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 IS 300
  By CB - August 8 - 5:23 am

  Mechanically robust. Silky smooth engine. Manual Transmission. Enough aftermarket parts to turn the car into the real sports sedan it is supposed to be. Rare.

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  Lexus Rx400h - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By M Butterfield - August 7 - 7:13 pm

  Love the ride!!! Getting twice the gas mileage than my old SUV - only having to fill up every other week. Easy handling, great get-up-and-go, very comfortable and extremely quiet! Im thrilled with my new hybrid and Im doing my part to help the environment!

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  Heaven on 4 wheels - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Joanie Kilpatrick - August 7 - 1:53 pm

  Ive always liked the looks of the RX300, but hesitated purchasing one due to what I felt were major flaws-the dark brown wood trim package, a serious blind spot, and the total lack of a console. I checked the auto show annually hoping theyld make the necessary corrections. My prayers were answered with the RX330. Bugs are gone, and features some grewere added such as a touch-button hydraulic lift gate, plus many more, making it the perfect choice. No other SUV matches the superior looks, inside and out

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  Lexus Excellence Continues - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By Hooch - August 7 - 5:10 am

  This is one of a long line of Lexus vehicles we have had. Very nice exterior styling update. Interior is excellent, as always. Options are logically grouped, or individually available, and are fairly priced. Best value for the price in its competitive class. We have experienced excellent vehicle quality, and a minimal need for repairs with all of our Lexus vehicles, and I presume and expect the same from this RX. I would value factory standard body side moldings. It seems that the day-to-day idiots out there enjoy providing door dings on beautiful cars.

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  Best Car - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By Paul Rapaport - August 7 - 1:06 am

  This automobile rides like a dream and on the highway, it is smooth and quiet. Recently, I averaged 25 + mpg on a 1200 mile trip. I have owned 3 Lexus autos and this is the best and all of them were extremely reliable.

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  Awesome Auto - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Denise - August 6 - 8:33 am

  This car has it all, not only is it fun to drive but the performance and ride quality are exceptional. The push button start and the ability to open the doors and trunk without fumbling for keys is great. The controls on the car were easy to figure out without having to study the owners manual. The adaptive front headlights and bright headlamps make it easy on the eyes when driving at night. The interior spot lighting is bright enough for passengers to read by without interfering with the drivers vision.

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  My Great Lexus - 2007 Lexus GX 470
  By Joe C - August 6 - 4:13 am

  This is my 5th GX470 & my 15th New Lexus I just love them. They never break. Best vehicle on the road.

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  LX 470 after 2500 miles - 2004 Lexus LX 470
  By rcf8000 - August 4 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I just returned home after a 2000 mile vacation trip in our new LX. It doesnt handle, steer, or get gas mileage like a car, but we loved the smooth, quiet ride, and found the power to be more than adequate in most situations. The nav system was very useful, but it sometimes created routes that made no sense; maybe it is malfunctioning, or maybe we dont fully understand it. Any nav that needs a half inch thick instruction book should be designed to be more user friendly. But Im hooked; I will have to have a nav system in any cars that I buy in the future.

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  Awesome Car - 1998 Lexus ES 300
  By msbehavn - August 4 - 10:00 am

  Very pleased with this car. Bought it with 95k and its been great the past 5k miles. No problems.

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  NEAR PERFECT - 2004 Lexus SC 430
  By JIM SMITH - August 4 - 10:00 am

  THIS CAR IS AS PERFECT AS A CAR CAN EVER HOPE TO BE. MY ONLY COMPLAINT IS THE LOW FRONT END WHICH CAN HANG UP ON BUMPER STOPS IN PARKING LOTS. ALSO THE VINYL AREAS ON THE CAR CAN DETERIORATE WITH ORDINARY CLEANING COMPOUNDS.