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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  Almost perfect - 2007 Lexus GX 470
  By Lexus Loyalist - October 24 - 10:43 pm

  After 4 RXs, I needed a change. Voila the GX. It is roomy, comfortable, sufficiently powerful, and beautifully finished. Only cars with the 3rd row seat were available, but I would rather skip that expense and get a cargo cover instead. The seats are stored, taking up room in my garage. After owning 10 Lexuses, I am surprised at some of the features missing from this car, e.g. HID swiveling headlamps and in-dash CD player. The RX is a much better equipped model for much less money.

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  If you want a plush ride... - 2001 Lexus RX 300
  By LexusRX300 owner - October 24 - 10:00 am

  ?ä a dependable safe family vehicle for Minnesota. We found it. The RX300 (after test driving many comparable vehicles in the same price range) has an extremely quiet and plush ride. The refinements in the cabin such as the audio system, the NAV system, and even the cup holders were well thought of and top quality. Our RX has 62000 miles, 36000 when we purchased it and we have not had any mechanical problems or electrical concerns to date. We would definitely buy this vehicle again.

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  Goodyear tires dont do it! - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By riverside - October 17 - 12:36 am

  This is my second Lexus SUV - my first hybrid - and I am sorry I did not stay with the RX350. The hybrid attraction doesnt live up to expectations simply because the battery vents take up valuable floor storage space and the weight of the battery over time causes the Goodyear tires to chop making the vehicle ride extremely rough. I was just told that my second set of new tires (put on after 15,000 miles) are not wearing properly. I have a little over 30,000 miles on the car. I have written to Lexus; however, my past attempt to get them involved on this issue, took a village and eventually they deferred me to Goodyear. Goodyear refused to do anything this time.

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  HONEST review from a REAL owner!!! - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Vic - September 26 - 12:13 pm

  Ive owned several Lexus vehicles and this is by far a major disappointment!! With promises of great performance, comfort and fuel economy in one package, I was very enamored by the idea, but so far its been just that: EMPTY PROMISES and nothing more!! The engine is VERY NOISY even under moderate acceleration, and at full throttle it sounds like a CHAIN SAW, which is very UNCHARACTERISTIC of a Luxury vehicle, let alone a Lexus (which is supposed to be the epitome of quietness!!) Even with my "fuel saving" driving technique I have yet to see gas mileage over 23mpg!! The ride is stiff and the steering feels a bit vague. Simply not worth the 50 large I spent!! Will be trading for a GX shortly

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  very nice car - 2010 Lexus ES 350
  By JerseyJoe - September 14 - 6:02 pm

  great ride, quite, comfortable, very reliable. 65,000 no problems at all

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  Unresolved wind noise - 2007 Lexus LS 460
  By Jerry S - September 12 - 11:36 am

  This is my fifth Lexus LS. I enjoyed my 2001 LS 430 more than this one based on what appears to be an unresolvable wind noise. The car had the "fix" and although the noise is not as harsh, it is still very noticeable in certain wind conditions or speeds. Also notice what I would call a ticking from the engine at idle and was told that it is normal for this car. My 2001 was much quieter and more comfortable as I also find the front seats to be less than perfect as it applies to being comfortable. Still would consider owning another Lexus but intend to see what Lexus does about truly fixing this problem. Not happy about spending this kind of money and still hearing wind noise.

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  ES 350 - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By John - September 9 - 5:16 pm

  My car is an 11/06 build w/o Nav. This car is very smooth and comfortable, a solid and quality build. It takes a second or two for the car to accelerate after I mash down on the pedal, but after I learned the cars quirks I have found it to be responsive. I havent experienced any of the transmission issues of earlier models; however, I have discovered a definitive wind noise which emanates on the driver’s side window between the A-pillar and the middle of the door. I have taken the car back to the dealership to investigate the problem but so far no luck in solving it. I am afraid that this is a design/engineering issue rather than a build issue. Great exterior styling and interior design.

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  Very nice car - 2007 Lexus LS 460
  By Santino Gino - September 6 - 12:20 am

  Great car, very smooth and a super soft drive. Scary how it can put you to sleep. I do like this car a lot, it was my 2nd choice. I really wanted the Mercedes Benz S Class, but this car was $20k cheaper.

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  Elegant, fun to drive SUV - 2009 Lexus RX 350
  By danmiller3 - September 4 - 11:13 pm

  Overall, we are very pleased with the RX 350. It has a quiet, smooth, fun ride. The interior is meticulously crafted and comfortable. We had a minor alignment problem at purchase but the dealer remedied it.

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  Fun Utility - 2000 Lexus RX 300
  By DESUM - September 3 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is a joy to drive compared to the other SUVs I have owned. I drive 15-20K a year in all types of weather and I have complete control in all conditions without having to "shift" into 4-wheel drive.