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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  NICE RIDE - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By GINA - May 1 - 5:06 am

  I love to drive my new lexus. I visit my local gas station about every three weeks. getting lost on the streets of long island is no longer possible. I love the bluetooth tech. My lexus drives like a dream, this is my first lexus.I like to get a new car every two years and will never buy any other make then lexus again..

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  ANNOYING TRANSMISSION HESITATION - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By e. marks - April 30 - 10:00 am

  The handling is extremely capable for sporty driving and the brakes are unrivaled. The power is adequate and smooth, though it tends to lug a little at lower RPMs. The E-shift allows only limited control over shifting (gears 2-5) and far too often down- shifts on its own. A HESITATION PROBLEM occurs in many IS300s as a result of the vehicles ICU (onboard computer) malfuntioning -- a major issue considering it is not detectable during the intial test drive, gets progressively worse, and according to Lexus, is not correctable.

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  Winter/Wet Driving - 2001 Lexus IS 300
  By jtrock - April 27 - 2:00 am

  Being rear drive and very light this is the worst car I have ever had for snow/wet road driving. Even with the standard 16" tires the car would not move away from the curb in the first snowfall. I put Blizzaks on it and it is somewhat better but this vehicle is not recommended for northern climates. the TRACS system also sucks. It makes starting out on wet pavement chunky. It also seems to have a hesitation on acceleration at times.

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  NAV system terrible - 2007 Lexus LS 460
  By paul m - April 24 - 2:26 pm

  In Canada, do not waste your money on Nav system. I live in Toronto and have had no end of troubles. Canada is an after-thought and even Lexus Canada will admit that the Nav system is woefully inaccurate and incomplete. Often advised that "house number does not exist". Entire towns in the Maritimes do not exist (St. Andrews, NB). Rely on this system and you will get lost and stay lost. In Quebec you better know the french names. System frequently sends me down blind alleys and blocked streets in Toronto. Lexus says sorry but read fine print, NICE service, eh!

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  I Phone 4S So yesterday! Three ways of control. - 2017 Lexus RX 350
  By Captain - April 14 - 8:52 am

  Call it a small thing, but why would Lexus go out of their way to create a nifty holding compartment for an outdated phone size and place it right in the middle of the console? Technology is usually a good thing, right? Well in my opinion, Lexus overdid it. There are three ways to adjust the radio, the navigation etc. Why not just make it simple and make it great? Otherwise it is a fun car to drive and handles well.

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  A Different Breed of Lexus - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By Modder - April 12 - 7:20 am

  I buy cars for their performance and moddability (and this car is very moddable having the Supras 2jz and all), but Ill rate this car from a consumers point of view, since you are probably interested in buying this car. This is not your average type of Lexus. Lexus are usually known for their comfort and amenities, but this car is different. The IS 300 was designed to compete with the 3 series, and that it does. This is a SPORT sedan, so it drives like one, do not buy this car expecting the usual laid back handling of the other cars in the Lexus fleet. This is definitely the car to buy, if you are looking for a RELIABLE car that will add some excitement to your daily commute to work.

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  Very Disappointed - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By kristal1 - April 10 - 8:27 pm

  Bought the Lexus Rx 300 because of Lexus reputation of being a reliable vehicle, sadly disappointed with our experience. We bought this car 5 years ago with 48K miles on it and hoped to drive it over 200K miles. Unforunately at 100K miles the car had a steering column failure, the worst the dealer had ever seen. Car was unsafe to drive. Cost of repairs $1,700. Less than 12 months later at 112K miles the engine went. Expected cost to replace $5,000 for a used engine, significantly more for a new one. Never expected this from Lexus! at 112K miles... are you kidding me. Should have read reviews before buying it.

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  I guess I got a lemon. - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By Jack Fitzgerald - April 7 - 3:33 am

  This is my third new Lexus. I still drive my first, a 1993 SC300. 177,000 miles and other than routing maintenance, no problems. My 2001 is a good car in a lot of ways but I have had many problems with this vehicle. The steering column need 3 parts to make it right, Both side view mirrors needed to be replaced, both trunk struts needed to be replaced, One of the factory wheels developed a crack around the lug nut hole and needed to be replaced. The drivers seat needed to be repaired. All of the above was done under warranty but as I only have 60,000 miles on my car now, I can only expect more and very expensive repair work that wont be covered. I think Ill look for another make vehicle.

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  Unmatched Quality and Reliabililty - 2001 Lexus RX 300
  By Bison72 - April 5 - 9:13 am

  This by far is the most reliable car I have ever owned. Oil changes, tires and brakes only. The style, quiet ride and care-free maintenance has converted me to a Lexus fan for life! I keep wanting to buy a newer Lexus model but cannot justify getting rid of this SUV when it still runs and looks like new. My friends are shocked when they learn it is 8 years old and approaching 90k miles.

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  2005 Lexus SC 430 2dr Convertible - 2005 Lexus SC 430
  By Annie - April 3 - 10:00 am

  I have previously owned a BMW. I like this classy look of Lexus SC 430. I enjoy the hard top convertible of this car. This care gives me a quiet ride and fun to drive. It is very comfortable to ride especially on a weekend trip.