Jump LinksLexus was well and truly in experimental mode when it decided to offer a hybrid version of the LC. The LC 500h, like its purely combustion-powered counterpart, was wrapped in one of the most dramatic production-car bodies of the time. Unlike its sibling, the electrified model had an unusual multi-stage hybrid powertrain. People wondered whether it was trying to be a traditional sports coupe on the one hand or a conventional luxury hybrid on the other, but it didn't seem to fit into any neat box.The LC 500h came onto the market at $96,510 before destination in 2018, putting it firmly in six-figure territory if you added some options. However, some used examples are now available in the high $40,000s to low $50,000s, pushing this once-exotic Lexus into a more realistic price band for prospective owners. And as Lexus plans to end production of the LC altogether after the 2026 model year, the LC 500h is part of a closing chapter in Lexus history and an odd outlier. The LC 500h Is A Genuinely Affordable Weird Lexus Ian Wright/CarBuzz/ValnetA nationwide search of pricing shows a rough average of around $70,000 for a used 500h, though many listings are in the $50,000s and $60,000s, as well. This means that many of these cars are now trading for less than half their original base price, which is an interesting statistic when you consider that the 500h was never supposed to be a high-volume Lexus. Instead, the brand put forward the halo hybrid as a showpiece.This car was supposed to tell us that Lexus could build a hybrid grand tourer with genuine pace and visual drama, something definitely not just another efficient luxury car. The new multi-stage hybrid system was the big selling point, and Lexus clearly wanted to make a serious statement about this car from day one. Today, the statement may still be there, but the price argument has softened considerably.Collectors may also start to take a closer look at this car now, as Lexus has already removed it from its inventory after 2025. For 2026, Lexus offerings would include only the LC 500 and LC 500 Convertible and not the hybrid. And after the 2026 model year, Lexus discontinued production of the LC 500 entirely, making the LC 500h part of a finite, closed Lexus nameplate. Why The LC 500h Is Such An Oddball In The First Place Lexus Lexus didn't take the easy route when it dreamed up its LC 500h. Instead of pairing a conventional automatic gearbox with a simple hybrid setup, it created a more elaborate system with a 3.5-liter V6 running on the Atkinson combustion cycle, dual electric motors, a lithium-ion battery, and an electronically controlled CVT paired with a four-speed automatic transmission.The complicated arrangement was supposed to create the direct feel of a ten-speed transmission, and Lexus said that, in M mode, the system could simulate ten ratios while still allowing paddle-shift control. Lexus also claimed that the powertrain could run with the gas engine off at speeds up to 87 mph, which was certainly unusual in the market.The LC 500h made 354 hp, could reach 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, and returned EPA estimates of 26 miles per gallon city, 35 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined. The V6 motor on its own produced 295 hp and 263 lb-ft of torque, with a little extra from the hybrid setup to reach the total of 354 hp.Perhaps the greatest strength of the LC is in its styling, and even Lexus called it a concept car that had come to life. The LC 500 had a low roof, a wide stance, a floating-roof effect, and tail lamps inspired by jet afterburners. It surely looked far more exotic than a typical Lexus and still stands out well today. And as it looks expensive and fast when standing still, it's even more of an enticing proposition if priced like a used German executive sedan. The Specifications Make Sense As A Grand Tourer Ian Wright/CarBuzz/Valnet It's difficult to pigeonhole the LC 500h, and you couldn't really argue that it was an emotional choice for new buyers. Certainly, the V8 had the sound and basic enthusiast appeal, but the hybrid was just difficult to understand. Lexus may have called it the fastest and highest-performance hybrid that the company had ever built, and it certainly wasn't any soft, sleepy eco-special. Perhaps the machine was more suited to the role of a long-distance grand tourer with some real pace.Remember that the 2018 LC 500h was substantial, weighing in at 4,435 pounds, and was more of a refined, technically smooth operator than a sharp-edged aggressor. While plenty of other luxury coupes could give you performance and comfort and mix hybrid power into the equation, the LC 500h was just different. The machine gave you flagship styling, rear-wheel drive, a 3.5-liter hybrid V6, and a trick transmission layout that the company tuned to feel like a ten-speed.This certainly wasn't just an economical LC, which tends to give it more appeal in the used market. In many respects, the alternative powertrain is what sets this car apart from the other LCs and even makes it the more technically distinctive car in the range. Reliability Looks Better Than The Complexity Suggests Lexus Many seasoned buyers on the used-car scene might quickly run the other way when faced with the complexity of an LC 500h, but they shouldn't worry, as the picture is better than that complexity might suggest. RepairPal has given the Lexus brand a 4-out-of-5 reliability rating and ranks it 7th out of 32 brands. The source says average annual repair costs are around $550 across the brand, and while that data is not specific to the LC 500h, it does frame the car quite well within the company's broader reputation landscape.Car Complaints is also relatively kind and focuses on a manageable set of technical service bulletins. One seems to cover a squawking or knocking noise from the engine compartment when you depress or release the brake pedal on 2018 to 2021 LC 500h models. Another one refers to uneven temperature or airflow from the vents of 2018-2020 models. And there are other bulletins covering a spring noise when you release the accelerator pedal and a rear center stop lamp rattle on some 2018 cars.Meanwhile, there are some recall campaigns to be aware of, and the broader LC range was subject to a large Toyota-Lexus fuel pump recall campaign during this period. It's always best to run the VIN of any potential car through the Lexus or the NHTSA recall search tool to make sure a previous owner has addressed any issues.While buyers can be on the lookout for related work on any used-car candidate, there's nothing really scary in the public domain, and definitely no public history of failed hybrid systems or self-destructing drivetrains. The LC 500h May Age Better Than People Expect Ian Wright/CarBuzz/Valnet Relative rarity could help the LC 500h going forward. Now that the company has retired it from its final year official lineup, it has a cleaner identity and is framed as a rare, technically adventurous, concept-car-like hybrid coupe that emerged from a short-lived flagship range. That's a lot more relevant than average, indicating this is much more than just a fuel-efficient version of the breed.Having said that, the market still appears unsure of what to do with it, and the V8-powered LC 500 is definitely the more obvious enthusiast favorite. There's a lower nationwide average price for the 500h than for the main car, and, as the hybrid lives in the shadow, this creates a better buying opportunity. In essence, the market appears to love the LC 500's styling but hasn't fully fallen in love with that particular hybrid powertrain.It's also conceivable that the LC 500h could appreciate over time, but it would be foolish to buy one with that outcome in mind. Nevertheless, it does have a memorable design, relative rarity, unusual engineering, and a final-year closure story that may eventually lead the market to reassess its value.So, with real-world examples in the high $40,000s and $50,000s, the LC 500h is now an attainable oddball rather than just an expensive curiosity. It's rapidly depreciated to affordability just as Lexus decided to retire the entire nameplate, and its complicated story suggests this one may be the more interesting LC 500 to own.
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