Since the late 1980s, the Lexus LS has been the company’s flagship luxury sedan, serving as a tempting alternative to its more expensive German rivals. For 2018, Lexus introduced an all-new fifth generation LS, with three models available. Covered here is the most popular model, the LS 500.The LS 500 is available with either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and there is an available performance-oriented F Sport package. As it’s a pretty fresh design, the car goes into 2019 unchanged.

There is only one powertrain available for the 2019 LS 500; it’s a 3.5-liter V6 with two turbochargers that makes 416 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. This V6 drives either the rear wheels or all four through a 10-speed automatic transmission, sipping premium fuel. It will get 19 mpg city and 30 highway with RWD or 18 and 27 with AWD. Those are pretty respectable figures for a big sedan, but fuel-conscious shoppers might be interested in the hybrid model that gets up to 33 mpg. The LS 500 is a luxury car first and foremost, but the available F Sport package adds rear-wheel steering, an active stabilizer, stickier staggered tires, and variable ratio steering in the interest of better handling.

Both in front and back, the LS 500 is a roomy car; trunk space measures an impressive 17 cubic feet. Power features and high-quality fit and finish abound, while models equipped with the F Sport package receive sportier seats, a different gauge cluster, a suede headliner, and aluminum pedals and trim. Lexus’s infotainment system is centered on a 12.3-inch display screen and operated by a touchpad, which has been criticized for being a bit clumsy. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay aren’t included.

An Executive package emphasizes rear-seat comfort with 22-way heated and cooled seats that have shiatsu-style and hot-stone massage functions, an ottoman for the right side rear seat, four-zone automatic climate control, and a touchscreen panel in the rear armrest that can adjust climate control settings, lighting, and the stereo.

The Lexus LS hasn’t gone through crash testing, but the optional Lexus Safety System+ suite of safety features includes automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, active steering, front cross-traffic alert, road-sign detection, and semi-autonomous driving on marked highways. Blind-spot monitoring, meanwhile, comes standard, along with 10 years of the Enform Safety Connect with telematics services.

The Lexus LS competes with high-tier European models like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series, Jaguar XJ, and Audi A8. While not quite as sporty or sophisticated, the LS is among the freshest designs of the group and a solid value. And for those looking for a little more excitement, the F Sport package should liven things up plenty.