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:

• 

  good but - 2012 Lexus CT 200H
  By roberta22 - July 2 - 1:28 pm

  I love my Lexus. Have had it for almost 2 years and Im still getting good mileage. I also think its fun to drive and very easy on freeways with all the start and stop of urban driving. What I didnt think about when I purchased it (and should have) was how low to the ground it is. Easy for the driver to get in and out but almost always have to pull away from the curb to let a passenger in and out. Have been losing air pressure in my tires and now find out that its corrosion of the chrome wheels. So far two wheels have had to be resealed. Anybody else have this problem? Let me know...

• 

  i love the car still - 1996 Lexus ES 300
  By justafineride - July 2 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car used and but still love it. It was already five years old when i purchased it and have had no major problems with the exception of an oil leak on the rear main seal $ 800.00. The cup holder broke $450.00 if you can believe it and the antenna motor went out. Still, I love this car. Quiet, powerful and comfortable. Needs more bass in stereo. Paint is excellent and visibility is unmatched. Great colors also. Heated seats are great too.

• 

  Need more for GX470 - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By monkey56 - July 2 - 10:00 am

  So far, I like the truck. I drive it around the corner just like the way I drive my car (40+ miles) so KDSS must be working hard at the corners to maintain the balance of this heavy truck. Both the DVD and Navigation can pay DVD movies to entertain all passageser when truck is not moving. The 5:1 sound channels worked wonderfully, the sound quality of wireless headphones are crystal clear. I think it works even better than my home theater sound system. It even offers a cassette player which I can use to play those tapes I have stored in my closet for nearly 20 years!! For mechanical and electrical components quality only time will tell but I would trust Lexus to offer superior build quality

• 

  Nice car, but just an expensive Toyota! - 2008 Lexus LS 460
  By M.H. - June 27 - 1:00 pm

  Just traded from years of driving BMWs and Mercedes for my first Lexus, the LS 460 with all the options except laser cruise. It is a nice car with great creature comfort features, but is it really worth the price tag compared to the build quality of german sedans (the jury is still out with me!!)? There is a lot of wind noise that should not be in a car of this price! It handles surprisingly well for a large sedan and gets great gas mileage for such a powerful engine!

• 

  Few missing things - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Bob Tyler - June 18 - 7:26 pm

  First, this is a really nice car which makes any omissions really stand out. For one: dual acting sun visors (actually two per side-one for the front & side window and an extra one for the front) For eleven years Ive had them on my American cars. Second one: mud flaps. Oh, they are available for $160+ installation. Without them the car tends to get splattered easily. Third: complexity of controls.Yes, they do allow flexibility and optional ways to operate but a 600+ page instruction book! Too much! Now, Ive got to repeat what a wonderfully satisfying vehicle this is. No buyers remorse on this one!

• 

  Just loving the car - 2001 Lexus RX 300
  By houstonian - June 9 - 2:00 am

  Purchased an extended warranty too but never used. Just did a valve cover gasket change. But over all just love the car. Had no major problems. Has about 90k miles. If you keep the car maintain it will help a lot

• 

  RATTLES A LITTLE - 2012 Lexus RX 350
  By mitchellrowe - June 8 - 12:38 am

  COMPARED TO MY 2011 RX350 , THE 2012 DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME BUILD QUALITY . THERE IS NO QUIET IN THE VEHICLE . CLICKING NOISES , DASH RATTLES , ENGINE NOISE . THE LEXUS DEALER , ONE BY ONE HAS BEEN CORRECTING THE PROBLEMS . AWD WORKED EXCELLENT IN THE SNOW .

• 

  Great Value - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By GrantJ - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Great car! Great value for the price. Gas mileage is very good for a car of its size. I dont think the new design is as sharp as the old version 300 but when you sit down in this car you know its a quaility automobile. Dont think I agree with the decisssion to change the body style in 2003 and in 04 change the version from 300 to 330. I would expect Lexus to have changed the number when the body style was change,

• 

  Gridlines Disappeared - 2015 Lexus RX 350
  By Sheila B - May 19 - 9:37 pm

  Overall I love this car, however, a recent experience has opened my eyes to what Lexus is willing to do to create a positive customer service experience. I have had this 2015 RX for 2 months. I brought it in to service this week due to the fact that the gridlines disappeared when backing up. I am being told now that the navigation system in the 2015 and camera system does not come with gridlines. I feel that these folks are calling me a liar. Why on earth would I take my car for service and ask them to fix this issue if they were never there to begin with. Service manager has contacted Lexus technical assistance and checked other 2015 models and is basically stating that the car was never equipped with the lines. I am not a happy customer........Those lines helped guide me when backing in to a tight space.

• 

  disappointed - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By pricklypear - May 17 - 2:00 am

  Too many problems for a luxury car: computer failure on braking system, jerky transmission, and inferior tires. Had to replace Toyo tires at 20,000 miles due to very loud road noise. The cost of replacement was partially covered by warranty. Poor radio reception without external antenna. Poor gas mileage for a car with no "Get up & go" performance.