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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  OMG - 1996 Lexus ES 300
  By troy124 - October 22 - 12:05 am

  My girlfriend bought this car with 100,000 miles on it and it now has about 130,000 miles and runs like a champ. Im pretty rough on cars/ Love to go fast/ and this car is awesome. Great on gas drives smooth and we never have any problems with it. The car is worth about 4 to 5 thousand and in saying that I dont think I would find a car like this good for the same price. Im shocked at how well it run seeing it is a 96 and has over 100,000 miles on it but I must say this car is super great, dont think we are getting rid of it until the wheels fall off. I would take this 96 lexus over these new 2010 american cars anyday.

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  3rd Lexus GX - 2010 Lexus GX 460
  By Mark - October 17 - 2:46 pm

  This luxury SUV is as advertised. Smooth ride, outstanding quality, safe and great projected resale value. Significant improvements on almost every element of the 2010 GX. Road manners are superb! Handling is very good for a larger SUV. Availability of color and model combinations is very limited.

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  All But the Transmission - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By FunkyTrans - October 6 - 12:40 pm

  I traded a 2004 ES330 for an 05 LS430 because of the jerky transmission shifting. The LS isnt much better, at a slow roll, shifting is very erratic. Again, the mechanics say its "normal". For $60K the transmission (or computer that controls it) shouldnt be "confused". Sadly, my $15K Dodge pick-up shifts much better (seamless) for a fourth of the cost. Big disappointment.

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  Good but not Great - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By Planobobcat - October 1 - 7:56 pm

  Traded 2007 AWD RX 350 for 2010 AWD model with rare Luxury and ML options. Easily feels bigger in every dimension. Old model had inadequate front leg room (Im 63"); new model is more than adequate. Interior design much improved. Excellent ergonomics; NAV, screen, mouse is easy to use. Seats are OK but a big hard. Better luggage capacity. Exterior design is fine but not a standout. Ride dynamics are what I expect from Lexus; smooth, quiet, unobtrusive. I really feel the extra weight, but overall it corners flatter and still has adequate power. Brakes are fine and better than 2007. MPG has been disappointing; 18 in town, 22 on the highway. Still, I dont regret my purchase decision.

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  Great new features over the 2004 if they worked - 2011 Lexus GX 460
  By haultj - September 30 - 8:45 pm

  I traded in my 2004 GX470 for this in March of 2011. I have been driving this every day and on some vacation trips. Overall it is a comfortable vehicle to drive and has all of the new toys including the Mark Levinson audio. I had the Mark Levinson in my previous and both sound amazing. I have driven both in rough terrain and in bad weather. I prefer the 04 for handling over the 11 because the 11 feels more sloppy in the turns. The 11 also drinks more fuel than my 04. My biggest complaint is the poor functionality of the voice controls. Lexus has refused to resolve this and said that without error codes in a log, they will do nothing more. Perforated leather was a bad choice.

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  Be Cautious of the Interiors - 2010 Lexus ES 350
  By Andy9 - September 30 - 9:46 am

  This vehicle is nice but caution to anyone who looks at buying one--look at all of the plastic in the cabin. There may be wood on the steering wheel but some corners were cut without regard to quality let alone the buyer. Look closely at the interior doors where they provide no leather or even fake leather trim-- just what you might call "high tech" or cheap plastic. The plastic put on interior doors will quickly show wear and tear, and thats coming from one who is extremely careful with a car for years.

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  Smart key not very smart - 2011 Lexus RX 350
  By pawilliams - September 30 - 9:25 am

  I just purchased the 2011 RX350 and I love it even after driving Mercedes sedans for the last 8 years the transition was easy. Its fun to drive, I like the space and it still has the feel of a luxury vehicle. The problem, my smart key is not very smart. You should be able to lock and unlock doors and start the car with just a touch or the hand or push of your finger. NOT!! My new RX350 has now been at the dealer for the same amount of time that it was physically in my possession. They keep saying, "the corporate office is working on a solution".

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  Disappointed - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By skibum12 - September 26 - 8:43 pm

  I upgraded my 2001 RX to this. To be honest, Im returning it. I cant get comfortable. Why they did away with the Captains Chairs is beyond me. I simply cant get comfortable in this car. Im 510. They came close to perfection but fell short. Bigger isnt better. Yes its got all the nice Lexus bells and whistles but I just dont want to drive this car anymore. To be honest, its boring. This is the perfect car to rent while maybe on a ski trip. To keep this car for years, no way.

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  04 IS300 - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By A Pham - September 22 - 2:00 am

  For the price that I paid, it was well worth it. The car handles well and has comfort.

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  Great car, but dangerous design flaw - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Tdiii_99 - September 22 - 2:00 am

  We are really happy with the car, but find the headlights to be unsafe. While the headlights are very bright and intense, they prevent almost all light diffusion. This creates a hazard when driving on unlighted roads as there will be pockets with visibility limited to 20 yards. If an animal or other object was in the road beyond the small illuminated area, one would have no realistic chance to react, even at very modest speeds. If one drives at a safe speed for this condition, one risks being a hazard to traffic approaching from behind.