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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  My New LS430 - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By Jim - July 25 - 11:53 pm

  Problems: 1) drivers seat not comfortable - feels like you sit in a hole and perforated seats dont permit you to move easily. 2) No good way to run XM antenna in the trunk. 3) Hard to see orange letters on display (too small). 4) Ride too hard with low profile tires.

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  Very Dissapointed - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By chef86 - July 25 - 10:00 am

  I just went in for my 1,000 mile check up. I have a gas tank that is supposed to hold 19 gallons of gas that only takes 15.5 gallons. The defect with either the gas tank or the computer system is not covered under the warrantee so I get to guess how far I can drive. Second, when applying gas on the highway and then letting up on the gas for a moment and then accelerating, there is a defect whereby the car bucks badly. When I told the technician about it he said that he knew about it asked if I thought I had been rear ended (I had). He told me that another Lexus model had already been recalled due to complaints. Problems plus bad service and this Lexus

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  All around outstanding mid size SUV - 2013 Lexus RX 450h
  By sgull - July 22 - 8:44 am

  Had a Highlander, drove that and the rx350 and Rx450, the rx 450 beat the others. Its extremely quiet, powerful, luxurious, outstanding build quality and we think very nice looking. It takes getting used to a hybrid in day to day driving, as it doesnt jump off the line unless you want it to. Its almost a game seeing how good of mileage you can get. We are getting at least 28 mph in city driving. We intend to keep this vehicle at least 8 years, and gas is not going to get cheaper so it will pay for us in the long run. The ride on the 450 is smoother than the 350 due to the extra weight of the batteries. We have had zero problems or defects in the 7k plus miles we have driven.

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  Review of Lexus ES300 2003 - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By fyi_noyb - July 17 - 2:00 am

  This is my third ES-300 and I have found all of them to be of excellent quality, reliable with above average dealer support.

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  Bad suspension in 2010 Lexus 350 RX - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By jlotoo - July 16 - 8:47 pm

  After having a 2004 Lexus 330 RX for 7 years, I was thrilled to get a new 2010 350 RX last October. Very quickly I began to realize that the ride and the drive were clearly not the same. The 2010 is the roughest ride ever. I have complained at the dealership and had it checked out and they say everything is as it should be but I continue to bounce and rock sideways over the slightest bumps. Also the cargo pad is worthless. It is thin and has no substance and has wrinkled into a gnarly mess. The dealership says we had to have closed the cargo door on it and that just did not happen. The 2004 was a stronger fabric and much higher quality.

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  Like my Lexus - 2005 Lexus SC 430
  By OKBBALL! - July 11 - 11:13 am

  I traded in 2001 Corvette convertible, 6 speed. The SC 430 Lexus is more comfortable, quieter, easier to drive, has a much better sound system, the fit and finish is much better and the interior is such better quality there is no comparison. These are comparisons to a 2005 Vette I test drove. The power on the SC 430 however does not compare to the Vette. I am very satisfied with the SC 430.

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  RX350 Quality Declined - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By c2008 - July 10 - 5:16 am

  My almost brand new 2009 RX350 was damaged in an accident so I replaced it with the new 2010 RX350. Because I loved my 2009 RX so much I really did not think any other options and did not pay much attention during a quick test drive of the 2010 model. As soon as I got this new vehicle, I realized that this is not the same RX anymore. The engine is so much more noisy, the transmission is not as smooth as the old model and the ride is simply not as comfortable as the old one. If you have an old RX350, you will know that the new one is not as well built as it used to be. I absolutely regret buying the new model. If you have an old RX350, dont replace it with the new one.

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  Great Ride-Instrumentation Poor - 2017 Lexus RX 350
  By Rudy - July 9 - 8:09 am

  Great ride but the instrumentation is not for the "Grey Hairs"! Control switches are scattered about and difficult to read. Software has nice features but requires a smart phone. Phone Tech Support is lacking as agents are NOT really knowledgeable about all the features. Gas mileage on a recent 1,200 trip averaged about 25 MPG. Frontal view is terrible as it is very difficult to judge where the "real" front is located......be careful!

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  Best entry level luxury - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By frommx5tomz3 - July 7 - 9:30 pm

  This is not the perfect car for me (Im a driving enthusiast who wants a sportier car). However, for someone who really wants a classy, reliable, beautiful car focused on luxury (my wife), this car is a good value and a good choice. I enjoy riding in the car and driving it is pleasurable for a daily commute. If great handling is your thing, look elsewhere. If you want a luxurious car with great build quality and great creature features for a good price, I highly recommend it.

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  A decent utility car - 2000 Lexus RX 300
  By Lee - July 5 - 5:53 am

  This car had a transmission problem at 94,000 miles that caused me over $3,500. Other than that I guess it is reliable. The brake pads are incredible; I am still on the original ones after more than 110,000 miles. Has not changed the timing belt yet, mechanic recommended at 120,000 vs. Lexus 90,000. My biggest complain is fuel economy, a full tank of gas gets only 230 miles. Pick up from get go is good however it lacks power at medium speed. The suspension is a bit soft and the turning radius is too large. I would want to have a little bit tighter body. I also want to replace this one with the hybrid.