Used 2018 Lexus LS for SaleNationwide

How much does the 2018 Lexus LS cost?

Prices have softened 5.25% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 216 listings available, which gives you a solid pool of options to compare.

Is the 2018 Lexus LS a good car?

Yes — the 2018 Lexus LS earns a 4.8/5 user rating and an 8/10 expert rating, which points to broad appeal on both ownership satisfaction and road-test evaluation. The model scores 9/10 across Cost effectiveness and Safety.

Drivers consistently praise its quiet cabin, premium interior materials, and great handling, and they also describe the car as smooth, powerful, and reliable. The overview frames it as a full-size luxury sedan that blends comfort with driving polish, while the expert verdict emphasizes that it delivers after more than 800 miles of testing.

The main trade-offs are its potentially polarizing design and unintuitive technology. Even so, if you want a luxurious flagship sedan with strong road manners and a value-minded ownership story, this one fits that brief well. With 34.7% of listings marked as good or great deals, the market still offers some room to shop carefully.

Is the 2018 Lexus LS reliable?

Owners rate it 4.8/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction. User feedback also points to a dependable, trouble-free feel, with buyers highlighting the car’s strong value, reliability, and the kind of ownership experience you can count on over time.

The expert evaluation reinforces that reputation by tying the LS to Lexus’s long-standing emphasis on reliability, value, and customer service. It also notes that the brand built its reputation around durability and customer care, which supports the LS’s appeal as a long-term luxury purchase.

If you’re buying used, the main ownership risk is less about the core mechanical package and more about finding a well-kept example with the right maintenance history and condition.

What should I look for when buying a used 2018 Lexus LS?

At 58.8% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle-history report and then prioritize a thorough pre-purchase inspection, especially if the car has been in any prior collision. Focus on body condition, panel alignment, interior wear, and whether the technology and driver-assistance features work as intended. Because this is a luxury sedan with a lot of equipment, you’ll want to make sure the car’s condition matches its asking price.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: On the F Sport trim, the gray 20-inch wheels, blacked-out grille, and reshaped air intakes give the car a more aggressive look, while the regular LS 500 can be specified with laser-cut glass trim, herringbone wood, and other exotic materials inside.
• Powertrain: The LS 500 uses a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 with 416 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and it’s offered with rear- or all-wheel drive. The hybrid LS 500h adds two electric motors, a lithium-ion battery, and 354 combined horsepower.
• Safety package: Lexus Safety System+ comes standard with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, auto high beams, and blind-spot monitoring. Lexus Safety System+ A adds active steering for semi-autonomous control on marked highways, front cross-traffic alert, and road-sign detection.
• Infotainment: The main screen includes an onboard owner’s manual with videos, custom route programming, traffic checks on specific roads, and 360-degree cameras that can automatically pan around the vehicle. An optional 24-inch head-up display is also available.
• Fuel efficiency: Rear-wheel-drive models are rated at 19 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, while all-wheel drive drops to 18/27. The hybrid improves efficiency to 25/33 for rear-wheel drive and 23/31 for all-wheel drive.

Which 2018 Lexus LS trim should I buy?

The 2018 Lexus LS is offered in 3 trim levels: LS 500, LS 500 F Sport, LS 500h.

Here's the short version:

• LS 500: This is the best-value choice if you want the core LS experience, including the twin-turbo V6, 10-speed automatic, and the car’s quiet, premium character without paying for the sportier hardware or hybrid system.
• LS 500 F Sport: This is the trim to choose if you care most about handling. The expert test drive highlights the optional F Sport Performance Package with rear-axle steering, active stabilizer bars, staggered summer tires, and variable-ratio steering, making it the most engaging version.
• LS 500h: Choose this if you want the hybrid powertrain and its efficiency gains, along with the same flagship luxury feel.

Lexus Safety System+ comes standard, while Safety System+ A is the upgrade if you want the added driver-assistance features.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2018 Lexus LS?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop with some leverage if you’re patient and compare condition carefully.

• Deal availability: 34.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 216 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 5.25% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 58.8% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $37,088, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2018 Lexus LS's resale value?

The current average of $37,088 sits slightly below last year's $39,142.

That tells you the market has softened, which can help you buy more affordably now but may also limit upside if you plan to resell soon. For a future seller, the key takeaway is that pricing discipline matters: a clean, well-optioned example should still attract interest, but overpricing will be harder to justify in a softer market.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.8/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2018 Lexus LS safe?

The LS 500 has not been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

Lexus Safety System+ comes standard with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, auto high beams, and blind-spot monitoring. Rear-side thorax airbags are also standard, and Lexus Safety System+ A adds active steering for semi-autonomous control on marked highways, front cross-traffic alert, and road-sign detection.

Should I buy a 2018 Lexus LS or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2018 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2018 if:

• 34.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 58.8% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 5.25% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.8/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The expert verdict says it delivers after more than 800 miles of testing, reinforcing its appeal as a refined, capable flagship.

The bottom line: If you want the strongest mix of value, comfort, and driving polish, the 2018 is a compelling buy. If you’re especially price-sensitive, keep shopping the market closely for a clean, well-priced example, since the softer pricing trend and decent inventory make that possible.

How does the 2018 Lexus LS compare to the 2018 BMW 7 Series?

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 3, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.