The Lexus LS460 has 10 airbags (front, side and knee airbags in the front, side airbags in the rear, plus curtain airbags), front-seat head restraints that reduce the risk of whiplash injuries in a crash, Isofix child seat mounting points and a tyre pressure warning system. There is also a sophisticated stability control system that helps correct the car’s line during a skid.

Adaptive cruise control and pre-crash safety systems are available as options on the standard car and on the SE. Both are included in the Advanced Safety Pack fitted as standard to the SE-L. Adaptive cruise control is able to maintain a set distance between the vehicle in front while Lane-keep assist monitors the road ahead and will keep the car within the lane by steering itself.

In conjunction with the lane departure warning, if the car veers close to the markings or the driver tries to drive hands-free there is a warning alarm.

The standard LS comes without rear seat air-conditioning and electric adjustment, and therefore has a larger boot. At 505 litres, it is acceptable but not huge for such a large car, while in the air-conditioned rear cars there is only 385 litres in total – the same as a Ford Focus. There is plenty of stowage in the front armrest plus the doorbins and glove compartment are quite generous.

All models come with a rear parking monitor and parking sensors, although a ‘park assist system’ is available where the car can steer itself into a parking space in a reverse parallel parking manoeuvre while the driver carefully controls the car’s speed using the brake pedal. The LS600h has significantly reduced boot space as the rear of the car houses the battery.

It’s 330 litres is little better than a Vauxhall Astra Sporthatch.