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 - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By Scott in CA - September 7 - 2:00 am

  Awesome car -- a little stodgy but perfectly built and equipped. The GPS is 1000% better than the Mercedes or the BMW.

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  Exceeds our expectations - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By Suzanne Swetnam - September 7 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle has exceeded our expectations in all arenas. We have put over 6000 miles on it in 3 months. It has had zero defects. On acceleration, it has more than enough power for us. We drive 70 miles per day on the interstate and it makes the drive seem short. On long trips, it has gotten 28 to 30 mpg. In town 25 mpg.

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  Luxery with Style and Fun. - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By jackpet1 - September 7 - 2:00 am

  I have owned a somewhat basic ES300 for a year and love the vehicle. Opted only for leather & five CD changer, this package is dealer standard for this area. Fit and finish is superb and dealer experience is the best I have ever experienced. Previous cars: Porsche, Alfa, Camero, Maxima and a few dogs, this is the best! Now that the engine is broken in, power is enough to impress me. Maxima was quicker off the mark but not worth the rough edges and reliability issues.

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  2008 Lexus LS460 - 2008 Lexus LS 460
  By Irfanski - September 4 - 12:06 pm

  Great car, smooth and comfortable ride. Great mileage - have driven ~5200 miles and have gotten ~22mpg in city and ~30.5 mpg on a 475 mile trip from NC to KY via the Virginia/WV mountains. Worth every penny (since I got it for a discount buying a new 2008 as the 2009 models were coming in).

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  LEXUS GX460 - 2017 Lexus GX 460
  By Jorge - September 4 - 8:50 am

  Its a great SUV. Its got plenty of power and feels great on the road.

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  No longer a German Afficianado - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By Kenlc48 - September 2 - 10:00 am

  After many years of stating I would NEVER own a Japanese luxury car, I was compelled to eat my own words. I have had numerous German vehicles and thought that handling, fit, finish, performance and attention to detail was soley the realm of the German manufacturer. After being shoddily handled by a MB dealer when attempting to trade in a SC500, I drove to the Lexus dealer and found to my great surprise that I had missed the finest luxury vehicle available in the United States in the under $75k range.

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  Get The IS - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By SirFreeze - September 2 - 10:00 am

  I test drove the A4, 330, Maxima, S2000, TT and even waited 6 weeks to test drive the G35. All the above had thier plus/minuses. I thought the IS offered the most complete package of power, styling, handling and value. Great car !!

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  Love our new RX 330 - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Al B - September 2 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I just purchased the all new RX 330 and we just love it. We almost bought the Volvo XC90 I am so happy we got the RX instead.

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  A Car Built Correctly - 2001 Lexus ES 300
  By w, clay - August 30 - 9:23 am

  I bought this car in June of 2002 it had 26K miles on it. Today in Nov of 2009 it now has 189235 miles. I have only had two repairs the trans and the idle control sensor. The ride is extremely smooth and road noise is low. The sound system is great. I am amazed by the power when you want to get up and go the car responds great. It is a pleasure to drive with the sun roof open and the sound system cranked up. I will continue to buy Lexus products.

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  GREAT CAR TO HAVE - 1998 Lexus GS 300
  By TOMAX - August 28 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car because i always wanted a nice whip to drive. But this car was better than i expected and it is one of the best if no the best car i have ever owned !! The reliability is a plus. It feels and looks good on the road. I will definatly buy another i dont think i will purchase another car other than the GS. I also own a RX so i guess im a lexus man 4 life !!!