2002 Best Luxury Car Over $40,000

Lexus established itself with the LS400, and the current version, the LS430, continues to be its iconic car. No other Lexus delivers more convincingly on the marque's promise, "the passionate pursuit of perfection." And the particular field of automotive perfection that Lexus has pursued more successfully than any other is that of the luxury sedan.

Quite simply, the LS430 nails the luxury-sedan formula in all the key areas. It's so quiet it could be in deep space, so smooth-riding it could be levitating. The controls move with an expensive fluidity. The cabin is stretch-out spacious, and its materials are of the finest quality. The 290-horsepower V-8 engine is so smooth that it seems to have no moving parts, yet it moves the LS430 with alacrity, sending it from 0 to 60 mph quicker than a Mercedes-Benz S430. Then there's the human factor: In a world full of hassles, dealing with your Lexus dealer usually is not one of them.

Naysayers will claim that the LS430's driving experience amounts to bland perfection and that its appearance lacks personality. But understand that the LS430's silent fulfillment of its mission is a luxury itself. Like the ideal concierge or butler, the LS430 serves utterly unobtrusively. In some sense, this is an old-fashioned philosophy of luxury, and some people will consider it a failing. It's true that when compared with more expensive luxury sedans, the big Lexus doesn't make as loud a statement about its owner. But for those secure enough to spend less, there isn't a better luxury car out there.