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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  RX is Best Car Ive Owned - 2001 Lexus RX 300
  By Tom in Omaha - August 10 - 10:00 am

  The 2001 RX is the first Lexus we have owned and it is the best car we have owned. Rides great, comfortable for four adults (dont bring a lot of luggage) and performance is very acceptable (remember this is an SUV). One of the nice benefits of an Lexus is the service provided by the dealership, which is fantastic. Last year we went skiing in Colorado and the RX went up I-70 without any problems at all ... more power than I had predicted.

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  Lexus GS 300 is a good car - 2002 Lexus GS 300
  By JJ - August 6 - 1:10 pm

  Bought it new in 02 for $39,500 and i still like it a lot. at 200k miles, it still runs quietly and smoothly. Ill get another one soon. A very few complaints and they are too minor to mention. Im in sales and its perfect for that. Dealer service is too expensive but if you can find an honest independent, go with that.

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  Maintenance - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By Mary - August 3 - 4:56 am

  You are all in for a SHOCK! 30,000 mile checkup: $657.09 (Labor was to be $395.42, the rest was for air filters, wiper blades, brake fluid, and... $28.95 labor to check the air pressure of the tires). I told them I would just have the Oil filter and oil change (new 10,000 mile synthetic oil). The oil change cost $120.00 . They said they did not and do not check the fluid levels along with the oil change. The 35,000 mile check up (no oil change), just fluid checks inspect, clean battery cover,check air pressure, tighten nuts and bolts: over $400. 00 (because that labor costs $342.00 of the $400). I am looking for a Ford and/or a new mechanic.

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  Transmission concerns - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By ESLexus - July 27 - 10:00 am

  Nice ride, but needs more power. Exterior a little boring, but interior is excellent quality. I am waiting on the Re-design of the Acura RL.

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  trans failure - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By Mike J - July 25 - 6:13 pm

  Trans failed at 87000mi.(out of warranty) Had dealer replace trans ocos $4000. Maintenance schedule does not suggest or state to "service trans" by replacing trans oil/filter. Just states to check fluid level. Will not purchase Lexus or Toyota againg.

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  Nothing else ever again! - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By Beth - July 24 - 11:06 pm

  I love my new (to me!) Lexus. We traded in a 08 Town & country for a 05 LX470 with twice the miles and were happy about it! This car is wonderful. It is spacious and fun to drive. My only complaint is that the trunk area is small with the third row seat down, I cant even get my stroller in. But, we will make do. It is the best car I have ever had, even better than my husbands 08 BMW!

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  Annoyances - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By fussy - July 22 - 1:26 pm

  There are a few annoying features about this vehicle. Little things like the drivers side floor mat will not stay in place - the hook and grommet system just doesnt work. No. 2 is the turn signal that wont cancel, particularly when coming off a ramp in a sweeping curve, after going straight ahead the right signal doesnt cancel. Lexus service says they work fine! Last, and probably most important, the glare off the dash when driving into the sun makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to see anyone or thing at the roadside - polarized sunglasses help a bit. Other than theses issues, its a great car.

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  Not Impressed - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By John - July 21 - 1:20 am

  Purchased a 2006 GS AWD new - quite a let down from my 1999 GS which I loved. While the car handles well, it initially rode like a truck due in part to the run-flat tires that came with the car (a "standard" option). With new tires, the car rides better - but still nothing like my 1999 GS. I also feel Lexuss quality has slipped. The car has been recalled no less than 4 times and, to this day, still has rattles in the dash and seat belt pillars. The dealership dampened these quite a bit over many visits, but theyre still there. (In recent a consumer test, I see one of 2009 GS test models had a dash rattle, telling me Lexus hasnt corrected the problem in 4 model years).

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  Not bad for 52K - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By Julius - July 18 - 2:20 am

  I had my GX for almost 2 years. If you are looking for the car with excellent reliability, this is the one. Also the fit and finish inside is great. The only problem Im still having is a sun roof, that makes a rattling sound when passing an uneven pavement. Its not a horrible noise but you would expect not to have anything like that for this sticker price. They were not able to fix it so far. In general, this is a good headache free SUV. Go LEXUS.

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  As compared to the Acura TL - 2008 Lexus ES 350
  By btiger14 - July 15 - 9:16 am

  We just leased an ES 350 coming out of a Acura TL. We have found the electronics, including radio and bluetooth to be inferior to the TL. Disappointing. Also some of the features like keyfob by driver (1 or 2) is not available on ES 350 as it is on TL. Very disappointing that satellite radio was not included nor did the dealers stock cars with the option. Had to have dealer add satellite radio at an exorbitant price. Acura TL has this standard. A car in this price range should have an excellent radio; excellent bluetooth; and include satellite radio. Could be the first and last Lexus.