson in charge of sound via 19 loud speakers! To think that back in my day, our choice of travel entertainment was limited to a sing-along with mom and dad…

The rear of this Lexus has more in common with the rich appointments of a private jet – even the first-class accommodations of a regular airline don’t measure up to all this luxury, all this comfort and, especially, all these features. The outstandingly spacious cabin offers enough room for one to stretch in all directions. Note, however, that the seat separator in the middle limits the number of passengers to four. Also, the extra space along with the tilting seats amputate trunk space to the point that it can only accommodate two measly golf bags.

As for the driver’s side, there’s really nothing to find fault with, other than the somewhat baroque style of the dash board, which is not as elegant as the competition’s. You’ll need a few days to get used to this car, which has been buried in a veritable avalanche of buttons and accessories. Some of them are less efficient than others, such as the Parking Assist system. On the other hand, the Lane Keeping Assist function reads the markings on the road and corrects the vehicle’s trajectory after emitting an audible warning signal.

Fans of Japanese machines will appreciate the brand’s L-Finess design language. Slightly revised this year, the LS 460L inherits updated bumpers, grille, and tail lights, now featuring DEL and neon technology, as well as a set of new 18-inch wheels. Personally, I’m not as impressed. I don’t get the same sense of radiant prestige as I do from a Jaguar XJL (385 hp, $95,500), Audi A8L (350 hp, $100,000) or Mercedes-Benz S550 (382 hp, $123,500), for instance.

The outstandingly spacious cabin offers enough room for one to stretch in all directions. (Photo : Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)

More than just a sofa on wheels
Lexus has been pursuing perfection for a while now. On the sound management front alone, the entire undercarriage is covered in order to restrict airflow and direct wind turbulence. The chassis now features an anti-vibration subframe that counters the effects of road imperfections and ensures a silent ride.

It’s obvious that the engineers put the emphasis on comfort. The suspension is ultra smooth and two-way adjustable. The Sport mode didn’t quite have me convinced, but the Comfort setting transforms this big Lexus into a truly delicious machine. It has fallen victim to its high quality, however: behind the wheel the experience is completely clinical, eschewing all contact with the outside world.

Its 380 ponies and 344 ft-lb of torque offer excellent accelerations and strong throttle response. (Photo : Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)

Though the car is known for its sleep-inducing drive, I actually had quite a lot of fun behind the wheel. The efficient, precise steering really stands out and the handling is great, especially seeing as the AWD offers the desired traction when things get slippery. Its overall manoeuvrability is excellent. The ventilated brakes are powerful and bring the car to a stop without undue effort.

And the LS is never short on engine power. The 4.6-litre, V8 mill is always up to the challenge. Its 380 ponies and 344 ft-lb of torque offer excellent accelerations and strong throttle response. Of course, the engine’s smoothness is intensified by the eight-speed Super Electronically Controlled Transmission. Other than operating completely invisibly, it helps ensure overall decent fuel consumption of 12 litres per 100 km.

All good things must come to an end
The Lexus LS 460L is a car that offers comfort, safety and performance in a package that stands out from the crowd. But though it is imposing, it nonetheless remains discrete compared to the competition. For $112,000, it’s designed to satisfy the whims of prosperous entrepreneurs – not eight-year-old presidents.