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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  The LS 400 is the smartest used car buy. - 1997 Lexus LS 400
  By Ben LaMere - June 2 - 2:16 am

  I have owned a lot of vehicles, but this vehicle is one of the finest machines ever built. The ultra smooth motor and trans., the unmatched suspension, tight lack of rattles and almost no wind noise until you hit 100 mph, the engine is just barely past 3000 rpms at this speed and the car just cruises like that is a normal everyday speed. This is automotive excellence at its finest. At this point in the life of the car, its depreciation almost levels off compared to most cars in this category, that lose 3-6000 in value annually, look at the prices for 94, 95, 96 they are very close. So when reselling you still have some money left. You will not regret the purchase of this car

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  my lexus - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By Michelle Marie Sims - June 2 - 2:00 am

  It was fun driving in the rain on a nice night out on the town.

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  Comfy, reliable SUV - 2003 Lexus GX 470
  By taniamekv - June 1 - 11:50 am

  Ive driven this SUV for over 6 years and its the best car Ive owned. Service is excellent (especially the Naperville dealer) and the SUV has the best fit and finish of any car Ive driven (including Mercedes and Porsche). It continues to drive smoothly after 85K miles. I hope to have it for 200K+.

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  So glad I bought it! - 2006 Lexus RX 330
  By Nancy - May 31 - 1:33 pm

  Out of the many luxury SUVs we could have purchased, there was one that always made me look harder at those that were on the street. Everywhere we went they were all over, and some of them were over 3 years old and still looked great and have great service records on reliability, customer satisfaction etc., enough that the driver kept the vehicle and would not think of trading it in unless it was for another RX. We are so pleased that we will never chose another make of car. From the dealership to the sales person to customer service, really a wonderful experience that we hope will last throughout our ownership. Keep up the great work Lexus!

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  Unhappy RX350 Customer -2017 - 2017 Lexus RX 350
  By JTucker - May 31 - 12:56 pm

  Please be sure to drive this vehicle in traffic and slow RPM. Has a shifting issue when you roll in and out of the throttle. Lexus says it is a "characteristic" of the vehicle. It is very frustrating to drive and has turned me into a Lexus hater. Shame on Lexus QC! Would not purchase another.!

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  Still love it - after a year - 2008 Lexus GX 470
  By BoRock - May 31 - 12:50 pm

  I was the first one here to write a review (see bottom). It has been a year and a month and a happy 14,000 miles since I got my 2008 GX470. What can I say, I STILL LOVE IT. I feel like 100 bucks when I get in and I know I made the right choice when I get out. Every day I look forward to driving the car. I use it primarily for commuting to my workplace (40 miles both ways). When I get home it feels nice to know that this great vehicle is waiting for me in the morning. I had 2 problems: driver side mirror was sticking and my aluminum wheels had some black spots. Both problems were fixed promptly and the dealer even apologized for the inconvenience. I will drive this truck forever!

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  Love My Lexus! - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By bczican - May 30 - 9:00 pm

  This is my second Lexus. I also have an SC 430. This car is a dream to drive. Quick response and very quiet. The back seat is very comfortable even for my 6 3" husband. I appreciate the automatic door lock recognition system and the auto open rear hatch when my hands are full. The windshield seems huge compared to my previous car - Mercedes SUV - offering great visibility.

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  lexus, the best! - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By david h. sager - May 30 - 10:43 am

  This is the first non-American car I have personally owned. It is flawless in every respect. I have the touring suspension and it is great for super handling and just a ball to drive. The steering response, the engine performance, and the elegant design of the interior is unbelievable. This car leads, does not follow.

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  New and loving it!! - 2008 Lexus ES 350
  By rjt65 - May 30 - 10:26 am

  I have had this car about 2 weeks. I absolutely love it. The ride is firm but cushioned. Handles very well. On long highway drives getting about 30 MPG, overall in 20s. A luxurious ride and interior. I am over 6 1" with wide shoulders, long legs so the spacing is important for me. Sitting on the cross Bronx for 2 hours due to an accident was made much more enjoyable by this car.

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  My Lexus - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Timothy - May 30 - 10:03 am

  My wife and I purchased this vehicle for her, and since I must drive it periodically I feel free to comment on it. I am somewhat disappointed with the performance and handling aspects of this vehicle, it handles almost as badly as my Isuzu and no where near as well as my Benz. The transmission and the parts cost are my single major complaints, as well as the service intervals, which for a vehicle of this so called caliber should be less frequent. The transmission really feels like an old Yugo with a stick, too much jerky and choppy. I would not purchase another Lexus until they could assure me that this and the maintenance intervals are more rational.