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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  Frustrated - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Brian Tuomala - February 8 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my RX330 in August and up until a month ago I was very happy with the car. Then a slight clunking noise developed whenever the transmission downshifs from 4th gear to 3rd gear. The same noise also appears when lightly accelerating or decelerating at speeds from 30 to 45 mph. Lexus says its normal torque converter noise. Not on any other car I have driven especially when the price tag is approaching $50,000. Assuming Lexus is not going to fix this problem, this will be the last Lexus I will buy. So much for the relentless persuit of perfection.

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  Almost perfect - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Ron O - February 6 - 1:06 pm

  I had the RX 330 previously and was very pleasantly surprised that the H was substantially better. Much faster, and as expected the mileage was 40% better. One of the best cars of its type Ive owned. I only have 3500 miles on it at this time. Time will tell if it can maintain the high esteem I have for it now

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  Supreme Vehicle - 1996 Lexus LS 400
  By Michael Corbett - February 6 - 10:00 am

  Its all I expected from my first Lexus and more. Ive owned 39 cars abd this is by far my favorite.

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  RX 450h After 1 year - 2011 Lexus RX 450h
  By tgriff - February 5 - 7:14 am

  I traded in my 2007 RX350 for this hybrid and have been quite pleased. It feels much more stable on the road. The navigation is disk based and is somewhat different, as it trades the touchscreen for a mouse-like control on the console. I miss the storage compartments in the back that are now taken by batteries. I expected higher MPG and would probably get it if driving stop-n-go on city streets, however Dallas driving uses lots of highways. It has good power, but I find myself starting slower, trying to reach the stated MPG. I initially used Premium fuel, then switched to Regular - noticed no difference in performance or MPG.

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  Completely Different Than An RX 330 - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By pigsfly - February 5 - 6:53 am

  I purchased my 400h in June of 2006. Previously owned a 2000 RX 300 and 2004 RX 330. Ive driven the car about 3000 miles and find it to be a completely different car than the previous Lexus models Ive owned. So far, getting about 30 mpg with a mix of city/highway driving (my RX 330 got about 21-23 mpg). I live in the mountains and drive up steep grades and around sharp curves and love the handling and performance. Achieving peak mileage in a hybrid requires some adjustments in driving technique, but this doesnt mean slow driving! Fit/finish are better than on the RX 330. I like the navigation system, but it took a bit of time for me to figure out how to work the A/C and airflow.

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  This car is AWESOME, a work of fine art - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By J. Emmerman - February 4 - 9:36 pm

  I have only the best compliments to pay to the engineers who designed this vehicle. I feel incredibly safe in the worst driving conditions and it is always fun to drive. Very safe, reliable, stylish, smooth, awesome all around.

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  Great Car Period - 2007 Lexus RX 350
  By Bullet Bob - February 2 - 5:30 pm

  Great car to drive. I got the Levinson premium sound system and it sounds great. All the gadgets on this car take a little time to get accustomed. This car has plenty of power. I also have a 2004 Volvo turbo after driving the RX when I got into the Volvo I thought I had the hand brake on.

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  04 GX470 - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By kennyc123 - February 2 - 3:00 pm

  Over all this has been a good vehicle to date. There have been a few problems with the drive shaft slip-yoke. There is also a persistant coolant smell which Lexus claims is normal. Next year I may trade the GX for an 07 Escallade.

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  best sedan around - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By henry unger - February 2 - 2:33 pm

  Everything about this car is superior to outstanding. Ride, sound quality of stereo, ease of handling, superior ride, very quiet. Turn ratio is good, overall look is above average, maintenance is great.

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  I like it, I love it, I want more of it. - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Zman - February 2 - 12:13 pm

  Great car. Nice to drive. I test drove other cars in its class and I loved this car.