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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  Fabulous! - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By NYC Architect - May 16 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle seems to float above the road. Its responsive, is incredibly comfortable even on long trips, and has a lot of really well thought out features. The exterior and interior fit and finish is tasteful, luxurious with a very high quality of craftsmanship. Its great looking, definitely 21st Century.

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  Great car - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By J G - May 15 - 1:10 am

  I bought a loaded ES350 with 30,000 mi, car was about as perfect as you could expect with 30,000 mi. Hway MPG about 32 (amazing). Quiet, very comfortable, great car for trips & around town and handles better than you would expect from the reviews. Not a sports car (I already own one) just a beautiful, comfortable car & ride. I have owned Acuras & Infinitys, this is the best.

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  GREAT CAR - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By ANGEL - May 15 - 12:20 am

  I had this car a little over a year, its a great car quality, driving & performance

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  Wait for the 2008 fixes - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Rich - May 14 - 12:53 pm

  Overall the car is great with a beautiful interior and a smooth ride. There are two annoying design flaws that I am sure Lexus will fix in the upcoming 2008 model. The LED lighting is ridiculously dim, what were they thinking! Second, the latch to open the center console is exactly where your elbow goes causing it to open constantly. It is also a strange design that limits your ability to use it. They should also make the car interior a little bit bigger - an inch more headroom in the frony, an inch each more hip, shoulder and leg room in the rear. Then it would be closer to perfect. It is better than all its competition except maybe the BMW 5 Series which is about $15K more.

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  Lexus SC 430 - 2005 Lexus SC 430
  By robert Norris - May 13 - 10:30 pm

  The SC 430 is a very fine design. Construction detail is excellent in every respect. The car is very quiet, smooth, and operates as advertised. It is really fun to drive. The design of the hardtop retraction system is amazingly smooth and quick. When the top is up the car is not noisy like convertibles tend to be.

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  The Best Yet - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By Mark Andrews - May 13 - 3:03 pm

  I am thrilled with the new 2010 RX. Previously I was really sold on the Acura until I actually drove the RX. It has to be the most smooth and yet sporty ride ever. I appreciate the crisp handling and the quiet cabin. The space is great and I love the style. It was the easiest for me just getting in and out. It was the quietest and I have to say my service experience has cost me around the same as my old Toyota which is "peanuts" I love my new Lexus and would highly recommend one to anyone in the market for a five passenger SUV. "love it"

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  Sweet 2016 Lexus RX 350 - 2016 Lexus RX 350
  By jim goodson - May 12 - 7:11 pm

  Get as many "bells and whistles" as you can afford. They are worth it!

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  Good got Great - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Tom Monaghan - May 12 - 5:23 pm

  I had a 2000 RX 300 and thought that it was a great car. The only complaint was the poor turning radius. The RX 330 took care of that. The RX 330 is perfect for someone that likes to sit up a bit higher than in a sedan but does not want to sacrafice the ride. The sound system is as good as anyone short of an audiophile would ever want. The passangers in the back seat will find ample leg room and appreciate the ability to slightly recline the seats, especially on long trips. The Nav system is easy to use and very addicting. Only issue is limited view out of the rear window. Ive been a fan/customer of Toyota and Lexus for many years. Never dissapointed with the quality of the car or service

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  My First Car - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Dr. Sud - May 10 - 10:10 am

  Very Impressed with the new Lexus GS 300 AWD from the handling to interior design and the lastest technology incorporated into the vehicle. Would recommend the car to anyone looking for an entry level luxury sedan.

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  Review of the Lexus ES 350 - 2008 Lexus ES 350
  By Marc - May 10 - 8:40 am

  This is my third Lexus lease and I am 39 yo. Each time I looked at other options, including the BMW, Mercedes, etc., and chose Lexus. For me, it was the best value for the money, providing the luxury and comfort that I wanted. Quite frankly, I am more interested in a luxury ride than a sporty one. I have never had a problem with any of the cars. My only wish for the Lexus was a little more of a sportier feel which the ES 350 achieves and then some.