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:

• 

  Lexus Quality - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By lbjack - January 25 - 5:40 pm

  Had 4Runners before and, sold on Toyota quality, decided to step up. Though not as smooth as a V8, this 6 has surprising pickup. Comfortable driving -- trips between LA and Vegas seem shorter than before. Very high-tech -- electronics are sophisticated and intuitive. Handsome interior, wood/leather trim. Deceptively large cargo space: can take 2 full-size bikes! Exterior lines are a bit frumpy, but, like the inside, beautiful fit and finish. Can confirm reviews elsewhere about road noise: pavement-to-tire noise, then wind noise at higher speed. That said, the word is still quality. Whether at home or on the road, Ive found Lexus to be a better class of both car and dealership.

• 

  Love It - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By Gema - January 25 - 1:03 am

  After driving a honda accord for seven years I decided I wanted a new car. After looking at the BMW 3 series and Audi A4 I went to look at a Lexus ES. Once inside I saw the IS and I said that is the car I want.

• 

  Disappointment - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By david111 - January 21 - 10:00 am

  I have bought seven GM cars so far, and would like to try something different. So I went to the Lexus dealership and drove the ES300. The car looks great in the showroom. Interior material is something that GM cant even match. Build quality is good, but gaps between body panels are wider than those on the Acura. The driving experience was disappointing: The steeling wheel rattles when the engine is cold, and the screen of the navigation system is rubbing against the frame and sqeeking noise can be heard when the road is bad. I cant believe this happened on a Lexus, becuase a New GM vehicle (say less than a month old on Michigan roads) wont do that.

• 

  Great Everything Vehicle - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By jonkron - January 20 - 8:04 am

  This is my wifes car. We bought it used with 35K and have since put 40K on it. I call it the cream puff because it is a Japanese Cadillac. Luxury, ride, and fit & finish are top notch and reliability is excellent. I will be the first to admit the design was not my favorite initally- but Ive grown to love it because it does everything very well. AWD has been successfully Tahoe tested many times. It is an extremely easy & comfortable vehicle to drive. She is looking at the new model for no other reason then the new factor. Would buy this year & model again in a heartbeat.

• 

  Great Car with even greater maintenance cost - 2007 Lexus RX 400H
  By Louis Brown - January 15 - 12:27 pm

  Got my 2007 Lexus RX400h in 2009 used and the car is definitely a great car. Very comfortable to drive and it is a car that makes you feel at home. However, the car is an SUV and most SUVs dont drive that well. If you are looking for a slower paced SUV for the family or just a causal ride than this is for you. The acceleration is practically non-existent. However, it is a hybrid so one shouldnt expect sports car performance but dont expect any at all. The car is slow. Period. Even though I liked the car a lot, one problem I had with is was the maintenance and repair costs. I am sure that it is because it is a Lexus which causes the prices to be so high. Even worse, the car is a hybrid and if you try to take it to most places for maintenance or repairs they will tell you that they do not work on Hybrids. That leaves you with only the dealership for servicing options and we know how much they charge over there. All in all this is a good car but as I have gotten older I have learned my lesson that cars really are a waste of money.

• 

  Not so happy with new GS 450h - 2007 Lexus GS 450h
  By disgruntled in NC OH - January 8 - 6:53 pm

  Have a 1998 GS 400. Have owned/leased at least 5 others since 1993. This one does not live up to the hype. Extremely annoying feeling of gas- electric-gas kickin/out etc. at speeds around 59 mph. Miniscule trunk. I am currently attempting to get out from under this "Edsel". PS: the mileage is really only a 4-5 mpg better than my GS 400.

• 

  Disappointment - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By Wz24 - January 5 - 1:26 am

  My wife and I just bought a 2010 RX replacing her 2007 one - we are very disappointed. The air conditioning on 65 degrees temperature barely cools on a hot summer day, the ventilated seats work very poorly, there is an even worse blindspot from last year, and the interior quality is cheap. I would give fit and finish OKAY, not Lexus standard. Not enough wood throughout, and the entire cabin seems very low budget for a Lexus. The ride and dynamics have been improved greatly which is a plus. The leather is VERY cheap, I recommend anyone to pay more for the semi-aniline leather. The one thing I like, is the great new navigation, but its not worth all the shortcomings this car has.

• 

  LOVE Lexus, not the new RX350 - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By JKM - January 2 - 2:56 pm

  This is my 3rd Lexus auto and my 2nd RX. Do not like the clunky center console which take up valuable leg room or the recessed Navi screen with bulky controls on the console, not good use of interior space. The front seats are also uncomfortable and do not provide good seating support. There is also a lack of secured storage (i.e., lockable compartment in the trunk) and lack of rear storage space as compared to my 2005 RX. Also, lots of noise which the deal has tried to fix including adjusting the windshield by adding additional insulation and soundproofing. In short, not the same quality as my previous RX nor as fun to drive. Its the perfect car for older drivers.

• 

  Vehicle has shortcomings - 2007 Lexus RX 400H
  By Redhead - December 23 - 7:56 pm

  I am a Lexus person and have an LS 430 which I think is the best vehicle I have ever owned. I have been disappointed with the RX400h. The fuel economy is below expectations at 19-20 in normal driving which is mostly in town and 22-23 on a trip. I have asked the dealership about this and they mostly just shrug their shoulders. It seems to me the gas engine cuts in at too low a speed. The front seat is too small for me at 62" both in seat size and headroom. Have had battery problems. Battery is too small. Also, it seems that the dealership is still not up to speed on the hybrid model. They keep telling me to call Lexus directly. Disappointing.

• 

  ES 350 - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By J R - December 21 - 2:13 am

  My first Lexus. Very comfortable and quiet. Great fuel economy 23/31 for a large, comfortable car. Quality design. Disappointed in the thin paint, rock chips are very noticeable and the Michelin tires wont make 30,000. Large ugly mirrors to compensate for the thick roof supports. The wireless voice commands dont always do voice recognition. Expected more for $40K.