The Lexus LS was the grand pioneer of Toyota’s luxury division – you know, that new marque devised in the late ‘80s with the aim of gobbling up a slice of that BMW-Merc pie. By the way, the big LS even went on sale here more than a decade ago.

So tell me, when last did you see one on our roads?

You don’t say?

The Lexus brand has lacked any real presence on our roads until recently and even more so in this limo’s neck of the woods where the default choice almost always has a German badge. That’s changing in the junior exec segment, where the latest IS has become a sales force to be reckoned with.

» Get the facts, figures and our verdict

Question is, can this new LS460 emulate that success at the top of the pile? It’s certainly got more presence. Where its predecessors looked like a dull copy of a ten-year-old Merc, we think the new one looks rather stylish — if anything it’s a pretty decent copy of those rivals it tried to emulate before.

Yet it takes a lot more than style to win the game on this playing field, where luxury machines are expected to pack every conceivable gadget you’d expect to see in a 2020 sci-fi movie and still be great to drive. Tall order that.

When you sink into the LS460 for the first time, it becomes clear that the perceptive quality is no match for its established rivals. Sure, it’s all put together like granite and there’s really nothing wrong with the whole atmosphere — it just doesn’t feel quite as larney as an S-Class or 7-Series — the textures and design features just don’t exude that royal sense of occasion. That might not bother you, and to be honest we can live with it to — especially once you start playing with the gadgets.

There’s no silly i-Drive-like knob to be found here — just a mass of buttons surrounding a large dash-mounted 8-inch colour monitor with a touch-screen function. It’s all rather quick-and-easy to work out and some functions are also controlled via the steering wheel. The satellite navigation and nifty reversing camera are just two of the functions you’ll enjoy using via the screen.

Lexus has pulled out all the stops to make this car as comfortable as ever. It has electric everything and a 19-speaker digital surround sound system, and all four seats are electrically adjustable and have their own seat heaters and coolers – the climate control even has four separate zones.

The seats don’t massage your butt, but not much else is missing from this cruiseliner. Press two buttons and a barrage of sunblinds engulf the rear and side-rear windows almost instantly. Lexus was clearly thinking of those that prefer to be chauffer driven. Let’s not even get started on the ride quality. Yes, this limo has one of the smoothest ride qualities we’ve ever experienced in a car — it’s like floating on a cloud and the cocoon-like noise insulation adds to this experience.

Now, question is: does this car have what it takes to make you want to get behind the wheel?

In a nutshell… no. If you’re looking for an agile sports sedan, keep looking. Its suspension system, while sophisticated, is clearly set up on the soft side of things for that magic carpet ride and when compared to its more dynamic rivals, the big Lexus handles more like a boat. It’s safe enough thanks to the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system that integrates all the active safety systems into one big safety net — but you won’t get your thrills here. There’s just too much body roll through corners and the steering doesn’t have much feel to it.

Performance is brisk and everything you’d expect from something in this class, yet it really doesn’t feel earth-shattering when you floor it. We were pleasantly surprised by the performance figures attained, as you really don’t feel the speed in this car — it’s just so detached from the outside world.

Love it or loath it — that’s what this luxury cruiseliner is all about. It looks elegant, has all the bells and whistles you could hope for — barring a hot tub and wine cellar — and its price tag undercuts the competition quite nicely. If you want the best all-rounder, get an S-Class. If money’s no object, you might as well treat yourself to a Bentley Continental Flying Spur or Maserati Quattroporte.

On the other hand, if you find yourself looking for the best limo at the lowest price, your bean counter will almost certainly recommend this new Jap and wafting along in supreme comfort will be your reward. Who knows, you could even hire a chauffeur with the change — we certainly would…