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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  rx300 30,000 mile service - 2000 Lexus RX 300
  By dky - November 18 - 11:43 am

  30,000 service overpriced.ca car fun to drive

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  GX470 is just ok.......... - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By karenm - November 18 - 10:00 am

  Nice vehicle but the steering vibration needs to have a fix and they still dont seem to have a handle on that problem. The back door that swings open is great! Nice concept there. This truck needs a center console that is higher up. I mean there is no where to put something on to write a phone no. on or write out a check. I really miss that. Its just too small and short. Overall I like the GX but buy another,probably not. Seriously considering trading for a Yukon Denali or something just a tad bit bigger. Had a Seqouia Limited that was paid for and had more room. What was I thinking. Should have kept it!

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  Hooked on GX470 - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By Hooked on GX - November 18 - 10:00 am

  Better SUV than I thought now that I own one. Love it! Very versatile with the removable back seats. Gas mileage however, can be improved.

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  Great Highway Car - 2010 Lexus ES 350
  By masonbarge - November 15 - 5:23 am

  We wanted a reliable, quiet luxury car at an affordable price, and thats exactly what we got. For the price, the degree of luxury and smooth, quiet ride really makes road trips a pleasure, and theres lots and lots of space for passengers and cargo. The big positive surprise is the gas mileage! We are now averaging 31 MPG on the highway, and about 23 mpg overall. No doubt this is improved by 1 or 2 mpg simply because of the excellent variety of displays, which make you aware of the mpg you are getting. The trade-off is disappointing handling. There is plenty of pickup and stopping power for us, but the steering and lateral feel are average at best, and visibility is average minus.

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  Great Car! but Expensive Repairs! - 2003 Lexus SC 430
  By Stunt Jay - November 14 - 4:40 am

  Runflat tires do cause a bit of hard ride. I hit a pothole without seeing it and it bent the rim very easily. Dealer wanted $600 for just the rim. I average 18 MPG as it stated I would. No big deal coming from a Tundra with 13 MPG. Convertible parts are very expensive. Overall I do enjoy driving the car alot and will probably keep it until it dies out on me. I havent had any major mechanical issues at all with the car.

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  first year bloopers - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By Carlton R - November 13 - 10:00 am

  I have had alot of technical problems. Also, the first year out, it has mechanical problems (drivetrain).

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  Mercedes S Class vs LS 400 - 1999 Lexus LS 400
  By james r - November 4 - 2:00 am

  The Mercedes seats are bigger.You cant get the Lexus seat to go parallel like the mercedes seat.The Lexus will reach 130 like you are going 90 but the mercedes feels safer and you dont feel a detached from the road. I like the Mercedes larger steering wheel which makes a real difference at hgh speeds. the LS 400 is virtually maintenance free The interior of S class is much nicer.The cheap sun visors of the LS 400 and head linner are pretty sorry when you look at Merceds even 20yrs.ago The fuel economy in the Lexus is averaging 18-19mpg/city 24-26.9 hwy @75- 85mph The omputer of the Lexus is always off 1-1.5mpg. I still want a newer S class class

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  The Ultra Luxury Edition Nightmare - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By Nestor - November 2 - 2:53 am

  I love the car. The interior design seems to be flawless. The smoothness, the quiet ride and comfort are all excellent. A minor problem is I keep hitting the audio button when I am on the touch screen for navigation. I have been to the dealership for a suspension problem four times and so far I have had no luck of getting the problem resolved. The car is sitting higher on one side. The air suspension is a very complicated system since it is controlled by the computer. The Service Manager told me that it is normal to have a variation of up to one inch. The height of the car on one side is much apparently higher. I measured it close to 3/4 of an inch. Consider this comment before buying one.

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  Fun, Reliable Car, Expensive to Maintain - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By 2001isowner - October 30 - 7:50 am

  Its a quick fun car to drive on dry surface. Worst car on the road in snow with high performance tires installed. Running into high maintenance cost down the road. I have a 2001 IS ... be prepared to drop $500+ at the dealership on the timing belt at 90k and $300 when the oxygen sensor goes. Rims and tires are a nightmare.

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  Fun to drive - 2013 Lexus CT 200H
  By john684 - October 29 - 1:56 pm

  This car is actually very slow. But it feels really fast! Perhaps because it is low to the grown and the suspension and steering is sport tuned. It is a very fun car to drive. Handles well. Cargo space is extremly limited and the tech package is out of date.