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 - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By JLH - May 5 - 12:33 pm

  Have had this car over 2 years. Most reliable car we have owned. Since I am 70, a lot of cars have been owned including 2 of GMs best. Had drivers door adjusted in first month and since than only oil changes and regular maintenance. There is a hesitation, but only when you want to be a jerky driver. Not as smooth as GM cars I have driven. 28 mpg on a 4000 trip last fall, driving out west where the speed is 75+ mph. I get 21 mpg hacking around. I must have an exceptional car because I have not had any of the problems others have mentioned. Looks like I will get around 35000 on stock tires.

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  The Ride Hooked Me - 2007 Lexus RX 400H
  By JRS - May 3 - 5:23 pm

  Never bought a car for the ride but one Lexus test drive had me hooked. Originally came from the Volvo for Life Family but Volvo sold me a 2003 XC90 with too many problems. I want quality, safety, service, and piece of mind. Instantly fell in love with LexusÂ’ hybrid ride. Could not tell SUV was on. Talk about get up & go. This baby has power. I keep the cruse control on because I am worried about speeding. It is like floating on a cloud, donÂ’t realize how fast youÂ’re going. Was hoping for better gas mileage. Getting anywhere from 26 to 27 mpg (drive both highway and city). Better than what I was getting before so IÂ’m still pleased. Manual says it gets better after 5000 miles. Will see.

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  Dark of night sale/surprise - 1998 Lexus ES 300
  By Sandra Hartnell - May 3 - 5:23 pm

  I bought this car at night on the fly after an auto acc. so didnt have it checked out. The radio LED didnt work nor did the lighter/chargers-annoying. The mpg however is 24 consistently and Ive gotten up to 28 after servicing across the state. When you have to step on it it REALLY kicks into high gear with a pleasant rush for this resistant to aging gal. Id buy this car again and will probably keep it a long time. Not crazy that it looks almost exactly like a Camry but the plus is the parts are interchangeable.

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  Exceeded My Expectations - 2008 Lexus RX 400H
  By T Owens - May 2 - 1:50 pm

  Extraordinary would be the best word that describes my driving experience in the Lexus RX400h AWD. It came with all the bells and whistles that one would expect from Lexus. The vehicle is exceptionally comfortable, fun, and easy to drive. Although this is my 2nd SUV and 1st hybrid, it is by far superior to the 16.5 MPG Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer that I use to own. Whats truly remarkable is the outstanding power performance when you need it, and the equally outstanding fuel economy in stop and go city traffic. Knowing that the 400h is very quiet in the hybrid mode has heightened my situational awareness when people are nearby on foot, as its almost as loud as an electric golf cart.

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  Performance - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By david h. sager - May 2 - 3:03 am

  This is a truly great automobile. Quality is unsurpassed, trim, fit are done right. The engine is the finest I have ever driven--quite powerful and never shows strain. only regret is I didnt reach this level sooner!

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  Great Little SUV driving it for 5 years - 2003 Lexus RX 300
  By Ferres - May 2 - 1:44 am

  I had my RX300 for 5 years now, it has 175k miles and still drive like new, no problem of any kind , just oil change and brake in 3 years tires still good after 3 years of heavy driving, smooth ride, ok on fuel, AC and heating is great accelerate good for AWD , reliable, I had a lot of cars in my live Jeep, BMWs, Kia, Honda, Nissan X terra , ford, Montero, Mercedes Isuzo , Hyundai this Lexus IS the best if u find one buy it no matter what is the miles on it it will last for ever

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  RX300 gets even better - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Ted Bretschger - May 1 - 4:56 pm

  After happily owning an RX300 we were blown away by how much better the RX330 is. More interior room, better ride, better turning radius and the Nav system

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  What a beautiful car - 2007 Lexus SC 430
  By Starstruck - April 30 - 8:40 pm

  It is the car that you cannot keep your eyes off of. Perfect in almost every aspect.

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  You know you want this car! - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By lexi300 - April 30 - 12:23 pm

  This is a car you need to drive. Pure fun and driving enjoyment. The perforated and ventilated seats are top notch and make you feel great. Instrument panel is intelligently laid out and intuitive. All instruments are easy to find and automatically adjust to be read in all lighting conditions. The straightforward, bright-white numbers are elegant and simple. Interior and exterior design are cutting edge -- utility with a real flair. Car drives and accelerates like a dream. Engine purrs. Car is soundproofed so ride is quiet, but not so quiet that you dont get needed feedback. Brakes are sure and confident. Tires are right grip and size for the car. All-wheel drive is perfect.

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  Excellent Vehicle - 2009 Lexus RX 350
  By Gill - April 28 - 4:56 am

  I was looking for a FWD and Lexus dealers on the North East do not stock FWD vehicles. Visited my daughter in Atlanta and drove a 2009 RX350 from Atlanta to NJ. The fit & finish is great. My first luxury vehicle and the ride is a real luxury, quite cabin at highway speed, plenty of power to accelrate. Good MPG and I got about 27- 28 MPG on the highway. Experience with Nalley Lexus of Roswell was even better than the vehicle itself. We have lot of old cassette tapes and love the full logic cassette deck.