The 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible is sure a head turner with its stunning good looks. It also boasts dynamic handling and a sumptuous interior. Cruising down the highway with the top down will sure put a smile on your face! While the LC 500 may not have the sheer athleticism or extreme opulence of some rivals, it stands out among luxury sports cars. The one real drawback is its cumbersome infotainment system.
2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible
Base Price: $101,000
As Tested: $113,490
Horsepower: 471
Mileage: 15 mpg city/25 mpg highway/18 mpg combined
The LC 500 is available as a coupe or convertible, which was added for 2021. Starting prices range from $92,950 to $119,800. The 2020 model is also available as a hybrid, the LC 500h which starts at $97,510. Rear-wheel-drive is standard.
The LC 500 is powered by a naturally aspirated V8 that makes 471 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The LC 500 Convertible is a blast to drive. Start it up and the growling exhaust note signals that the LC 500 is ready to go! Acceleration is brisk—the LC 500 can rocket from zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. Steering is responsive and moves like merging and passing at freeway speeds are effortless. The LC 500 is a joy to cruise down the highway and also handles well over twisty back roads with little body lean when cornering. The ride is exceptionally smooth, even on bumpy roads. Visibility to the sides and rear is hampered when the top is up.
It’s a breeze to put the convertible top up and down. With the push of a button, the soft-top goes up or down in 15 seconds and you can even do it while driving at speeds up to 31 mph.
Fuel economy is about what you’d expect for a luxury sports car with a V8. EPA ratings for my tester are 15 mpg city and 25 mpg highway with a combined rating of 18. I got 18 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving.
The sumptuous interior is beautiful, stylish and loaded with top-notch materials including buttery leather. Craftsmanship is excellent with all the piping, quilting and stitches perfectly in place. The front seats are supportive and comfortable. The back seat, well, that’s another story. Theoretically the LC 500 can fit four passengers, but the backseat is very cramped, and humans won’t be comfortable there for anything longer than a very short trip. However, the back seat is a great spot to stash groceries and gear since the trunk is so small.
Standard features include keyless entry, push-button start, rearview camera, leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, 10-way power driver front seats with two-way power lumbar support and memory for driver, 8-inch LCD TFT multi-information display, 10.3-inch high-resolution infotainment display, the Remote Touch controller, 12-speaker audio system, HD Radio, satellite radio, navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (new for 2021), Amazon Alexa, Wi-Fi Hotspot, two USB ports, 12V socket, a deodorizing and a dust/pollen-removing interior air filter.
Available features include upgraded leather upholstery, front sport seats with Alcantara inserts and additional side support, heated steering wheel, 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio system and a head-up display. Coupe models have an optional panoramic glass or carbon fiber roof.
Standard driver assistance technologies include blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control pedestrian detection, and automatic high-beam headlights. Some of these are part of the Lexus Safety System+.
Available driver assistance technologies include front and rear parking sensors.
The infotainment system definitely needs improving. It’s controlled by a laptop-like track pad which is not user friendly and downright distracting to use while driving. It can be frustrating when you have to wade through menus for common functions such as turning on the heated or cooled seats. Thankfully, there are steering wheel controls for many functions, and the system responds quickly to voice commands.
The trunk is tiny, even for a sports car. There are only 5.4 cubic feet, enough for a few grocery bags. Thankfully you can stash stuff in the backseat, since humans won’t be comfortable there.
The good:
Stunning looks
It’s a blast to drive
Smooth ride
Beautiful, elegant interior with upscale materials
Standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa
The not-so-good:
Clunky infotainment system
Tiny trunk
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $101,000. 21-inch forged Alloy wheels with polished finish and gloss black accents are $2,650. The head-up display is $900. The Torsen limited slip differential and Yamaha performance damper are $460. Premium paint is $595. Carbon scuff plates are $600. The Touring Package is $5,290 and includes semi-aniline leather-trimmed front seats, climate concierge with upper body heating, heated steering wheel, windshield de-icer, embossed headrests and Mark Levinson 13-speaker surround sound audio system. Paint protection film by 3M is $430. All-weather floor liners are $170. Door edge film by 3M is $90. Trunk mat, cargo net, wheel locks and key gloves are $280. Deliver fee is $1,025 bringing the grand total to $113,490.
Lexus LC 500 Bottom line:
The Lexus LC 500 Convertible is a joy to drive with its lively performance and elegant interior. It may not be as sporty or posh as some competitors, but its performance, comfortable ride and stunning good looks will put a smile your face as you cruise with the top down. The only real drawback is the clunky infotainment system. If you can spend six figures on a sports car, check out the Lexus LC 500.
