Overview & Reviews

Lexus has earned a well-deserved reputation for turning out utterly refined luxury vehicles. The hallmarks of this brand are a quiet, well-crafted cabin, a plush ride and commendable performance from powerful, nearly silent engines.

Lexus began out of a desire by parent company Toyota to create a world-class luxury car brand. Groundwork for Lexus was laid in the mid-1980s, when the company began tapping U.S. focus groups in an attempt to define design concepts best suited for American consumers. Hundreds of prototypes were built and tested on Germany's autobahn and on U.S. roads.

In early 1989, the company unveiled its first two models (which would debut for the 1990 model year) -- the entry-level ES 250 sedan and the flagship LS 400 sedan. The LS 400 was lauded by both journalists and consumers alike for offering a stellar luxury-car experience, with a remarkably silent cabin, superb build quality and a refined V8 engine. At the same time, the LS was priced considerably lower than smaller, lesser-equipped, six-cylinder European rival luxury sedans.

By the early 1990s, the Lexus brand was expanded to other markets, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. More models were added to the lineup, including the SC 300 and SC 400 coupes and the brand's first luxury performance sedan, the GS 300. By decade's end, the company had added SUVs (in the form of the LX 450/LX 470 and RX 300) and had sold more than a million vehicles in the U.S.

The first decade of the 2000s saw Lexus proving itself a trend setter with the launch of many hybrid-powered versions of its vehicles such as the RX 400h and the GS 450h. And by 2011, Lexus even introduced a world-class supercar, the LFA.

In the years since its inception, the Lexus brand has distinguished itself time and again in quality and reliability surveys. The brand's vehicles may not offer as much passion as some Teutonic rivals, but for drivers interested in vehicles that emphasize quality, dependability and comfort, the Lexus marque is hard to beat.

User Reviews:

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  Inadequate low beams - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By lawman430 - May 7 - 2:32 pm

  The first time I drove my 2006 LS 430 at night, I thought I did not have my headlights properly turned on. I could not see well enough to drive over 30 mph. When I called the dealer the technition mentioned that I was the third person that week to make the same complaint so I left it for diagnosis. Result- "no problem, "everything checked out to specs." When I pushed the saftey issue, I basically got a shrug and was told that the headlight system takes a while to get used to. I got caught in a rainstorm on the interstate last night and had to slow down to 35 mph. I could not see anything but other cars were passing by with no problem. Anyone else?

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  Better Than People think - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By shadowy1 - May 4 - 10:00 am

  This is my first Lexus and Im hooked traded a 95 Volvo 850 turbo. The IS300 rocks, great power, handles like its on rails. I looked at an Audi S4 and Acura TSX before getting the Lex, and Im not sorry. People talk about the rear seat being small, SO I dont want a bunch of free loaders riding with me anyway. Just me and my lady riding with the tunes blasting. The dealer didnt look down their noses at you the way those Euro dealers do, bunch of snobs. Anyway back to the point. This car may not be for everyone but its not your Daddys Oldsmobile. Lexus may not have hit the bullseye but they came damn close.

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  First Lexus - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By First Timer - May 4 - 10:00 am

  Looked at the Cadillac CTS and the Infiniti G35. Picked the Lexus based on reputation and front wheel drive (Chicago Winters) although the Cadillac and G35 were sportier. I have a 62 mile daily commute and enjoy the ride. Heated seats are a nice touch on the cold winter days.

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  Not an SUV - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By EDOman - April 23 - 10:00 am

  I have had this car for 14 months. It still attracts attention here in Los Angeles and is alot of fun to drive. Tested it in rural New Mexico where it handled very well on a straight stretch of open road at 130 mph. The car apparently was not designed for sport conditions as I have beat the hell out of the front dam on curbs and crossing intersections in the city and the cute low profile tires do not hold up to either urban or cross country conditions. Why call it a sportscross if you cant drive it that way without the tires falling apart!!!!

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  Disappointed - 2014 Lexus ES 350
  By texas81 - April 21 - 8:06 am

  After owning my ES 350 with Ultra Luxury package for 3 months, I am truly disappointed. Several rattles have developed in the doors, dashboard, and sunroof. When washing the car, water accumulates inside of the rear taillights. Overall, Im dissatisfied in the build quality of the new ES.

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  Not the Bells and Whistles of a 350 or 450 - 2016 Lexus NX 300h
  By Tnroses4me - April 18 - 6:09 pm

  This is my 4th Lexus. I had an RX300, an RX350. The last one was an RX 450h. Ive been a little disappointed with the lack of amenities that come at this price tag. I still wanted a Lexus, but wanted to go a little smaller...no kids to haul around anymore. So I thought this would be perfect. It handles like a sports car. Love that! It maneuvers well on the highway in heavy traffic. But it is a rougher ride that the last three cars. And for the price, I was startled that lane drift alert of any kind was not standard. In fact I was told it doesnt come with that at all. Seriously? My sons Hyundai has that!! So does my husbands Tundra. It is a pretty standard feature. The tundra also has a touch screen (nope, not in this Lexus) and bluetoothing the phone does not operate as Im accustomed (it wont let me dictate a text response). It is a bit smaller inside, so the seats are a bit tighter fit and at first I experienced hip pain until I got used to the narrowness of these seats. The back seats, though, are roomier than you would imagine. It was between this Lexus and a couple of others and I chose the NX300h because of the good experience Ive had with Lexus in the past. But now Im not sure it is worth the price. I almost got better gas mileage in the 450h. The tank is VERY SMALL so I am still stopping pretty frequently to fill up. Just driving a "Lexus" doesnt increase the value enough for me to have given up the other amenities I liked. I should have read closer when the information said this was an "entry level" model. Thats a bummer. A Lexus should be a Lexus. And by the way, all the free maintenance stuff is not honored if you take it to another Lexus dealership. This was pitched to me as a Lexus benefit, but evidently it is a DEALERSHIP benefit! Imagine my surprise when the next dealership charged me $80 for an oil change. No thanks. My car is going to the Toyota dealership for service where, even though it is not free, it counts toward warranty compliance. Note to Toyota: Spiff up that RAV4 with better seating and youll be my next car. Id rather save the $20K!!!!!!!!!!!

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  What happened - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By ted - April 10 - 12:26 pm

  We replaced our 03 GS300 with an 06. Loved the old one figured wed love the newer one. Wrong. Brakes, cruise ride , AC and Nav dont work as good as old car. Ride and handling choppier also. Tranny hunts for gears at low speed and in the hills. Has been in the shop 5 times in three months. Disappointing car. Great to look at but no fun to drive. Am going to trade for something that I can live with.

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  This car RULES - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Devnull - April 9 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned my 5-speed for almost a year (minus a month and a half for some repairs ;)), and I can easily say its the most fun-to-drive car Ive ever driven. The car handles superbly; I love the way it hugs the road in a turn, the squeel of the tires as I round a bank, the roar as I downshift to pass someone who shouldnt have been in the fast lane. The VVT-i engine is really noticeable in a launch (push that TRAC button to see what I mean).

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  New car - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By stanton bizzell - April 8 - 2:26 pm

  Great driving vehicle, with fantastic gas mileage. Seating could be softer and more comfortable. Otherwise love it!

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  Rattle noise, bad quality - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By hoang - April 5 - 12:40 am

  Got 2010 rx350 about 3weeks. Found some rattle noise from cargo cover and rattle noise inside cabin hard to know where it is at. Front bumper below front light seem loosed. Front seat not comfortable my back got hurt when driving for long time. Lexus should be the top quiet car, but 2010 RX350 is not.