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:

• 

  Four Months Review - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By Dr. Stan Edelman - January 14 - 2:00 am

  Gorgeous car inside and outside. Extremely quiet ride. Pick up could be better. Front window fogs up easily, while back window defogger is poor. Brakes are excellent. Fuel mileage so far is only fair, averaging 15-16 mpg. Heated seats are excellent. Driveability is excellent. Next year they should increase the power of this wondeful car.

• 

  The best car I have ever owned - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Lexus es 330 - January 12 - 12:16 pm

  I have to rely on my car everything, and this is my 5th year owning a Lexus, I am amazed that this car has never left me stranded on the road. I work the midnight shift, and it is important for me to have a car I can depend on. The Lexus performance is excellent. I am so happy with my car that I tell everyone to buy a Lexus, even if it is pre-owned. I only take it for an oil change and keep on rolling. Keep up the good work Lexus.

• 

  best car so far - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By L. Van Zee - January 11 - 5:20 pm

  A nice midsized SUV with good mileage and ease of care. Maintenance is cheap in comparison to other SUVs in its class. That was one of the reasons I choose the car

• 

  Lexus blew it with the RX 330 - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Indiana driver - January 10 - 7:50 pm

  This vehicle is a huge disappointment! We had an 01 RX 300 that was perfect. This vehicle has horrible wind noise. The seat heater switches are hard to use and poor quality. The tires are worn out with less than 25000 miles. I recently drove it to Oklahoma, 900 miles one way, and the seats were extremely uncomfortable. My passenger told me they would never ride in the Lexus again. The rear windshield wiper is lousy.

• 

  The Best Gets Better - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By S, Lee - January 10 - 11:40 am

  This is my 4th Lexus ES and it is head and shoulders above the previous models. Tremendous value for the money with impecable quality. Quiet, with more power (thank you) and, finally, no more clunky hesitant transmission problems. This is a driver friendly vehicle, whose intent is to transport you safely, quietly and luxuriously. I have always thought of the ES as a vehicle that has great potential. Lexus has taken the ES to another level and its not over yet.

• 

  Lexus is the best - 2000 Lexus LS 400
  By Clint - January 10 - 11:03 am

  I bought this car for my wife. However, I love driving it when I can. I owned Volvos and Mercedes before, and there is no comparison. The Lexus is far superior to both, especially in the dependability area. We will drive this car for 10 years. No problems at all. We bought it with 40K, it now has 95K. Great car.

• 

  Truly Happy - 2006 Lexus ES 330
  By richard - January 10 - 4:40 am

  From the moment I purchased my ES 330 I loved the plush feel, silent ride and smoothness, I found myself wanting to share the experience with everyone. Subsequently, I brought my wife to the dealership and promptly acquired an RX 330 for her. The ES and RX are the wisest and best investments I have ever made regarding vehicles

• 

  Poor experience of 2005 LS 430 - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By Kim - January 9 - 11:30 pm

  The automatic heating system and heated seats take long time to warm up. When the vent is closed, you suffocate. Very rigid suspension, You feel every bump on the road. My Lexus has a mind of its own. It accelerates and brakes with its own mind. Service department said both brake and engine control by a computer. The computer has a mild delay which is normal according to the mechanics.

• 

  Why buy German! - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By Big Mike - January 9 - 11:23 am

  Sedan driver all of my life and this is by far the best I have owned. My Mercedes did not stack up against this vehicle and Cadillac is way behind. Not the fastest vehicle in this class but plenty fast enough to get your pulse going and very easy to modify for speed.

• 

  Our RX - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By For Every - January 8 - 9:09 pm