Majesty leather upholstery is standard and comes in a choice of Saddle, Ash, Cashmere, Ecru, and Black. We found the light colors beautiful, but no one does black as well as the Germans. Snazzy perforated semi-aniline or luxury leather trim are optional. Rich wood trim in Bird's-Eye Maple or California Walnut warms the LS 430 interior beautifully and there's an optional Antique Walnut with fired edges that's quite interesting.

The seats are roomy and can be quickly adjusted to a comfortable driving position. The driver faces an adjustable steering wheel trimmed in wood and leather with easy-to-use controls for the audio system. Vivid electroluminescent gauges rank among the best available and, for 2004, the needles are white, making the instruments easier to read. Window switches are illuminated, making them easy to find at night.

To the right, at the top of the center stack, is a seven-inch touch screen used to control climate and audio, as well as the optional navigation system. Thankfully, a set of hard buttons integrated along the driver's side of the touch screen is provided for the primary climate controls (temperature, fan speed, Auto, recirculate, defrost). A similar set of buttons to the right allows quick access to key navigation and audio functions. This combination of hard buttons and touch-screen buttons seems to work well. You can also use voice commands to direct the action: "68 degrees." Your passenger should have no trouble finding and adjusting the separate temperature control. The automatic climate system reads temperature sensors around the cabin and aims cool air specifically at any hot spots where the sun is baring down.

The navigation system is improved for 2004 with more datapoints (5.6 million vs. last year's 785,000). It's also more sophisticated, using icons to show points of interest, and even displays building footprints in Manhattan and Chicago. Navigation systems are getting better every year. A new backup camera can help the driver spot objects behind the car. Whenever Reverse is selected, the system automatically projects an image (in living color) onto the navigation screen of whatever the camera lens can detect behind the car. Looking at this screen can help the driver spot objects that might be difficult to see in the mirrors or over the shoulder. As if that wasn't enough, the navigation system is linked to the optional Lexus Dual Mode Mobile Phone. For example, if a point of interest is called up on the navigation screen, a push of a button will dial the location directly.

Bluetooth is part of the optional navigation system as well. When combined with a Bluetooth-equipped phone, this wireless technology allows the driver to transfer personal phone books to the navigation system and make hands-free phone calls using the car's touch-screen display. Customers can place a hands-free call in different ways depending on their preference. To help prevent driver distraction, the one-touch dial feature is the only dialing function that a customer can access when the vehicle is in motion. The system can store up to 18 one-touch dial numbers. Some Bluetooth functions are disabled when the vehicle is in motion, but the driver can use steering wheel controls to answer and end calls as well as adjust call volume. This greatly extends the utility of the handheld cell phone, which can remain in the driver's pocket while underway. The system can be programmed to work with up to four different phones. The Lexus dealer orders a compatible phone for you from a wide choice of major providers.

A small LED display above the navigation screen displays driver's and passenger's temperature setting, outside ambient temperature, and the time. Directly below the navigation screen is a pair of vents that can oscillate from side to side, just like that little fan you have out in the garage.

Below, the standard audio system includes an in-dash, single-feed six-disc CD changer, and a 15-function information display with a trip computer with compass. The audio controls are large, elegant, and easy to adjust. The optional Mark Levinson premium audio system is designed to deliver optimal sound quality regardless of where you're sitting. Presets allow the drive to optimize the sound quality according to the number and placement of your passengers. Speaker placement has been modified for 2004 for better sound imaging. XM Satellite Radio is available by subscription, eliminating the need for the driver to reset stations when driving long distance. This brings CD-quality music and 24-hour news and sports channels into the cabin.

Back seat passengers will find lots of leg room, comfortable and luxurious accommodations, and convenience features that aren't even included in the front seats of some cars. The three-person rear bench has contoured spaces for two and a broad center fold-down armrest. The armrest features a padded storage drawer and a panel to control the heated seats, compact disc player and rear climate system. Extensive applications of leather and rich wood set an opulent mood.

Passive safety features include seat-mounted side airbags, rear side curtain airbags (important for head protection), new knee airbags, in addition to the dual frontal airbags. Most important are the seatbelts, which feature pretensioners, force limiters, and retractors, so be sure to use them. The optional Pre-Collision System uses radar to detect obstacles in front of the car and, if it determines an accident is unavoidable, it can preemptively retract the driverÆs and front passengerÆs seatbelts. PCS also prepares the Brake Assist which, after the driver applies the brakes, automatically applies increased braking force to help reduce collision speed.