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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  Great Car - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By J. D. Arnold - May 3 - 11:20 am

  I have owned many cars over the years. Porsche, BMW from sedans to sports cars. The redesigned all new Lexus GS 300 AWD is about as good as it gets. Quality is first rate... driving is fun and the six cylinder engine is smooth and responsive. Yes, I would have preferred a few more horses under the hood. The gas mileage is supprisingly good.. so far pretty much as advertised around 28 on the highway and 19-20s city. I get a lot of the WOW FACTOR! Nice Car... SWEET!

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  My Second LX-470 - 2002 Lexus LX 470
  By Windpointe - May 3 - 10:00 am

  This is my 2nd LX-470. My 98 was awesome, but the 2002 is even better. Its like sitting in your living room on trips. It can be driven in "fun" mode or "luxury" mode depending on how one feels. It was definitely worth the four year upgrade to get the Nav System and the Mark Levinson Audio System, plus a few other new bells and whistles. I cant imagine another vehicle Id rather own.

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  Simply Amazing - 2001 Lexus IS 300
  By LexusSteve - May 3 - 10:00 am

  This is an awesome car to drive!! You get the best bang for your buck with this baby! It handles great and accelerates rapidly. Awesome stock stereo system!

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  Great car - 2001 Lexus ES 300
  By coronado75 - May 3 - 10:00 am

  This is my first Lexus, I bought the Coach Edition, black in color. Ive always owned Toyota cars and trucks for the past 26 years. I wish I bought a Lexus when they first came out. The ride is smooth and comfortable. This is my weekend car, and I enjoy taking it for long dirives to the coast in GA.

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  Nearly Perfect - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By stellab - May 3 - 10:00 am

  Overall, this vehicle is a dream come true and VERY worth the money. The handling is superior. Luxurious interior and comfortable ride. Rear seating is roomy. Front window is large so vision is unobstructed. Wipers are too slow. The audio controls leave a lot to be desired. Heater is slow to heat up, but the heated seated make up for it. Too much road noise. I had a Grand Cherokee Ltd V8 but the Lexus mpg is barely better with a V6. Could use a V8 option, but the V6 is okay. The fit and finish is superior. Wonderful experience at dealership.

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  Try Again 2016 RX - 2016 Lexus RX 350
  By mrnew2008 - May 2 - 9:49 pm

  I own a 2008 & 2013 RX; I had my 2013 serviced and they gave me a 2016 RX as a loaner. I am not happy with the UGLY black plastic around the wheel wells of the 2016 as it looks so cheap for a luxury car. The front seats are so hard that my back and buttocks were hurting even after trying to adjust the seating. The navigation and entertainment is difficult to operate while driving. I dont have this issue in my 2008 or 2013. The engine noise while accelerating is horrible; it sounds like 4cyl engine struggling to move the car. This is not something that I would expect from Lexus. The inside looks absolutely fantastic; however using the technology is difficult. The AC sounds as if its about to blow me away; however, living in Houston, TX I can appreciate that it cools very quickly as our summers can be brutal so I can deal with the noise (i guess). My 2008 is not as noisy but it does take a minute to cool off in Texas heat. I hope Lexus makes some changes to the 2017 RX as I will not purchase this generation RX.

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  Low maintenance - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By C. Dudley - May 2 - 9:26 am

  After years of purchasing US made automobiles, all needing several trips to the dealer for warranty repairs, the Lexus ES330 never needed a single warranty repair in 10 years. It is quiet and rides smooth with excellent gas mileage on long trips. We are so pleased with this car, that we will look for another Lexus as a replacement. The car was traded for a 2016 Lexus ES350 in Dec. 2015.

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  Absolutely Wonderful Car - 2013 Lexus ES 300h
  By guidobill - May 2 - 8:27 am

  I put 120K trouble free miles on my Altima Hybrid. Really liked the Altima This is basically the same car since Nissan "borrowed" Toyota technology. I expect the same reliability from the Lexus. The difference is in the luxury ride and feel of the Lexus, as well as the outstanding build quality. I get 37 to 40 mpg in mixed driving. Now have 11K miles on Lexus and it has been reliable. The hybrid technology is not "state of the art" but I like that. Its proven. The Nickel Hydride batteries are "bulletproof."

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  Still the best car - 2000 Lexus GS 300
  By JDM Superstar - May 1 - 3:50 pm

  I wish I have all the money to own it since new, anyway, purchased at 66k miles for $12k, just put another 5000, so far, did tune-up, O2 sensor replaced. Looks new and still shiny paint.

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  KEH review of 2002 Lexus LS430 - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By Janice R. Heugel - April 30 - 3:50 pm

  The best car we have owned. Fully adjustable to make passengers comfortrable. Only minor problems readily and easily corrected by regular maintenance and dealer service. Highly recommend.