Against this, we brought in the European model that we felt was closest to the LS' personality and market intent, the BMW 528i, also equipped with a five-speed manual and BMW's sport package, which includes 235/45WR17 tires on cross-spoke wheels, sport suspension, M-Sport steering wheel, leather upholstery, and wood trim. To face off against both of these, we also wanted the hottest six-cylinder sport/luxury sedan from across the Pacific, namely Lexus' potent GS 300. Not available with a stick, the GS came with a four-speed automatic.
Sizing up the competitionAmerica is the land of "bigger is better" and the LS doesn't disappoint. The Lincoln stretches the farthest in both wheelbase and overall length, extending almost 5 inches beyond the Lexus and 6 inches beyond the BMW. It also boasts about 3 inches more width than the other two while sitting about a half-inch higher. This results in a total of 115.7 cubic feet of interior volume for the LS (with optional moonroof), against 100 for the Lexus and 92.5 for the BMW. The 528i, by the way, is classified as a compact, while the other two are considered midsize.
Inside, the Lincoln's additional length results in over 3 extra inches of rear legroom over the other two, although the GS 300 antes up 2 inches more front legroom than the LS. The Lincoln and Lexus are virtually the same in shoulder room, with the GS providing about 2 extra inches of hiproom, front and rear. The LS also takes the lead in front headroom, by more than an inch over the others, while the 528i edges the competition in rear headroom by at least half an inch.
While the LS wins the overall battle of the measuring tape, our testers felt the materials and some aspects of the interior design weren't up to par with the BMW and Lexus. It got points off, for instance, for simulated wood trim that looks plastic-like and for the LS' lack of in-cabin storage. Seating is always a subjective item, and, sure enough, one of our testers who prefers a lot of lumbar support, found the driver's seat particularly uncomfortable because of the placement of the lumbar cushion. No one else complained of this, and, in fact, one tester (who doesn't use lumbar) found the seats quite comfortable for long drives; another reason you should never buy a car without a thorough test drive.
The GS 300's interior was considered most aesthetic and ergonomic of the three, with rich materials, standard wood trim, plenty of in-cabin storage space, and clear, easy-to-use controls. Like the LS, it features an optional in-dash CD changer behind the glovebox door. Our 528i's attractive and functional interior was warmed by optional wood trim and enhanced by excellent fit and finish, but marred by wimpy cupholders and lack of console storage space. The optional sport seats were praised for their contouring and support, but narrow side bolsters could be too confining for a wider driver.
All three cars come well equipped with a host of comfort, convenience, and safety features, including front and side airbags, dual-zone automatic climate control, power seats, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, premium audio system, security, and remote keyless entry. The LS is the only one to offer leather upholstery as standard and, along with the 528i, provides an advanced encoded-key anti-theft setup. Added advantages on the BMW are a standard memory system and inflatable side-impact Head Protection System. Both it and the GS 300 provide one-touch up/down power windows, while the Lincoln includes global-open and global-close functions that simultaneously open or close all windows and the sunroof through one control.
While all three cars envelop driver and passengers in a luxurious environment, the 528i and GS 300 provided noticeably better overall isolation than the LS, which let in a little more road noise and some drivetrain vibration through the shifter.
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