84 autotech
- Divisions
-
F Sport
- Founded
-
1989
- Founder
-
Eiji Toyoda
- Headquarters
-
Nagoya, Japan
- Current CEO
-
Scott Thompson
Every V8-Powered Lexus Model Ranked
9 minutes reading
Wednesday, 4 Nov 2026 20:20 0 10 autotech
2026 is a year Lexusenthusiasts would probably rather forget, as its final V8-powered model, the LC500, is bowing out after a nine-year production run. That’s particularly significant for Lexus because V8 power has been central to its identity since day one. The original LS400 put the fledgling luxury brand on the map in 1989, combining understated styling and a lavish cabin with a silky-smooth 4.0-liter V8 that proved both powerful and remarkably dependable. That combination helped establish Lexus as a serious threat to established European luxury automakers, and the brand continued building on that reputation for decades.
But all good things must come to an end. With increasingly stringent emissions standards and a broader industry shift toward downsized, turbocharged, and electrified powertrains, Lexus has sadly joined the V8’s retreat. Before that glorious soundtrack fades completely, let’s revisit every V8-powered Lexus sold in the United States and rank them from worst to best.
The cars in this list are all Lexus models with V8 engines, ranked by their 0-60 mph time. All specs and figures are from the manufacturers’ claims, unless otherwise specified.
16
Lexus LX470
0-60 mph: 8.4-9.9 Seconds
As you might expect, the slowest V8 Lexus ever made is an SUV. Specifically, it’s the second generation of the Lexus LX, the LX470. Like its predecessor, the LX450, it was based on Toyota’s legendary Land Cruiser, but this time Lexus ditched the inline-six in favor of a considerably larger V8. Under the hood sat Toyota’s 4.7-liter 2UZ-FE V8, initially producing 230 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. Output increased to 235 hp in 2003 before a VVT-i upgrade bumped it to 275 hp and 332 lb-ft for the final model years. Even with that extra muscle, you’ll struggle to get a 0–60 mph time faster than 8.4 seconds. However, the LX470’s real strength is how capable and dependable it is. It can traverse jungles and wade through rivers with ease, and it’s so rugged and reliable many are still around, clocking up galactic levels of mileage in the process!
15
Lexus GX470
0-60 mph: 8.5-7.98 Seconds
The first generation of the Lexus GX has gained a strong reputation over the years for being a super reliable workhorse. That’s because it’s based on the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and Toyota 4Runner of its era. The main differences between the GX470 and those two ever-reliable Toyotas that it shares a platform with are that it’s more luxurious than its Toyota siblings and that it has a V8. Specifically, it’s the 4.7-liter 2UZ-FE V8 that produces 235 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. That went up to 270 hp for the 2005 model year, thanks to variable valve timing being added.
Like all the other V8 Lexus SUVs on this list, the GX470 isn’t going to win you any races. At best, you’ll get a 0-60 mph time of just under 8 seconds. This car is all about bulletproof reliability and go-anywhere capability, just like the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and Toyota 4Runner it’s based on.
14
Lexus LS400 (First Generation)
0-60 mph: 8.5-7.4 Seconds
The LS400 was the first car to ever be developed and sold under the Lexus brand. It was also the first Lexus V8 sedan, equipped with the 4-liter 1UZ-FE unit. This produced 242 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque in early models, and went up to 290 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque by the end of the LS400’s run. A fair amount of that power bump was due to the 1UZ-FE getting variable valve timing for the 1998 model year.
The LS400 is far from the fastest luxury car of its era. The best it could ever get was a 0-60 mph time of 7.4 seconds. But, the LS400 never gained its legendary reputation though performance. It gained its legendary reputation through being absolutely unkillable. It’s not uncommon for LS400s to last for over 300,000 miles, and at least one example has reached over a million! This is a luxury car that’s truly built to last, and there’s no doubt that it’ll become sought-after once it hits proper classic luxury car territory.
13
Lexus GX460
0-60 mph: 7.8-7.1 Seconds
The second generation of the Lexus GX on this list, the GX460 is another V8 Lexus SUV that’s gained a reputation for being a reliable and comfortable workhorse. They seemingly last forever and have the off-road ability to go almost anywhere you want them to, while having the luxurious feel you’d expect from a Lexus. Just don’t expect it to be a performance monster, though. Even on its best days, you’re unlikely to get from 0-60 mph in less than 7 seconds.
