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 car - 2004 Lexus SC 430
  By rafter44 - May 28 - 10:00 am

  terrific car. dont know what Id change.

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  Lexus -vs- Mercedes - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By Stephen J. Miller - May 28 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I have owned 9 Mercedes since 1980, and we now have our 3rd Lexus-a 2004 LS430 which is simply the BEST automobile we have ever owned. Having owned over 50 cars since 1951 it is just a delight to see that the automotive world has risen to the heights of comfort, quality, fun and reliability that our beautiful LS430 provides. Our next purchase will be to replace our 2000 Mercedes E430 with a newly designed 2006 Lexus GS430-We are totally sold on being Lexus owners from this time on!

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  LEXUS - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By Beeglad - May 28 - 10:00 am

  First Japanese Car-- I give it very high marks

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  A Pleasant Ride - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By ebony - May 28 - 10:00 am

  I had a full cup of coffee in a travel mug in the open cup holder. When I changed gears, my hand hit the cup (because its taller than the holder) and a small amount of the liquid splashed from the cups lid.

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  Great car - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By toni grice - May 28 - 10:00 am

  The RX330 is a pleasure to drive. Very comfortable ride. Love the back up camera and the GPS. This is my 4th Lexus and the best so far.

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  Beautiful Auto - 2010 Lexus ES 350
  By Tony - May 28 - 7:23 am

  Its only been a few days so this is an early review. My last car was a Mazda Miata, which was a fun car to drive. So this was a big step up in the Luxury and comfort department. This car has a really nice smooth quite ride. Handles well, better then I expected from 2009 reviews. Fit and finish outstanding. High quality materials inside and out. Leather seats nice and soft and comfortable, wood and dash all of high quality. Nothing looks or feels cheap. This is my first Lexus and wont be my last.

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  Great Car but Performance Lacking - 2010 Lexus RX 450h
  By NoDuplicates - May 28 - 2:00 am

  When I decided to buy an SUV, I knew it would be Lexus (quality), and I so badly wanted a hybrid to future proof against rising gas prices. I created spreadsheet showing the RX450h vs. RX350 could pay for itself in 3.6yrs. Intellectually I had justified the cost. However, when I drove both cars (450h first, then 350), I was shocked by the sluggish performance of the 450h relative to the peppy 350. The gas pedal felt squishy, sluggishly responsive, getting up to highway speed felt tenuous. Major disappointment!

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  Luxury, Quality, Safety - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By JohnDTW - May 27 - 2:23 pm

  A friend and I went to a nearby Lexus dealer, checking out SUVs for him. An hour and a half and he was out the door with a new RX300. I was extremely impressed with the treatment he was given; I decided to lease an RX300. I received the same respect he was given. This SUV is meticulous! Its bank-vault solid, rides great, and the AWD is flawless. Its not a typical thirtysomething "guy car" and not the coolest SUV out there, but Im one guy who thinks this SUV is great.

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  Four and Counting - 2017 Lexus ES 350
  By Jim - May 26 - 11:36 pm

  This is our fourth ES 350 lease. We love this car! We were also very pleased with the improvements made in just three years between our 2014 and 2017 model. We came to Lexus after leasing Acura for a number of years. Have also looked at Mercedes but they cant compare to Lexus ES 350. Suggest Lexus allow for more than two pages of XM channels. No need for 2 pages of AM channels.

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  IS300 Experience - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By E. Winter - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Just an incredible and fun car to drive. You ask for a little power and it gives it to you without hesitation. It looks beautiful and attracts attention wherever you go. I can honestly say I love my car....