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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  Former BMW owner - 2007 Lexus RX 350
  By betulikit - October 21 - 11:16 am

  We became tired of BMW service costs and issues and this is our first Lexus. So far, so good and this is an excellent vehicle. I wish the standard radio was a little better, but this is a minor issue and fit and finish on the vehicle are exceptional along with handling and ride. It is my wifes new car replacing 10 years of BMW 5 series wagons.

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  Im going to miss her - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By comfortable/safe - October 21 - 5:23 am

  This is a luxury car, not a sport car. I have enjoyed driving this car! I will buy another someday! the comfort and feeling of a quiet, safe reliabilty comes to mind instantly! Worth every penny... I owned a Lexus.

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  Improvement On An Already Awesome Car - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By PsychDoc - October 21 - 3:16 am

  Superb fit and finish. Every bell and whistle you could imagine and then some. Great power from the 272hp engine and vastly improved transmission and a huge jump in mpg!!! How do they do it? Compared to other cars in the category, a steal.

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  The Best - 2003 Lexus RX 300
  By Pete Violio - October 21 - 2:00 am

  Love this vehicle. It is reliable, sleek, and fun to drive. Drives just like a car.

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  Excellent car - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By Josh Krut - October 21 - 2:00 am

  This is the finest car in its category.

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  Why spend so much money - 2007 Lexus GX 470
  By Real owner - October 20 - 11:06 pm

  I have bought new Cadillac Escalades, a new one every year starting in 02 . I live in the mountains of New Mexico and am not in good health so reliability and comfort are top of the list . I had never even consided a Lexus . Drove the GX 470 and that was all it took, I traded my 06 Cad. I am very hard to please and I am truly happy with this car. You feel safe in snow, mud and on the highway. Value, check on the new price then look at a used one . Lexus holds its value. The heating and cooling are just right. This is a 4x4 built for comfort and 20 mpg is great when you consider what American 4x4s get.

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  The Maytag of Cars! - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By Halc - October 16 - 12:36 pm

  My ES300 had about 9K miles on it when purchased 11/2003 and now has 40,523 miles and has been the Maytag of cars. In addition to regular scheduled service, the only outlay has been new tires and (battery which was replaced under warranty about a month ago). Lexus sent road-side service with a fresh one and literally 5 minutes later upon arrival it was good to go again. The tires were expensive costing about $900 for Michelins or $1200 for Bridgestone and I highly recommend the latter designed for the car. The Michelins do not handle as well at highway speeds and adversely affected the driving pleasure in my opinion.

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  Love My ES 350 - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By rd (NY) - October 15 - 11:53 am

  Trust me when I tell you the car is a jewel. This is my first Lexus and I couldnt be more satisfied. Build quality is first rate. The ride is silky smooth. Interior is quiet and well laid out. I test drove the Acura TL, Toyota Avalon, Audi A4 & VW Passat and the ES-350 had just everything I needed. Good turning radius spectacular ride, excellent interior room and nice quality dash. I currently average 23 mpg back & forth to work and weekend driving. My only criticism to date is that the transmission sometimes hesitates shifting between 30-40 mph. Ill see what the dealer tells me about this. I highly recommend this car for anyone looking for high quality build and exceptional ride.

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  Almost Perfect - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By MDX_or_XC90 - October 15 - 10:00 am

  I compared this car on multiple test- drives against XC90, X5, MDX, Highlander, 4-runner, ML350. Off-road (dirt/mud) and on-road, the Lexus shines. MDX has more hp, cargo-room. X5 was more fun. XC90 had the most potential. But the Lexus was the smoothest, quietest, and (hopefully) most reliable. Perfect balance of handling/comfort, Power/Gas Economy. Beautiful exterior with stolen touches of X5 mixed in.

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  Luxury and Quality - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By DRS - October 14 - 5:43 am

  I have owned the ES 350 for almost a week now and I have loved every minute! This car has it all, Luxury, Performance and Quality. For me it came down to the Acura TL and the Lexus. The TL was nice but reminded me of my BMW. The Lexus on the other hand had me "giddy with excitement” This is something for a guy who has seen much of the world and has lived a great life! Kudos to Lexus!