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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  $38,000 and cheap - 2017 Lexus ES 350
  By Bill Amesbury - October 27 - 10:35 am

  Check quarter panels as intergration with other parts involves plastic and rubber parts which are cheap and not reliable

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  Not impressed so far. - 2017 Lexus NX 200t
  By Lisa - October 26 - 8:47 pm

  Had the vehicle about a month. Navigation works about 25% of the time. Rarely picks up gps signal. Blind spot monitor malfunctioned. Seems to have reset itself after shutting vehicle off. Speakers vibrate when volume 1/2 way up.

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  LOUD engine acceleration noise - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By petenrudy - October 23 - 8:00 pm

  This 2010 RX350 is my third RX and will probably be my last. The first 2 (2004 RX330 and 2007 RX350) were whisper quiet when accelerating. The 2010 roars like my 2007 just before the tranny died.

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  Fix the Transmission, and dead pedal. - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By dlendahl - October 16 - 10:00 am

  We bought this car in March 2004. As far as the fit and finish the car is very nice, the ride is ok with the junk Bridgestone tires but that can be changed. The acceleration of this car is terrible, and our previous Toyota Solara with a smaller motor would run away from this Lexus. It has a very bad case of dead pedal, and the transmission flat out sucks. With 10,000 miles on the clock already, I dont think that the gas mileage is going to get any better, either. I didnt know about the problems until tonight when my wife pointed them out to me. But I will be at the Lexus dealer this week, and as far as I am concerned they will make it run right or they can keep the junk until they do.

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  beware of this car - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By DISAPPTED - October 13 - 2:00 am

  I thought that when I was buying a Lexus, I was getting a reliable and quality vehicle. So I was willing to pay the high price. But for over one year the car shutters at variuos speeds. The dealer admits the problem but say that they dont know how to fix it yet. At least they fixed the warped rotors.

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  Major Disappointment - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By DickV - August 14 - 10:00 am

  I agree with Mountain Drive(9/04/03) In addition, since the passenger seat lacks 8-way adj. and the lumbar support cant be moved, it can be a major discomfort on long trips. Compared to the Mercedes E-320 wagon we traded,the RX330 lacks power and acceleration, has significantly more road noise, requires half again more room for turning, and has been much less reliable. Two full repair days in 6 months vs. one day in 5 years with the E-320. Undercarraige too low for moutain road clearance. Only thing gained on trade was AWD, everything else was downgrade.

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  wish I had my RX300 - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By D Johnson - August 14 - 10:00 am

  seats on the RX330 are too hard and the 18 inch wheels are too high to get in car comforablty

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  Over priced car - 2006 Lexus GX 470
  By Bob - August 10 - 8:26 pm

  I have had this car for 7 months now with 20000 miles on it and I should have walked into the Toyota dealer next door and looked at the Land Cruiser for a lot less. I am a big guy and this car is hard to enter and even women say that. The gas mileage is terrible. I think Lexus did a great advertising campaign to sell this overpriced car. The effort it takes to remove the rear seats is unreal and you would have to have no legs to sit in them.

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  Ill never buy another one - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By PARSON121 - August 8 - 2:00 am

  I had a 1993 Buick Park Ave Ultra that was supercharged so I figured the hesitation and lack of power was because I was used to a different car. The braking is poor, brakes replaced at 14000 miles,car hesitates on acceleration(dealer did the computer fix yesterday)still the same,had loaner car 2004 ES330 -same problems,brakes, acceleration etc.

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  Disappointed - 2008 Lexus LX 570
  By disappointed - July 29 - 2:10 pm

  Drives ok not near as smooth as the LX 470. Seats are hard seems like you feel every bump in the road. Audio system doesnt sound as good as 470 and it has more speakers. As far as the redesign body it looks like a nice looking Toyota highlander. Why fix something thats not broken!!