Lexus LS460 review: still the least-worried way to buy a used flagship in Bahrain
4.2/5MotorsSouq Editorial Team
The LS460 is the sensible enthusiast's flagship: quieter, more comfortable and considerably cheaper to run than an S-Class or 7 Series of the same age, with an eight-speed automatic and V8 combination that has proven durable over more than a decade of Gulf service. Buy the post-2013 facelift for the Pre-Collision System and sharper styling if budget allows, and inspect the air suspension on LS460L long-wheelbase cars the same way you would on an LS430.
Pros
- World-first eight-speed automatic paired with a strong, durable V8
- LS460L long-wheelbase option offers genuine limousine-grade rear space
- Post-2013 facelift adds Pre-Collision System and Lane Keep Assist
- Considerably cheaper to run than an equivalent-age S-Class or 7 Series
Cons
- Air suspension on LS460L variants ages the same way it did on the LS430
- Pre-facelift infotainment feels dated against a modern Lexus screen
- Sizeable car — parking in older Manama structures needs care
- Fuel consumption of a 4.6-litre V8 is substantial in daily driving
When the XF40 LS460 launched, its eight-speed automatic was a genuine world-first for a production luxury car, a full generation ahead of the ZF units German rivals would eventually adopt. Paired with a 4.6-litre V8 making 380 hp, it gave the LS a straight-line pace the LS430 never had while keeping the same priority on cabin silence that defined the nameplate.
The 2013 mid-cycle refresh is the meaningful split for Bahraini buyers: it brought a sharper spindle-grille front end, Lexus's first-generation Pre-Collision System, and Lane Keep Assist on higher grades, alongside minor chassis refinements. Facelifted cars command a real premium on the used market here and are worth it if the budget stretches.
Long-wheelbase or standard
Bahrain saw meaningful demand for the LS460L, the long-wheelbase version with genuinely limousine-grade rear-seat space, alongside the standard-wheelbase car. The L adds real rear legroom at the cost of a slightly less agile feel around town; for a buyer who is mostly driven rather than driving, it is the one to look for.
Running one in Bahrain
The 1UR-FSE V8 and eight-speed automatic have a strong reliability track record at Gulf mileages, and independent Lexus specialists in Bahrain know the platform well. The air suspension on LS460L variants is the same wear item it was on the LS430 — compressors and air springs age — and should be checked the same way. Otherwise this is as close to worry-free flagship ownership as the segment gets.