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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  Great Vehicle for a Great Price! - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By Satisfied - November 7 - 9:13 am

  The vehicle was purchased in 2003 with 89k miles. It now has 150k miles and still runs like a champ. Keeping the regular maintenance, I expect another 150k miles. Hope to give the car to my one year old daughter when shes of age. Its extremely reliable in going up and down Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes in Washington. The AWD allows for great traction even in the most extreme cases, superb handling in inclement weather. The car has needed a new starter, battery, and minor. Belts and plugs were changed at suggested intervals. No major repairs or maintenance. I would recommend maintaining the car yourself, the dealership is just too expensive and not necessary.

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  Looks, excellent; integrity, lacking. - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By JMadden - November 4 - 4:36 pm

  Wow! What a beautiful car; especially in comparison to the older model. However, Lexus really dropped the ball on this one. Granted it could be that I just happened to purchase a lemon but my car is at the dealer usually once or twice, sometimes more, a month for just about everything under the sun--from off track head-lamp washers to faulty oxygen sensors. If you want a car that looks very timeless then this is the car for you. If you want something reliable; Id suggest a Yugo before this car.

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  Love the 5 speed - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Matt 2 - October 28 - 2:00 am

  This has been a great car. I bought it for my 30th Bday present to myself. Handles great, looks great and is bullet proof.

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  GS300 MY VIEW - 1998 Lexus GS 300
  By DUCMIX - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE THE CAR AND IT`S FEATURES BUT THE CAR NEEDS MORE POWER. (TWIN TURBO) HAS THE SMOOTH SHIFTING TRANS BEST IN THE MARKET. THE RIDE IS WONDERFUL BUT ROLLS ON TURNS. MY NEXT CAR WILL BE THE GS ONCE AGIAN .

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  Thinking of going green? Dont bother.... - 2012 Lexus RX 450h
  By tampabayjay - October 24 - 12:27 am

  I recently traded my 2008 Lexus ES350 for a 2012 450RX Hybrid. What a HUGE mistake! The estimated mileage on the sticker is NO WHERE close to what the vehicle actually gets. I paid a premium to get a Hybrid and Im getting 22-23 average miles per gallon! My ES 350 got 32 MPG average. Lexus has really disappointed me with this false interpretation of Hybrid performance. I asked my dealer (Lexus of Tampa Bay) today what I could do. They said to call Lexus. What a joke. Im a repeat customer that has referred several buyers to this dealership and they blew me off? I sincerely hope that taking the time to post this review will sufficiently warn others. Jay

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  The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By J. Jones - October 23 - 1:00 pm

  The 400h is a great accelerator. Unfortunately, we feel deceived on the MPG. Getting approx. 21. Not the 28-35 promised. Also, driving during heavy rain...hydroplaning about 90% of the time! Unexpected and scary. The tires are a bummer. Had 3 very expensive flats in 3 weeks. Live in the country, need a whole lot more from my tires. Overall, this vehicle has awesome potential. With a few tweeks,(some, major), theyd have something unbeatable.

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  i was hoping to fall in love.... - 2016 Lexus NX 200t
  By Bill - October 23 - 11:42 am

  First, let me say that the NX200 will be a great choice for many drivers. Especially those who had an RX300 in the past, as i did, and found that their RX450 (or 350) is larger than theyd like. (and heavier too). Ive been a little frustrated with the way that Lexus has evolved. The front grill is apparently designed with a younger generation in mind. And car chassis keeps getting longer and wider, and less fun to drive. So, i anticipated the NX eagerly, as the "fix". Dont get me wrong. The NX is fun to drive. Smooth. Handles well. Accelerates nicely. And has the smaller footprint for parking and driving around town. 2 problems are deal killers for me: 1) the cabin cargo area is too small for my large dog. And specifically, not tall enough. The RX300, while much smaller than my RX450, had a much taller cargo area than the 450. The cargo height problem is much worse on the NX, making it a show stopper. 2) The other concern is that the front seats on the NX curve forward at the top, in a way im not fond of. I could have gotten used to the seats, but the cargo area was a killer. Ironically, much smaller SUVs, like the BMW X1, are better in cabin height - which is surprising. And certainly the Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLC.... let alone the Subaru Forester offer far more viable choices for me and my dog. Frustrating as im a big Lexus fan of many years. YMMV (your mileage may vary)

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  13 year old LS - 1995 Lexus LS 400
  By VILSON DUSHAJ - October 20 - 4:16 am

  Ijust got this car and I think its best buy for the money. It drives like a new LS 460, its amazing. What quality and comfort!

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  RX 300 - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By Jason - October 18 - 1:10 am

  I bought this car less than 2 months ago and it seems to be very reliable, however, the gas mileage is terrible. 16 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. With fuel prices as high as they are, we are considering selling it. It is also very expensive to fix or get serviced. I am one that likes to work on my own cars, but with the Lexus the majority of the parts you have to buy at the dealer at inflated prices. I would think long and hard about buying this car unless you can afford the gas and services.

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  It feels more expensive than it is - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Ibsig - October 17 - 2:36 pm

  Great compromise between road performance and luxury. Doesnt handle quite like the TL, but its far more pleasing to sit in. Probably an unfair generalization, but if you are under 40, you buy the TL--if you are over 45, you buy the ES330. If you are 40 to 45, youre on your own.