Rolls-Royce Ghost vs Lexus LS

What's the difference?

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Rolls-Royce Ghost
Rolls-Royce Ghost

2024 price

Lexus LS
Lexus LS

2023 price

Summary

2024 Rolls-Royce Ghost
2023 Lexus LS
Safety Rating

Engine Type

Twin Turbo V6, 3.4L
Fuel Type
-

Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
-

10.0L/100km (combined)
Seating
-

5
Dislikes
  • Price
  • Options prices
  • Not being rich

  • Feels a bit old-fashioned to drive
  • The hybrid would be nicer to be driven in
  • Dated multimedia software
2024 Rolls-Royce Ghost Summary

It’s finally happened: Rolls-Royce has become so divorced from the everyday world of common folk that it's no longer even sharing the previously agreed meanings of words. Rolls has its own meanings, possibly its own language, which must be spoken with a plum on the tongue.

They’ve been heading here for a while. For example, at Rolls, “affordable” means the car we're driving today, the Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II, which is yours for just $680,000 (an indicative price, bumping to $800K for the Black Badge). And “iconic British marque” means, obviously, “BMW bought us in 2003, so there might be some German bits”.  

It turns out that “driver-focused” means something different at Rolls-Royce, too. Thanks to a smattering of chassis innovations, Rolls says this updated 2025 Ghost is “the most driver-focused V12 Rolls-Royce ever”. Which is “a side of Ghost’s character that our clients increasingly and enthusiastically embrace”.

Don’t fall for it. The Ghost’s extra focus is not actually very focusy, and its additional dynamism is really only more dynamic in the way that a bed that could corner at all would be more dynamic than a normal bed. None of that matters. 

The reason it doesn’t matter is because the Ghost Series II is wonderful. Indeed, it is very nearly perfect. Which is a word that even Rolls won’t quibble over.

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2023 Lexus LS Summary

Surprisingly, for people who would rather be driven than drive themselves, there are quite a few options available in the large luxury sedan market.

While on the whole sedans have fallen from favour, this niche corner of the market continues to let the three-box design thrive.

The options here have changed a bit in the last few years, though, so how does the Lexus flagship, the LS fit into the picture? I drove one around for a week to find out.

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Deep dive comparison

2024 Rolls-Royce Ghost 2023 Lexus LS

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