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 styling reliable - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By lexy - October 9 - 10:00 am

  love it. handles great and the design gets much attention turning heads. engine could have more power.

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  Great CAr - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By bob1234 - October 9 - 10:00 am

  It is a great car. Fun to drive and great hanndling.

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  SENSATIONAL - 2006 Lexus SC 430
  By SOFAKING - October 8 - 4:33 pm

  My recent frustration with an X5 and a 745 sent me on a mission to check out Lexus. Every experience I had had with 5 other Lexus cars was great so I went looking for an suv and an LS 430. Well when I saw this matador red, chrome wheeled beauty I was smitten. This is a great car that no one seems to pay any mind to. Beautiful styling, great comfort, world class fit and finish, quiet ride top up and top down and Lexus reliability make this car bulletproof. The only flaw is the seat belt access but why quibble. This car has it all and a great value in the market place. I have never enjoyed a car like this one. This is one sweet ride.

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  Snow-job - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By ALfromNY - October 8 - 8:26 am

  They are advertising this vehicle as being functional to drive in the snow. I cant even get this car out of my driveway when we get more than an inch of snow! No baloney. We live in upstate Ny and our driveway has a slight incline, but when it snows now I dont even bother taking it out of the garage. Ive tried it with the Trac -off, trac- on, it doesnt matter, now when it snows, I drive my wife to work in my vehicle. ( it was her idea to get this car).

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  Finest Yet - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By #2in2 - October 7 - 10:00 am

  Wow! Just traded my 2001 ES300 for the 2002. Night and day difference! This is car #40 for me and Ive done them all, from Studebaker to Mercedes. This is the finest car Ive ever been in. Style is awesome, interior a knockout, quiet, smooth and responsive. Tranny is a big improvement over last year, as is everything else.

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  Phenomenal Vehicle - 2000 Lexus RX 300
  By Duncan - October 6 - 5:00 pm

  Ive had my RX for over 4 years, and its the best vehicle Ive ever owned. I normally get bored with cars, and only keep them for a maximum of 3 years... this one I will likely be buried in. Drives amazingly, at 110k miles, no high cost repairs, extremely reliable, and comfortable! I love it as much as I did the day I bought it.

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  1 Happy Repeat Customer - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By DJ - October 6 - 3:43 pm

  Traded in my 2004 GS300 for the 2006 model and the new one blows the old one away. Handles much better, better fuel economy, and much quicker. By far the best performing car I have ever owned and the best car on the market for under $50K!!! Very satisfied customer!!!

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  Surprise for Wife - 2007 Lexus RX 350
  By Tadich - October 6 - 9:46 am

  I surprised my wife with this vehicle in late January. We both really love it so far. This vehicle replaces a minivan, so there is no comparison regarding comfort and performance. Overall a very impressive ride and our mileage has been better than advertised at 27mpg highway and 22mpg around town. Prior to purchasing this I did a great deal of research, and kept coming back to the Lexus as it offered so much more for the money in my opinion.

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  Top Notch SUV - 2011 Lexus GX 460
  By cma11 - October 6 - 2:58 am

  Lexus did no disappoint with this SUV. Its sleek exterior is impressive while the interior stands above the rest in its class. We expected luxury with a bit of sportiness and this fit exactly that! The GX drives smoothly even with its size, which you usually dont get with SUVs. It always helps to know that this cars reliability ratings were excellent...which is what you expect with purchasing a Lexus.

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  Best Car in the World! - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Motley Crue Rocks! - October 5 - 11:56 pm

  This is my first Lexus ES 300 and Im extremely glad I purchased the car. Its clean, bad, and sexy. It drives so smooth you never feel bumps. I also looked at Cadillac CTS, Audi A4, Lincoln LS. This vehicle is more luxurious than Cadillac, better ride quality then Audi and Lincoln was really dissapointing because the car rattled inside so much plus they are really bad in the snow. If your in the market for a luxury vehicle that is worh your money, get a Lexus after all its your money-spend it well. Plus these are reliable cars you can count on.