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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  Black Diamond Edition - 2006 Lexus ES 330
  By gafuldem - December 7 - 11:56 pm

  This car is a very nice car. It is very smooth, reliable, I am 6 foot 3 I have found enough room to drive the car. It is comfortable. It looks nice. It is good on gas. No vibration. Black Diamond Edition makes it even better. Stereo is nice. I care about keeping my money in my pocket. I like to keep extra extra money in the bank. :) Repairs arent an issue because it seems that it will not break. Maintaining the car is affordable also if you take it to a great mechanic who treats your car well. Mercedes Bmw and every other expensive car on the road has to pay for expensive repairs and to also maintain it. People who drive those cars normally have their eyes fixed on mine. Get one. Save$

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  Love my Lexus - 2010 Lexus RX 450h
  By Barbara Piccola - December 6 - 10:33 pm

  This is by far the best car I ever owned. Would highly recommend it.

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  Best of the Best - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By Steve Mercaitis - December 5 - 6:03 pm

  I tried to find a comparable American vehicle. I researched autos for over 6 months to find a vechicle that suited my needs and driving habits. I drive over 36,000 miles per year. Unfortunately, nothing comes close to the style, value, re-sale, dependability, and ride that a Lexus provides in an American model

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  Love My Lexus ES330 - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Suzanne - December 5 - 4:26 pm

  This is our second Lexus. We had a 1994 Lexus ES300 that we put 181000 miles on through all types of driving conditions in Alabama, Maine and Maryland. When the 2004 ES330 came out, we decided it was time to part with our beloved ES300. The first one still looked and drove like new. That car NEVER gave us one minute of trouble in any way. The new one has more power than the ES300, which is nice. We are now in Florida where the front wheel drive wont be needed as much as it was in the treacherous roads during our winters in Maine. We are sold on Lexus, and will most likely buy one again.

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  Happy camper in Palm Desert - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Woody Kaplan - December 5 - 11:50 am

  Have noticed winter gas gives better gas mileage in California. Steering seems very tight with some wheel jerking.

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  All I expected but . . . - 2013 Lexus ES 300h
  By selkirk2 - December 5 - 11:24 am

  Owned my ES300h for six months and have enjoyed almost everything about the car. It is perfect, for me, except that the fuel consumption (mainly in town), is poor averaging between 7.2 and 7.9 litres per 100 kms - Lexus tell me it will improve but so far no joy. Probably biggest irritation is the GPS - only one voice available and that not to my liking; no Spanish or French option; and it seldom understands my (english) accent! Oh, and the trunk is small. Otherwise, beautiful car. Happy camper I am.

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  Love this car - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By cwdavis - December 2 - 2:00 am

  Have 6,000 miles on it and it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. I enjoy the Adaptive Variable Suspension which transforms car from one of comfort to very sporty handling. I find the interior beautifully crafted and I like the front styling. It is extremely quiet and smooth. Lexus reliability is second to none.

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  LX-570 Review - I Love This Car! - 2010 Lexus LX 570
  By ashron - December 1 - 6:03 pm

  It has been 3 years and 60,000 miles since I purchased my 2010 Lexus LX 570 brand new from Lexus dealership in Santa Monica, California. The more I drive my LX, the more I am convinced that I made the right choice! When I did my search for a new car, my only requirements were to drive a large luxury SUV. As an owner of 2 companies that drives approximately 20,000 miles a year, my needs were "Luxury" and "Utility". I test drove BMWs X5, Mercedes GL-450, Land Rover, The Audi Q7, Cadillac Escalade, and the Lincoln Navigator. In my opinion, the LX-570 had many advantages over the others. Its ride was the smoothest and quietest. It was COMFORTABLE! (Extremely comfortable in fact) Ergonomically, none of the others came even close. Its navigation with Destination Assist was by far the most advanced and easiest to use. (I use it all the time and love it). Fit and finish and especially reliability are second to none. Its size was also very appealing to me. Its not too big such as the Escalade and Navigator, and yet its still big enough for a 3rd row seat. Its also very wide and roomy inside which I really like. The European SUVs on the other hand, felt very narrow and tight and many lacked the 3rd row seat. I have had the opportunity to drive my LX in various driving conditions. From day to day L.A. traffic, to a 300+ mile drive in stormy rain and snow thru windy mountain roads and even driving all the way to Montana and back with 5 adults and fully loaded with gear. (5500 miles in 19 days to visit all the major national parks in the western states, including, Yellow Stone, Teton, Glacier, Olympic, Mount Rainier, Mount Saint Helen, Redwood Forest, etc) I have also done several day long trips to various other cities such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson and San Francisco to name just a few. (I do several trade shows each year) In all my travels, whether Im driving thru the desert at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or in inclement weather, I find the LX comfortable, luxurious, quiet, smooth and reassuring.

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  Thrilled - 2001 Lexus RX 300
  By KSmith - December 1 - 2:53 pm

  My first SUV LOVE the ride, does great in the snow, Great visibility, overall VERY HAPPY with my truck ( I cant really call it a truck!).

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  Best "ES" yet - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By paul - December 1 - 8:10 am

  Fun to drive, easy to start, everything works; the standard audio system is fine unless you are an "audiophile"; good gas mileage (about 22-23 MPG) in all around driving; run mid-grade gas rather than premium and have not had any performance issues.