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 New SUV - 2003 Lexus GX 470
  By OWNER - May 14 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I just purchased the new lexus gx. So far it is enjoyable but I am now looking to purchase the Porsche Cayenne. The Lexus is smooth and navigational system easy to use. I love the engine but maybe a little more horspower would be better. We didnt like that there are no xenon head lamps or integrated turn signals in the mirrors. Otherwise, the lexus is a great competitor and should last for years.

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  A good near luxury car - 2003 Lexus GS 300
  By J J - May 14 - 10:00 am

  My lexus is a very beautiful car. It is so comfortable and so quite. The 4 exhaust give it a sporty look. The drivetrain is smooth and excellent. It has very big back doors for easy entrance. I wish there was a little more leg room because my friends and family are all kind of tall but besides that it is a superb car and i would definintly recomend it.

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  best car I have owned - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By jp1 - May 14 - 10:00 am

  I have owned 3 lexus vehicles and the LS 430 is one I cannot find any faults with. There are more features on the car than I can list here, and the reliability, as with all Lexus vehicles, is excellent. The car is fun to drive, reliable and very, very luxurious.

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  IS300 - An Almost Perfect Sport Sedan - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By BigLou - May 14 - 2:00 am

  Comparing the Lexus(vs BMW): Pros RELIABILITY - an friends 325is had problems (transmission and driver seat). My Camry: 10+ years, 150k miles, excellent record "Razor-sharpness" - everything is "sharp." Ride, shifter, clutch - all project a sporting nature Price - almost $10k less. It is easier to deal with Lexus Less ubiquitous - Everybody and his cousin drives a BMW 3 or 5 series. Too "me-too," (except M3 or M5) Better NAV - only one better is on the Acura CL Cons Less prestige - especially in the eyes of girls/non-car-enthusiasts/those fixated on the badge Less power - the 10hp difference (as rated) between the two somehow feel more

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  love my es300 - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By 3x Lexus owner - May 14 - 2:00 am

  this is my third Lexus. I had a 97 es300, 2000 gs300 and now 2003 es300. I like this car the best, especially for the money.

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  Absolutely LOVE it....... - 2013 Lexus RX 350
  By Wind Hill - May 13 - 6:17 am

  I just purchased my first Lexus a few days ago and it was the best decision that I had ever made. The vehicle is so comfortable and well built. The quality of the vehicle is absolutely outstanding. The interior is very well made & plush. This vehicle has all the features. The vehicle is so quiet and I just love it. I used to own a 2012 Cadillac and it was so uncomfortable and very noisy! This will not be my last Lexus. I am sure that I will purchase another one in the near future. Carrie

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  Its still to new - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By Douglas Weiss - May 10 - 1:16 pm

  What a wonderful car. This is the kind of a car you want to get on the highways and drive. The ride is smooth and quiet, with all the power you could want for a luxury car.

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  My first RX - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By mark j davis - May 9 - 10:00 am

  We just purchased our first Lexus. The build quality is superb! The enginering is outstanding. The curb appeal is much more compelling then the old RX.

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  8 yrs old and still WOW - 1999 Lexus ES 300
  By Kemah Coder - May 8 - 3:23 pm

  To get out of debt, I sold my 2003 Pontiac Vibe GT and then used the proceeds from the sale to buy my 1999 Lexus ES 300. 202,000 miles and 8 years and old and its better than any other used car I looked at. Nothing can touch this car in terms of comfort and reliability. I have been told by three shops now this car is just the Toyota Camry with a lexus name and a little more interior comfort. I agree and am thankful I bought this car for $5800 cash.

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  My First Lexus - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By George - May 8 - 3:16 pm

  Ive owned Toyota products for the past 25 years. I thought that I would give a Lexus RX 350 a test drive, and was so impressed. Im so happy with my purchase, it has all the tech items that one would want - navigation, voice recognition, iPod interface and etc. I personally still cant get over how quiet the vehicle is. You have to keep the sound level down on the radio to ensure that you can hear outside noises. Excellent build quality, great features/options, strong performance and excellent Lexus Customer Service. What else could you ask for in a vehicle.