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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  Best Value - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Yawnoc - July 15 - 7:36 pm

  The Lexus GS AWD is fun to drive and more youthful than the E Class and Acura RL. The GS has the best exterior styling. It is very quiet and has a very smooth ride. When it is time to go the GS moves quickly, like a trained stallion. The interior is rich, but not overstated. The controls are place perfectly. People just stare at the car. The GS has exceeded my expectation in value, ride/drive, and design. It is the perfect car for an excutive that runs a conservative and innovative business. The car adds to a persons brand.

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  Failed Lexus!!! - 2017 Lexus RX 350
  By RB - July 13 - 10:03 am

  Giving a single star due to droning noise and vibration issue and the hesitation issue of the 8 speed transmission.. please check out the details at club lexus online forum.. there are detailed discussions on these 2 issues (vibration & noise; hesitation) with the new RX 350.. Lexus gets an F grade on the RX re-design. BTW 450h, the hybrid version seems to be fine as it is not impacted by the above said issues... stay away from gas version until Lexus fix this issue.... my 2 cents.. disgruntled owner of a $59K MSRP 2017 RX 350.

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  Just needs a supercharger - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Bertrand - July 12 - 10:20 am

  I own a 99 BMW 328i manual and a 2001 IS 300 sedan; here is my take on the two cars. Lexus has better performance all around except for acceleration. Brakes and handling are amazing on the IS and the build quality has been very good. Dealer experience with JM Lexus of Florida has been the best part of owning this car! Bottom line, give this Lexus a manual and a TRD supercharger and it will compete with an M3 on the performance front while costing 10K less after the supercharger.

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  lexus sc430 - 2004 Lexus SC 430
  By eaglei - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I have had the car for almost two years and it handles well, excellent acceleration and seat comfort. Cup holders are a little flimsy but this is the only downside I see. Best priced car for the money in this class compared with the Mercedes and the Caddy.

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  My 2nd Lex - 2001 Lexus ES 300
  By lexusk8 - July 10 - 10:00 am

  As the title says, this is the 2nd Lexus I have owned, and so far the best (I previously owned a 1996 ES300). I bought this 2001 car with 64000 miles on it, all highway, and this was originally used as a business/company vehicle. This is a big improvement from the 96 in all aspects (exterior, interior, comfort, performance, you name it). I have always viewed the ES300 as the "perfect" daily driver for all seasons. Right now, the car has over 76000 miles, and I use the ES300 for everything (work commute, short/long trips, weekend drives). This is and has always been the budding example of Lexus quality.

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  skewed performance - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By stevenR - July 10 - 10:00 am

  Very powerful car with great amenities. But the car has a pull to to the left that the mechanics cant seem to get rid off. It is particularly noticable at highway speeds. Otherwise the car is comfortable and gets good gas mileage.

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  Really pleased with my decision - 2015 Lexus RX 350
  By anidindenver - July 9 - 7:50 am

  I researched & test drove virtually every model in this class and even put a deposit on a 2016 Acura RDX because it was the hot new SUV with tons of safety features at a great price (the RX350 was my #2 choice due to the dated body style). But I needed a new car before the Acura arrived so I ended up leasing the RX350 because of the incentives (this is the last year for this body style)and Lexus customer service ratings. A few months later Im super pleased all around. It has a very comfortable and quiet ride, great display on the Nav, good fuel economy (avg. 20 mpg) and room for 2 mountain bikes and a dog in the back w seats folded down. My boyfriend who drives an ML550 is even impressed.

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  Best SUV - 2006 Lexus GX 470
  By Brian - July 8 - 8:46 pm

  I now have 3,000 miles on the vehicle and it exceeds my expectations. I use it when I go skiing, it replaced a Honda Pilot which was not satisfactory in the mountains in winter. My wife loves the Lexus. I have owned a Land Rover Discovery and the Lexus is vastly superior. Also the gas mileage is better than my Land Rover.

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  One Great Car - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By McKeen - July 8 - 6:33 pm

  Didnt like the interior/dash of the M35 or 530. Liked the handling, exterior and interior appearance of the A6, but from the first drive of the GS300 my wife and I loved the performance, ride and quietness. We had a 2004 S80 T6 before, great acceleration and low end torque but too on/off. GS300 is a very comfortable car to drive, smooth seamless shifting and braking. Had a slight tracking problem but dealership and Lexus rep. jumped on the problem quickly and resolved it with minimal inconvenience to me. Fuel economy is unbelievable for a 245hp vehicle. Highway gives 38 mpg (Imperial)@75mph, mixed driving is 30 mpg (Imperial).

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  Love it - 2011 Lexus RX 350
  By G.Sohi - July 8 - 10:00 am

  My First Lexus , I have this Suv for almost a month, I absolutely love it. Very quite, pure luxury, Love the Navigation with mouse, Bluetooth, the style and the performance.