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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  Lexus Makes the Best SUVs. Period. - 2016 Lexus RX 350
  By T Kim - October 4 - 9:58 am

  If you want the best SUV, then you want to buy a Lexus. This is my third Lexus SUV. I opted for the 450H F Sport model and could not be happier. Pros: ample power, yet great MPG. Gorgeous styling. Very comfortable interior. Unmatched reliability. Cons: nav system so-so; not cheap. It is funny to read those negative reviews about the Lexus RX. My guess is some of them are written by BMW/MB/Audi dealers. Lexus pioneered the luxury SUV and has been the sales leader in luxury SUVs from the beginning. It is obvious their European competitors are doing everything they can to knock down Lexus. The styling of the new Lexus RX is amazing. If you take the BMW/MB/Audi SUVs, remove their nameplates and their styling for many models are exactly the same. No originality! None! If you live in any metro area, 300HP is ample power. You do not need 500HP to drive around town! Bottom line is that if you want a great SUV that has a smooth ride and is reliable, go with Lexus. Lexus RX has been the best selling SUV for many good reasons. Lexus buyers are educated enough to know why Lexus is better than the rest.

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  An awesome car - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By Second LS - October 3 - 5:16 pm

  I have had a 96 LS, 2000 RX, and a 2003 GS. This is by far my favorite Lexus. I am 62 and about 300 lbs and this car has an abundant amt of room. Navigation is awesome. My son wont stop playing with it! My only issue is paint chips on the front. This is a great car!

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  IS 300 Outstanding - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By lugbolt - October 3 - 2:46 pm

  This has been a great car, with a fun driving experience. I test drove everything higher and lower in price, but I found nothing more exciting. Lexus quality is evident in ride and performance.

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  Lexus Makes Great Cars - 1997 Lexus ES 300
  By John R - September 30 - 8:06 am

  Ive had my 1997 ES300 for 10 years traveling 188,000 dependable miles. Best car Ive ever owned. If fact, I purchased a brand new 2007 GS350 AWD, with everything, because of my 1997 ES300 experience.

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  Sports 4 door Sedan - 2005 Lexus IS 300
  By Onyx IS300 - September 28 - 10:00 am

  Excellent Driving, the car feels like a well balanced sports car, Braking system rivals BMW. Beautiful interior fabrics and high build quality, keeping with the Lexus name.

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  I love It - 2005 Lexus SC 430
  By tygthytht - September 28 - 10:00 am

  I love this car it is so perfect for me .This is the best car.It is everything I ever wanted not to big not to small it is great! And it runs great! I just got one a week ago!

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  Close to Perfect - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By EGB - September 28 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my 2005 ES330 for 2 weeks. I drive about 60 miles a day, mixed highway and city. The car is incredible: smooth as silk, QUIET cabin, no rattles, quality inside and out. You can see and feel the difference between Lexus and other Japanese brands like Acura and Infiniti, especially the interior materials and workmanship. Lexus is clearly better. Before choosing the Lexus, however, I was worried about the transmission "hesitation" problem mentioned in other forums. I test drove several 2005 ES330s. None had the transmission problem, including the one I ended up buying. My advice: test drive the car thoroughly and judge for yourself.

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  You get what you pay for - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By sak - September 28 - 7:33 am

  The ride is so smooth it feels like the car is gliding on air. But hit the brake and you will see how well grounded the car is as it stops in a heart beat. Optional packages are great. I have little kids and wouldnt have even considered a car without side airbag. The chrome wheels match perfectly with the door handles and are not too flashy to ruin the conservative/classic style of Lexus. I can not wait until the 2008 model come out. We will be buying hopefully newly designed RX 350.

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  Some features could be better, IMHO - 2007 Lexus RX 350
  By amcar - September 28 - 4:30 am

  The best compared to all other SUVs this size. Ride is great. But some serious features are lacking for somthing this pricey. I use hands free a lot and compraed to BMW and MB, the bluetooth features are at least one generation behind and need upgrading. Cannot dynamically download your cell phones phone book, have to register one contact at a time into the cars phone book which is a security risk, no way to add pause, wait etc to phone numbers. Have to add maintenance schedule manually, no self diagnosis as in other imports.

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  Love it! - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Kathy - September 27 - 11:33 pm

  I love this car! Bought this car last summer after driving an Acura TL. I have always loved the classy look of a Lexus car...I get compliments all the time on my car (its white). Drive is quiet & feels great, have had no mechanical issues at all. The cup holder is my only complaint--its not deep enough and you have to hold on to the cup so it doesnt tip over. Otherwise, LOVE IT!