Wheels Australia - June 2018

52 whichcar.com.au/wheels

Headtohead

A FAST ’N’ FURIOUS FACE-OFF

BMW fits its executive suite with heated/cooled memory front seats
(driver’s with a massage function), surround-view cameras, a tablet
to control the rear passenger pews, and rear sun blinds. An M Sport

package with staggered 20-inch alloys replacing 19s, Anthracite

headlining, aero tweaks and the geriatric wood steering wheel

swapped for leather wrap is a no-cost, no-brainer option.17/20

It’s almost as though Lexus made notes on the BMW’s

appointments, ticked them off one-by-one, and then cut the price.

There are small differences, though; the rear doors lack sunblinds

but the LS gets paddle shifters and more cameras ring the

Lexus’s exterior. You also reap the performance benefit delivered

by a larger engine with a pair of turbochargers.18/20

A strong Teutonic influence, manifest in styling that’s on the

conservative side, makes the 740i feel more Munich hotel than Kyoto

onsen. Traditional sedan profile (with part-carbonfibre construction)

makes the BMW feel more spacious in the rear and yields a larger

515L boot. Like the Lexus, the cabin features active noise cancelling

tech. Wireless smartphone mirroring ($623) is a big tick.16/20

The interior you want to sit in; dripping with designer elements and

sporting Lexus LC links, pleasing on the eye and supremely comfy

with super-soft perforated leather. Coupe-like styling robs some

headroom and contributes to a smaller 440L boot, but deeper,

plusher carpet adds to the poshness. Awkward haptic finger pad

and poor smartphone support are bugbears.18/20

Both these cars ride on self-levelling air suspension to great effect. In

comfort mode the 740i is syrupy and cosseting. Call up sport mode

and it becomes considerably more alert, the run-flat Bridgestone

Potenzas sending an occasional shudder through the chassis over

rougher bits of road. Quick, talkative steering makes it feel like a

smaller car on winding tarmac. It’s still the driver’s choice.18/20

The LS500 carries significantly more kerb weight than the BMW

(2235kg vs 1725kg) and nowhere is that more apparent than on a

twisty road, where the all-wheel-steer Lexus will heave and

lumber on its suspension while changing direction. In sport mode,

the steering adds weight but little meaningful feedback. Grip from

the run-flat Bridgestone Turanzas is confident, but ...16/20

It may lack the headline numbers, but the way the 740i’s in-line six

builds pace via its eight-speed auto is more linear and polished –

and it sounds much better, too. Punt it along and the fuel use will

head for the high nines, but range is superior despite the smaller

78L tank. The BMW straight-six makes the Lexus V6 seem like it

was built to meet a benchmark, not set a new standard.17/20

... mash the throttle and after a slight pause to pick one of 10 gears,

the gutsy V6 releases a rush of torque that will have the stability

control light flashing madly. Throttle mapping is well-judged in

default mode, but the Sports and Sports Plus settings add an

unwelcome hypersensitivity. And the 82L fuel tank will drain with

alarming speed as real-world fuel use tips into the high teens.15/20

The standard Lexus warranty runs to four years and is capped at

100,000 kilometres, but there’s a whole decade of roadside assistance

sweetening the deal. Make some space on your calendar, though, as

you – or the Lexus employee sent to retrieve your LS500 – will have

to nose that massive spindle grille into a service centre every

10,000km or six months, whichever comes first.15/20

BMW bundles the 740i with three years of warranty and as many kays
as you can cover in that timeframe. The German luxury brand won’t

ask you to dip a hand in your pocket for the first three years of

servicing, and throws in three years of roadside assistance.

‘Condition-based servicing’ means the car decides when an oil

change is due or scheduled maintenance is needed.17/20

Performance

& economy

Warranty &

servicing

Price &

equipment

Interior &

connectivity

Ride &

handling

BMW 740i

85/100

LEXUS LS500

82/100

Engine 2988cc 6cyl, dohc, 24v, turbo | Power 240kW @ 6500rpm

Torque 450Nm @ 1380-5000rpm | Economy 7. 0 L / 10 0 k m | Price $229,900

Engine 3444cc V6, dohc, 24v, twin-turbo | Power 310kW @ 6000rpm

Torque 600Nm @ 1600-4800rpm | Economy 9.5L/100km | Price $195,500

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