2021 Lexus LC Hybrid Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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There are a flurry of changes due for Lexus’ hybrid GT, the LC 500h, in 2021, and the good… nay, the great news is, that the addition of Android Auto is one of the small ones. With increased performance, suspension, and transmission updates joining an updated infotainment system, there’s a lot to be happy about for the 2021 LC 500h. Engineers went to work removing almost 22 lbs of unsprung mass by using aluminum lower suspension arms, hollow anti-roll bars, lighter coil springs, and lighter wheels. This should have a transformative effect on the handling, and allowed Lexus to retune the suspension to take advantage of this change for a smoother ride with more grip.
Going a little bit further, Active Cornering Assist has now been added to the full LC lineup, allowing the car to brake the inside wheels to keep your line through a turn if things start to get hairy. Additionally, shift timing on the 500h has been updated to optimize both performance and efficiency, depending on how you’re driving. There have also been some cosmetic changes as Bespoke White Leather has been discontinued from the interior palette, while Rioja Red Leather has been replaced with Flare Red. On the outside, look for two new paint options—Cadmium Orange and Nori Green Pearl.
The loss of 22 lbs of unsprung mass is one of those updates that sounds boring to your average consumer but can have an astonishing effect on the handling characteristics of a car, and this goes double for the heavier LC 500h. With the extra weight of the batteries and the electric motors, every pound lost is welcome.
That’s not to say the LC 500h is some sort of lumbering behemoth. Sure, it can’t scoot like its gasoline V8 brothers, but with a 3.5-liter V6 paired to two electric motors, you’re still getting 354 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. That means you’ll hit 60 mph in 4.7 seconds as opposed to the LC 500’s 4.4-second time. Truthfully, you’d be hard-pressed to really notice that .3 seconds, but what you will notice is how rarely you have to hit the pump. The best the LC 500 can manage is 16 mpg city and 25 highway, 19 combined. The LC 500h? 26 city, 34 highway, and 29 combined. That’s a HUGE difference. The LC 500h manages these impressive numbers thanks to an innovative transmission design that works in concert with the hybrid system. Here, a traditional 4-speed automatic is embedded inside a continuously variable transmission (CVT), providing the equivalent of 10 gears and all the performance you need while still maximizing efficiency.
There are no trims to choose from, so all you have to do is decide your options. Thankfully, the LC 500h comes quite well equipped before you even start tacking on the costly features. An adjustable suspension, heated and ventilated leather front seats, navigation, and heated auto-dimming mirrors are all standard. You’ll get a 10.3-inch display, and a long list of safety features that include adaptive cruise control with forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and auto high beams. From there, you can augment your experience to your own liking. Want more performance? Go with a carbon-fiber roof, limited-slip differential, variable-ratio steering, and active rear steering. Tech more your forte? How about a head-up display and a 13-speaker Mark Levinson stereo? And we’re not even getting into the long list of cosmetics, like unique 20 and 21-inch wheels.
In all, the LC 500h represents an interesting alternative to the typical GT cruiser—fast and fancy, while still getting better gas mileage than a lot of compacts. That’s hard to beat, as long as you can afford the price of entry.
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2021 Lexus LC Hybrid Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · IHeartRadio internet radio · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · HD radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 11
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Electronic parking brake: auto off · Front brake diameter: 15.7 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 14.1 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Center console trim: leather · Dash trim: leather · Door sill trim: scuff plate · Door trim: leatherette · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Foot pedal trim: aluminum · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Adaptive stop and go cruise control: semi-automatic · Autonomous lane guidance: lane centering · Center console: with lighting · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: covered · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Easy entry: power passenger · Memorized settings: side mirrors · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): USB front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: phone · Storage: cargo tie-down anchors and hooks · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.36
Engine
EV battery capacity: 1.1 kWh · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 177 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 132 · Electric Motor Torque: 221 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP: 295 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP@RPM: 6600 · Hybrid Gas Engine Torque: 257 · Hybrid gas Engine Torque@RPM: 4900
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: dual exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: chrome surround · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Window trim: black
Headrests
Adjustable rear headrests: integrated headrests · Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Hybrid
Starter Type: motor/generator
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: Google POIs · Infotainment: Enform · Infotainment screen size: 10.3 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Instrument cluster screen size: 8 in. · Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Exterior entry lights: puddle lamps · Headlights: auto delay off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: reverse gear tilt
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 8
Rear Seats
Rear seat upholstery: leatherette · Type: bucket
Roof
Moonroof: sliding sunshade · Sunroof: fixed glass
Safety
Automatic emergency braking: front pedestrian · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Cross Traffic Alert: rear · Crumple zones: rear · Impact sensor: fuel cut-off · Pre-Collision Warning System: audible warning · Pre-collision warning system: pedestrian detection · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front and rear · Seatbelt pretensioners: front and rear · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: sport bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: height · Upholstery: perforated
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Steering
Turns lock-to-lock: 2.6
Suspension
Driver Adjustable Suspension: ride control · Front Arm Type: lateral links · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: strut · Rear Shock Type: coil over shock · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front · Suspension control: electronic
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Navigation app: Waze · Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app compatibility: Enform Remote Connect · Smart device app function: engine start · Wifi: hotspot
Tires
Type: summer performance
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Wheels
Wheel spokes: 10
Windows
Front wipers: speed sensitive · Power windows: with safety reverse