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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  One flaw ruins the whole car - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By kwahaus - December 29 - 7:56 am

  Bought this used last year after a ton of looking. Found what I wanted and was happy with the deal. I would rate the car a 9 or better if it werent for one issue. The drivers seat is one the most uncomfortable I have ever had. Certainly not at all what one would expect. Dealer says nothing is wrong and is unwilling to consider a replacement seat even though it is still under warranty. Others who have driven the car, say the same thing. Unfortunately, this one issue will force me to sell the car. Looks like my 3rd Lexus may be my last.

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  RX350 Needs Work - 2008 Lexus RX 350
  By uforgetaboutit - December 25 - 10:43 pm

  This is our 3rd RX out of 4. Good ride and features,interior. Navi console impressive but difficult. If you want navigation get a Nuvi or Tom-Tom and save yourself $2k. Backup camera & Bluetooth good features but no IPod or MP3 input (BTW whats with the tape player). Lock-out during driving sucks... give us a break big brother! Maps and POI are out of date... maybe 2005 maps best guess. Update are extra service charge. Ride is rough. Tires loud, interior noise very high (road, engine). Overall comfort for 4 OK but dont drive too far without a break. We get 21-23 mpg not bad. Lawnmower engine but its perky. Price value more like $30K instead of $40K. Might be our last RX after lease

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  Great automobile - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By JKROME - December 21 - 10:40 pm

  This is my 6th LS and each one has been even better than the last. This is a very smooth riding and handling car. Very quiet ride and the service has always been excellent.

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  Good car, except for the rattle - 2008 Lexus RX 350
  By Mary - December 19 - 9:10 pm

  I have had my Lexus for over a year now, and it is a great vehicle. Very powerful, nice looking, and nice interior. But I just started hearing a rattle on the passenger side window that is very annoying. At first it seemed like it was just on bumpy roads, but now its getting worse. I am going to ask the dealer about it. Other than that a very nice car.

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  Be reasonable in expectations - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By Eriks - December 17 - 3:00 am

  After following Edmunds reviews I finally decided to purchase the 2002 model with all options included. The car is reasonably well built but has its limits. The engine starting process is rather loud to compare with idle. Steering wheel leather deteriorated quickly. Instead of road noise, the wheels/tires seem to produce constant unpleasant hiss. Two separate thermometers show outside temperature while the driver has no idea what the inside temp levels are. Sound system is good but with very limited adjustment possibilities. Radio often loses station in city driving and this downgrades the overall sound. Change of gears from 2nd to 3rd is late for 1 sec driving normally without kick-down.

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  Save money buy a regular Toyota - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By AZ Driver - December 16 - 6:23 pm

  After driving this vehicle for over a year I can only say I should have bought a Toyota and saved some money. Numerous rattles, transmission that cant seem to find the right gear and now there is a rather unusual clunk each time the drive train engages. Couple that with a drive train howl at around 60 mph and we are less than satisfied with this vehicle.

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  I wish I had one of these years ago !!! - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By Boomer - December 13 - 1:56 pm

  Great--just great. Like me, I think its perfect and like me there is room for improvement. Third seat should fold into floor to allow better rear vision and add more storage room. While its built on a truck frame, it rides ever so smoothly. Passenger side seat should have 6-way power and larger sun visor. Interior is luxurious--navigation system is great help (once you learn how to use it). Optional sound system is Carnegie Hall quality.

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  All in all a good package - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By HHF3 - December 7 - 4:43 am

  Excellent visibilty and instrumentation is easy to see and adjust. Fuel economy on the low side and fuel tank is grossly undersized.

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  Transmission troubles - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Warren Lieberman - December 2 - 3:00 pm

  The new 5-speed transmission shifts either hard or surges with hesitation. In slow traffic the transmission falls out of gear and then surges and jerks to find the right gear. At this point Lexus refuses to find a fix for the problem with this model that now is recognized by their dealers and service departments.

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  First Impressions - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Gene - December 2 - 1:53 pm

  I spent several months researching a car purchase, and decided on the ES 350 in stead of the sportier Acura TL. After driving 1 week, here are my impressions: The NAV system is the worst of all the 6 car makes I test drove. Voice recognition is useless at best. Took 12 tries to get my home phone right. Cannot adjust the NAV while driving. If NAV is important to you DO NOT BUY THIS CAR!. Very smooth ride as I expected. Good performance and acceleration for a luxury vehicle. Very poor center console. Difficult to use and little storage space.