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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  I LOVE my IS300 - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By angelzeyez0377 - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Best car Ive ever owned! I love the sportyness of it. 4 door comfort, luxury and style but you feel like racing in Nascar with it =)

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  A very stylish and reliable used car - 1997 Lexus ES 300
  By Kevin Maturey - March 15 - 10:00 am

  This was my first Lexus and I am hooked. This car has lived up to my expectations. I have put over 50,000 miles on the car in under 2 years and it rides and drives the same as when I drove it off the car lot. The Certified Pre-Owned warranty is a worth-while investment. I had to have the left heated seat element and the motor mounts replaced. I have had no mechanical problems at all. I have kept up with the scheduled maintenance and it has cost me roughly $1500 for the 50,000 miles that I have owned it.

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  Love the Rx 350 - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By jennyrn - March 15 - 2:45 am

  I have driven the Lexus RX series for over seven years now. I will never drive another car again. It has to be the smoothest ride that a car can deliever. The luxurious feel it provides and it is so spacious that you never feel smooshed no matter if you have a full car load or just two people. Everybody who drives my car always states how nice it is to drive and it is not the least bit bumpy. I highly recommend the Lexus RX series to anybody. It never disappoints. I bought this one at the Lexus in Watertown. I will say it started out as a rough transaction but they have gone above and beyond to make the customer happy. I would recommend them, especially Steve. Very helpful and considerate.

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  Great Car - 1998 Lexus GS 300
  By Adrian - March 13 - 1:00 pm

  I have owned this car since it was new. It has been fun and very reliable. It is quick and stable. The brakes are excellent.

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  Lexus 2003 - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By Bfcranke - March 12 - 10:06 pm

  This vehicle is outstanding; it drives like a dream. I previously owned a 2000 ES 300, its performance and style were excellent and top notch; but the LS 430 is even more comfortable and luxurious.

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  JD Power #1 rated car in history - 2004 Lexus SC 430
  By DPDretcrd - March 11 - 10:00 am

  If your looking for a smooth running V8 300 hp vehicle with zero defects, this is the one.

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  Perfect with a few mods - 2004 Lexus SC 430
  By Umbo - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Overall I am thrilled about this car. The stock handling can be improved significantly with new stiffer antisway bars from Daizen. They make cornering much flatter, tighter and more controlled. I have the runflat Dunlops which are jarring when hitting potholes. I will replace with conventional tires when they wear out. One other aftermarket item that makes the car sweeter is Luxlink. It is a remote convertible operating system that uses the unlock button on the key to open and close the top. No more holding the switch on the dash for 30 sec. They are sold at Luxury Motorworks for $230.

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  Love my new SportDesign ES330 - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By chgoRX300 - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Just got my 2nd Lexus 2 weeks ago! Lease due in Dec.2004 but Lexus wants to keep their happy customer offered me a 6 mo. payment waiver program. Basically I drop off my 42 mo. old RX300 and bought a new ES330 without any hassle. I picked the SportDesign Special Edition which has a sportier looking wheel and Black-eye Maple wood trim and smoky black finish in the back, GPS and ML is the best in the market, rear sun shade is cool. The ride is quieter than my RX300 (SUV) and the engine runs silkily smooth. I already have over 500 miles on my new baby.

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  Best Car EVER!!!! - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Maggie Rehman - March 11 - 10:00 am

  This has been the best automobile Ever! Its comfortable, gracious, Femenine, elegant, it has it all. BEST CAR EVER!

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  2011 GX460 - Amazingly Inferior Sound System - 2010 Lexus GX 460
  By samga2011 - March 11 - 7:08 am

  I listen to music occasionally, but do have a taste to distinguish between something that just makes sound vs something that sounds good. We just bought a new 2011 GX460, and unfortunately did not test the audio system using a standard quality recorded song before buying like my iPod or standard audio CD. Both my old sub 40k cars had fantastic music system compared to this. For the price we pay for this car, its amazing Lexus manages to get away with providing a third grade audio system. The sytem sounds horribly hollow or bassy at best, no matter how much you adjust the treble/mid/bass controls. I have complained to the dealer and they said they will give it a shot. Stay Tuned...