2012 Lexus LFA

best car 2012 Lexus LFA

The 2012 Lexus LFA ranks 5 out of 5 Super Luxury Sports Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 7 published reviews and test drives of the Lexus LFA, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The 2012 Lexus LFA wows the automotive press with its agility and Formula 1-bred powertrain, but stumbles with an unrefined transmission and an astronomically-high base price.

Test drivers report that there’s a lot to like about Lexus’ first exotic sports car, but unfortunately there are also quite a few areas where the 2012 Lexus LFA falls short. From a performance standpoint, the LFA earns praise for its powerful V8 engine, which was derived from Toyota’s now-defunct Formula 1efforts. The LFA also employs a carbon-fiber and aluminum body structure to reduce its weight and increase structural rigidity. Combined with its performance-tuned suspension, reviewers say that the result is a car that handles, steers and brakes with impressive poise.

Unfortunately, most auto writers dislike the LFA’s six-speed single-clutch automated manual transmission. They say it lacks the refinement of the dual-clutch transmissions available on many of its competitors, and that it has trouble finding the right gear if you’re just cruising around in automatic mode.

The cockpit of the Lexus LFA is both luxurious and high-quality. LFA buyers can choose from a multitude of available fabric and color combinations to personalize their LFA, and with just 500 planned for production, the added personalization only adds to the LFA’s exclusivity. And while getting in and out of the LFA can require a bit of contortion, reviewers generally agree that the seats are comfortable. Still, cargo space is minimal, and while some test drivers say that the Lexus’ interior tech has a leg up on its European rivals, others counter that the LFA’s controls still require some attention to master.

Still, with a base price of $375,000, perhaps the biggest complaint about the Lexus LFA is its price tag. “The LFA is behind the current crop of supercars in certain areas, one of them being performance per dollar,” writes Motor Trend. “Several of them match or beat the LFA's performance at half or less the price.”