12
Lexus LX570
0-60 mph: 7.4-7.0 Seconds
The third generation of the Lexus LX was the last to use a V8 engine. In the United States, it was sold exclusively as the LX570, with every example powered by a 5.7-liter 3UR-FE V8, an engine also found in the Toyota Tundra and Toyota Sequoia of that era. Producing 383 hp and 403 lb-ft of torque, it was a comparative monster among the SUVs here, giving the LX570 plenty of muscle for towing and tackling demanding terrain. Like all the other Lexus LXs on this list, this generation of the LX isn’t about performance. You won’t get to 60 mph in any faster than 7 seconds, no matter how much you try. But, it makes up for it with its near-fautless reliability and go-anywhere capability. Buy one of these, and it could quite literally last you a lifetime without becoming too outdated!
11
Lexus SC400
0-60 mph: 6.9-6.1 seconds
A derivative of the JDM legend that is the Toyota Soarer, the Lexus SC400 is an export model of that car fitted with the same 4-liter V8 that you got in the LS400. The SC was Lexus’s first proper luxury coupe, arriving for the 1992 model year and quickly establishing itself as a seriously polished alternative to the established European GT crowd. It may have been over a second faster in the 0-60 sprint than the LS400 (just under 7 seconds in early models and just over 6 seconds later down the line), but that was still very relaxed compared to many other sports cars and GT cars of the time. That may go some way to explain why it didn’t really sell well…
10
Lexus SC430
0-60 mph: 6.4-6.1 seconds
The SC430 has to have the worst reputation out of any V8 Lexus. That’s mainly due to motoring journalists like Jeremy Clarkson ripping into it at the time, making comments about its questionable styling and its soft, GT-like drive. But, it’s actually a very good car, and like all other Lexus models it’s proven to be extremely reliable. While it might be a little slow by today’s standards, with a 0-60 time of over 6 seconds, it’s a great used bargain for anyone who just wants a comfortable and reliable cruiser.
9
Lexus LS430
0-60 mph: 5.9 Seconds
The Lexus LS430 is the second iteration of the model that started it all for this brand. It continues on in much the same way as the old LS400, basing its appeal off of understated luxury and bulletproof reliability. It’s also another V8 Lexus, this time using the 4.3-liter 3UZ-FE engine. This engine produces 290 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque, keeping the power the same as later LS400s but giving it a mild torque bump thanks to the bigger size.
This is the first V8 Lexus on this list to have genuinely impressive performance for what it is. The LS430 will get you to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds. That was no doubt helped by it being more aerodynamic than its predecessor – Lexus used the same wind tunnels used to help design Japan’s Shinkansen high-speed trains during the development process.
8
Lexus LS460/LS600h
0-60 mph: 6.3 Seconds-5.7 Seconds (LS460), 6.1-5.2 seconds (LS600h)
The final LS on this list, the third-generation LS was the last hurrah of the Lexus V8 sedan in the luxury segment. It was also a leap forward in technology for how the V8 was used, as the LS600h was introduced with this model. This paired the 5.0-liter 2UR-FSE engine with an electric motor through the Toyota-developed hybrid synergy drive system. The result was a genuinely speedy luxury sedan, being able to go from 0-60 mph in around 5.5 seconds! It genuinely challenged the performance of the top-of-the-line V12-powered European luxury sedans, in a package that was a lot more fuel-efficient.
7
Lexus GS400/GS430
0-60 mph: 5.7 Seconds
The second-generation Lexus GS is mainly known for being one of the cheapest ways you can get into owning a car with the legendary 2JZ engine. But, that wasn’t the only brilliant powerplant it came with. If you lived outside of Japan, you could get this car with a V8! It started off having the 4-liter V8 that we’d all come to know well from the LS400. But, midway through the second-generation GS’s life cycle, it was given the 4.3-liter V8 from the LS430. That caused a name change from the GS400 to the GS430.
Despite the bigger engine, the performance basically didn’t change – 0-60 mph still took 5.7 seconds. That was still impressive enough for its day for Lexus to claim it was the fastest four-door sedan you could buy, though!
Related posts
Latest Post
32 minute ago
4 autotech
No Comments