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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  ES300 does it again - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By juanc - April 7 - 2:00 am

  I am a prvious ES300 owner and I love my 2003 even more than I did my 1994 It has only been a week, but I know I made the right choice

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  Just Bought My Lexus - 2008 Lexus GX 470
  By Lyz - April 6 - 2:40 am

  We bought our GX on 12/24/07. We looked at the Sequoia and the Yukon. I drove all three. The GX blows the other two away in driving luxury. We were selling our 12 yr old Jeep Grand Cherokee and needed something bigger. The Lexus is a great SUV for both road trips and everyday driving. 3 days after buying it we put drove it to the UP Michigan for a ski vaca. Drove great in the snow and the long distance. Third row is easy to remove for extra storage. I thought Id hate the way the hatch opens in the rear, but I am liking how easy it is to get things in and out. My only complaint is I wish the side mirrors folded in mechanically and the third row folded flat, thats it.

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  Love that car - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By jay - April 5 - 2:50 pm

  Love driving it, love the way it handles and the way it rides. The only two bad things about it is that the gas mileage is about 16 mpg all over and the voice recognition system does not work that well.

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  Competent Car - No pain entrance/exit. - 2015 Lexus RX 350
  By Sam Jenkins - April 4 - 2:32 pm

  Very comfortable, quiet ride. Nothing intrudes on my peace of mind while driving my RX350. I have owned almost a year and driven approximately 4500 miles both small town and interstate. I traded a 2016 ES350 sedan in for this SUV. Only had 2000 miles on it but just didnt please me. My lady friend has hip problems and found the sedan too low to enter and exit without pain. So, I traded down one year to the RX. The seat height is just right for the petite little lady. The RX styling is subdued and classical. It should stand up well over the years. The 2016 and 2017 Lexus front grill is outrageous in my opinion. A couple of years ago the Lexus dealer made fun of my buck tooth Acura but seems to accept the snarling Lexus LOL. A word of caution: research not only the year car you want, but also read comments a year or two on either side of the car you are thinking of buying. I find that some people dont adapt readily to the newer car in performance and appearance. They are often very critical of a newer model because they are so accustomed to the old car. But do pay particular attention to dealer experiences. Update: The RX350 is high quality in all respects: I have owned Mercedes, BMW, and Audi and nothing is better than the quality of my 2015 RX350. If you want a sports car look somewhere else, but if you want a quiet, smooth competent car that will retain resale value, this is it. I laugh at those that expect both plush, easy ride, AND sports car handling!! Come on. I am 74 and love my Lexus!!

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  Outstanding 2005 ES 330 with 48K miles - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By MJW - April 3 - 3:40 am

  Ive had my ES 330 for 3 months and have made one rather lengthy trip, plus drive to work every day. I havent experienced the transmission problems that others have. The navigation system that many complain about is fine. Read the manual and plan ahead. I agree the cup holders leave a lot to be desired. The sound system is great, but I wish the CD changer was in the dash. As for gas mileage - on my 1500+ mile trip I averaged 28.65 MPG, which includes driving into some heavy head wind - average speed 70+. Not a sexy car, but I am glad a made this purchase. Perhaps I just got lucky?

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  Love my Lexi - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By ddsanford - April 1 - 6:13 pm

  I have always wanted a Lexus SUV. My husband finally gave in and bought me one. Whatever one I wanted. I chose the 2010 RX350. It is the best vehicle that I have ever owned. I have owned other SUVs and Crossovers but none of them measure up to the Lexus. Gas mileage is great, smooth ride, feels like Im riding on a cloud. Very satisfied with this car. It took a few days to get used to it, but Im glad I decided on this vehicle.

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  GREAT SUV!!! - 2006 Lexus GX 470
  By srp - April 1 - 4:23 am

  We love this car. Finish details supurb. Easy to drive. Navigation works well and is easy to learn.

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  bought used in Nov2010 - 2007 Lexus RX 350
  By jekcartalk - March 31 - 6:24 pm

  Wanted to drive the suv for a year before stating my opinion. Traded in a 03MDX (transmission torque converter issue @ 96K miles), and opted for a used 07LexusRX vs new Subaru Outback - $9k cheaper. Overall I am pleased with my purchase, as the car was a premium package w/Nav etc. I agree the Nav is a pain to use because of its limited ability to change while on the move (other than voice commands, which is even more frustrating and distraction when it doesnt recognize what you are saying) than being able to input by touch. Only isuue so far... rear wheel bearing hub which was replaced under warranty (70k Miles for drivetrain) which the dealer promptly notified me. So far so good!

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  2005 Lexus LS 430 - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By Kathy Conrad - March 31 - 12:10 pm

  This is my 4th Lexus LS since 1992. I have owned 2 LS 400s and this is my 2nd LS 430. I was talked into purchasing a Mercedes-Benz E-500 last June. I just sold the car yesterday after purchasing my new LS 430 several weeks ago. I will never make that mistake again. I am a Lexus lover through and through!! This car is unbelievable. Smooth, quiet, comfortable, wonderful craftmanship, and such a pleasure to drive.

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  Why did I ever leave? - 2013 Lexus CT 200H
  By miked22 - March 30 - 9:48 pm

  I was a very loyal Lexus owner. I purchased 2 Rx300s in a row and couldnt say enough good stuff about Lexus. My only disappointment was the non- availability of the Mark Levenson sound system. That frustration sent me to a piece of junk domestic mfg. Back to present day...... I wanted to get something different. One day I was in a parking lot and saw the CT. I knew it was a Lexus however I never saw one before. I followed it and took note of the model number. After a little Internet research I went for the test drive and was very impressed. I expected a very sluggish pseudo sports sedan. It is anything but fast however it was much quicker than expected. Only one day in but I love it!