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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  by much, the best car on the road - 1998 Lexus GS 300
  By erick0277 - December 17 - 10:00 am

  A great combination of design, road maners, enogh power and safety features. Definily a quick car on the road with a great estability and smooth drivetrain without sacrifice the sport feeling. Fine style and comfort. Never been more happy with a car before. Excellent acceleration and braking, feels very handy, secure and awesome looking. best over all car.

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  IS300 Blends youth and luxary into one. - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By Yanger - December 17 - 10:00 am

  I recently bought an IS300 5-speed Transmission: Being a previous owner of a Honda S2000, I was not overly impressed with the shifting in this car. The shifts could be shorter and just a bit smoother (less notchy). Mind you, I am comparing the 5-speed shifting with that of the Honda S2000s. Overall, the 5-speed manual drives very similar, if not better, than my friends 330ci. Interior/Exterior: Very nice, except for the plastic dash. Lexus needs to upgrade to some sort of rubber like the Audis and Beamers. Exterior is Excellent! The smoked tail lights really help differentiate between boy racers and young professionals.

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  Lexus is worth the extra Camry $ - 1998 Lexus ES 300
  By Jim - December 16 - 12:23 pm

  Everyone appreciates that Lexus is built on the Camry platform. BUT, theres a world of difference in the feeling of luxury, ambiance and drivability. Its the sort of car that buying used or certified makes sens e... you just cant go wrong. The fit and finish, engineering and reliability are truly amazing. Try it ... youll like it!

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  great - 2014 Lexus ES 300h
  By brendan23 - December 15 - 3:58 pm

  it is a great car and i have been getting 40 mpg on the road. i dont get how people get like 26 mpg they must be driving fast.

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  Drives like a dream - 1998 Lexus GS 300
  By BZimmermann - December 15 - 10:00 am

  AMAZING CAR! My dad owned one, and made the mistake of letting me drive it. :-P In a way, Im disappointed he ever let me drive it. My standards have risen to a new level. This car was the most amazing thing Ive ever driven. Fuel Economy great! Until you go wide open out of every light like I did (4 MPG) Good sound system. It brings tears to my eyes every time I see one on the road now because Im so disappointed that he sold it.

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  Lexus LS430 2001 - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By MStan - December 15 - 1:43 am

  This is one of the best cars ever made. The fit is perfect, reliability is 100%, and for a big car, is fun to drive. You would do fine to buy this car, new or used.

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  ITS A LEX - 2001 Lexus GS 300
  By KANE - December 14 - 9:23 pm

  I have only had this car for 2.5 weeks but I love it so much. Even though the style for this car has been redesigned because it was seven years old, its still a headturner, its a good feeling. This car is marketed as a luxury sport sedan but I think its still more luxury than sport. I prefer luxury over sport anyway thats why I bought a Lexus, but the car might not be that appealing to people that want to feel the road. It feels like youre riding on a cloud when you drive this car, like youre separated from the rest of the world. The car is loaded with an abundance of features. Its a great car and I know it will last as long as I need it to.

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  GS 300 AWD - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By John Powell - December 14 - 12:30 am

  The 2006 Lexus GS 300 AWD is the finest car Ive ever driven. The ride is indescribably smooth. The combination automatic shift and manual shift with the ECT feature provides a fun drive. With the 6th gear, mileage is excellent. I particularly like the push button start and the memorized steering wheel and seat adjustment. My car is black which looks shiny even when dirty. The sound system is excellent with capability to play 6 cds. The automatic features for both the heating and air conditioning is very comfortable.The sunscreen in the back window helps keep the car cooler. I enjoy the automatic windshield wipers and the automatic headlight delay. Last, the GPS is outstanding and amazing.

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  What a deal! - 2007 Lexus RX 350
  By George - December 13 - 4:00 pm

  Had this car for a few weeks now. It is a wonderful car. The quality really shows. As I have trouble getting around, the electric lift gate makes loading the groceries that much easier.

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  History Wins! - 2007 Lexus LS 460
  By Troy Howard - December 13 - 12:46 am

  The history of Lexus is unquestionably the best in category for reliability, workmanship, innovation, comfort and value. This vehicle leads the pack of all vehicles made by Toyota. Of course, reliability is yet to be seen but if I were a betting man I would bet the farm on this car as well. Ive had the car only 2 weeks and cant find enough excuses to tell my wife why I need to leave the house and go out just so I can drive our new baby. The joy of leaving the garage and driving countless miles in any direction is what I live for these days. I never thought I would want to go to work in the morning.