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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  Smart purchase - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By blautens - November 12 - 3:03 pm

  Great midsize SUV - especially if youve decided you cant really use a 3rd seat that might be too small anyway. Very comfortable, great resale, looks great, and the only one we found with the power tailgate (for those who might not have the reach or strength for closing it sometimes). Easy to get in and out of.

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  Smooth Ride - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Mike & Cathy - November 12 - 9:43 am

  It was a tough choice between the M35 and Lexus GS300. The convincing issues favoring Lexus were: smoother ride, quieter ride and interior finish. We would have liked a bit more wood on the dash-a logical place is the trim strip on upper edge of the glove box. A dream to drive, our first tank of gas resulted in overall average 28.5 mpg

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  Great Car - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By urban - November 12 - 2:00 am

  I have owned many cars in my life but the GS300 is by far one of my best choices. It is elegant, luxury, sporty, fun to drive and a head turner yet not too flashy. I have the upgraded 5 star 18 in. chrome wheels on it and it looks beautiful. I have already put around 100k on it and the car runs great, no problems what so ever. The only thing I do is an oil change and periodic tune up with original Lexus spark plugs (dont use generic or aftermarket).

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  Still #1 - 1998 Lexus LS 400
  By LexusGuy - November 12 - 2:00 am

  An extremely quite, but very sporty car. Sound system will impress even the most stubborn audiophiles. Non boastful yet beautiful, elegant exterior design. Ample leg and head room for those over 6 tall.

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  Love My Lexus - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By mollie - November 12 - 2:00 am

  This is my third Lexus vehicle. The LS430 is so elegant, reliable, comfortable, quiet, and smooth riding. I really love my car.

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  Dont hesitate to buy - 2010 Lexus ES 350
  By Wife is happy - November 11 - 7:53 am

  After 6 months of researching for a vehicle for my wife, I decided to buy the es350. Trust me Gents i did the research. When it comes to class, comfort, dependability and quality this was the car. We looked at BMW, Buick, Infiniti, Acura, etc, etc. I do not have one buyers remorse on this purchase!

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  My second Lexus is better than my first - 2008 Lexus ES 350
  By Tom Brennan - November 9 - 1:40 pm

  This is the second new Lexus I have owned. I thought my 2004 was nice car, however, the new options and upgrades on the 2008 model 350 surpass my expectations. I highly recommend the options of the back-up trunk camera and the headlight system that moves as you turn. I cannot believe the coverage of the road. Performance, comfort, looks and increased HP again more than meets my expectations. I look forward to driving this car for many years to come.

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  Instant Repeat - 2006 Lexus LX 470
  By Sandra Rac e - November 9 - 11:43 am

  After five years of owning a 2001 LX 470 I was told it was time for a new car. The problem was after test driving other SUV model cars there was no comparison. The pick up was the biggest difference. There is not another SUV of this size with the pick up and reliablity of pick up as the LX470. There is not a smoother SUV on the road. I bought the identical car and I would do it again. The only complaints are the same as they were in 2001. The third row seats are too difficult to operate and move in and out. The tail gate should also swivel out as in the smaller 470 model. I have to get into the car to remove groceries. Id also like another 6" split between the the back two seats.

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  Get One! - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By Seepage - November 8 - 2:00 am

  I drove the Ifniti G35 coupe and sedan and the Acura TSX. I really liked the G35 coupe and didnt think anything would compare. I drove the IS right after the G35 Coupe and was actually still impressed with it. Couldnt get any kind of deal on either the Infiniti or the Acura because they are just "too hot" right now. Remembered my Lexus test drive, went back to Lexus to revisit the IS and it was the greatest decision Ive ever made. Good deal, awesome performance, sick handling, long standard feature list and the excellent service of the Lexus dealership. Get one!

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  Best vehicle we ever owned!!!! - 2000 Lexus RX 300
  By dak west - November 8 - 2:00 am

  We have almost 40k miles and have never had to bring it in for any warranty work. Regular maintenance only but stopped visiting selling dealer after they tried to oversell un-needed maintenance items. Vehicle runs great, replaced tires at 30k. This vehicle was everthing we expected and more.