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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  Terrific SUV - 2004 Lexus LX 470
  By SMS - August 5 - 5:46 pm

  Wonderful build quality, excellent interior, and pillow-like ride. Could use more power, though. And it wanders more than it should on the highway.

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  New 2010 RX 350 - Lots of Initial defect - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By omgl777 - August 3 - 9:53 am

  I have had my 2010 RX 350 for about 4 months now. In total, I have gone back 5 times for 3 different defects on the new model. I have had Navigation, A/C Radio problems (which all have TSBs issued by Lexus now). Not to mention the exterior defect of the driver side bumper I now have, due to wind damage from long distance driving. The front corner bumper is "popping" out of place every time I go on long drives. Im going to have to wait until the next time I go in for service to have it checked out, Im tired of driving loaners and paying for a new car. Overall, I am very disappointed that Lexus would send a car out on the road with so many problems.

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  A Canadian built Toyota - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By Mark - July 30 - 5:43 pm

  Smooth yet dull ride. Way way overpriced for what it is. Canadian built .

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  The Lexus Myth - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By phil stiles - June 27 - 2:00 am

  My Lexus knows the way to the shop and is not an extrordinary vehicle. I find the shop people nice and the service good but the vehicle should not have the brake, rattle and engine surging problems I have experienced in just one year. The really BIG surprise was the 15,000 mile check for almost $500.00, to check it over. WOW! This is my last Lexus.

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  My 5th RX350 - 2016 Lexus RX 350
  By SLL - June 21 - 12:49 pm

  What a big disappointment in the new RX 305. I loved all of my other cars and did not have a major complaint other than the navigation system. The 2016 is even worse. I just dont get it at all.......very difficult to use, the whole radio/navigation is so delicate to the touch and difficult to figure out. I also do not like the loud sound of the air conditioning system. Another issue I have is when I start the car it makes a loud knocking sound in the engine, which I am told is "normal" for this model. One very big problem we have is the odor in the car. It does not have that new car smell that we all love but rather a musty mildew smell......the dealership advised us to use Frebreeze!! So all in all I wish I could get out of this lease and am so unhappy that is is nothing like my previous 4 Rxs that I loved.

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  too much money - 2002 Lexus SC 430
  By j Quist - June 21 - 2:00 am

  Thought this car was a must have so traded my 99 Corvette for it.This is an ideal car for a women but it sure is not a Corvette. Its a look at me type of car that should cost maybe $39,000.00 not the almost $70,000.00 I paid. The roof leaks when it goes thru the car wash,thats not good.Sometimes it just wont start,deal service is good

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  Not a Lexus Toyota Fan Anymore - 2001 Lexus RX 300
  By Joe - June 9 - 10:20 pm

  My well-maintained 01 RX 300 just died at 115K miles with a bad transmission. Estimated cost to repair is in the many thousands. After over 10 years of owning Toyotas (an 88 Camry, a 95 ES 300 and then the 01 RX 300), Ive changed from a die-hard fan to a never-again disbeliever. Couldnt believe my eyes when the RX just died the way it did. This after following the factory maintenance schedule and taking good care of it.

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  Lexus Quality? - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By alex - May 25 - 3:36 pm

  Been owned 01 mdx, 05 rx, 07 ml350,08 x5, and 09 gl450. Right now Im leasing 08 911 turbo and have 07 Prius. Ive been owned so many cars from all models of Honda to Ferrari f430. What happen to Lexus! They are increasing price with low-end quality material! Feel and look cheap plastic interior, uncomfortable seat (Im 510" n 185 lb). 2005 rx was much better! Thank god were leasing this car.

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  Disappointed! - 2016 Lexus RX 350
  By Dave - May 11 - 3:17 am

  I own a 21012 RX350 and have anxiously waited for the newly designed 2016 to arrive. After spending time at the dealer comparing the 2016 to the 2012 we own, my wife and I will not be purchasing a 2016. We were already aware of the ugly front grill, but hoped other improvements would be worth ignoring the grill. But about the only thing we found improved was the navigation system. Here are the things we do not like about the 2016, compared to the 2012. 1. My 56" wife complains the step up to enter the car is higher in the 2016, an uncomfortable 1.5" to 2" higher. 2. The handy cup holder to the left of the steering wheel is gone. 3. The storage area under the console, between the driver and passenger is no longer open. Replaced with a very small pocket. 4. The seats are now two-toned. So grey seats are no longer all grey. They are part grey and part black.

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  Tire noise is horrible! - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By RKB - May 6 - 10:56 am

  On our second set of tires and car has 47,000 miles on it. Tire noise is driving us crazy. Road noise inside car is worse than riding in my daughters Honda Civic. Happens after about 15,000 miles on tires. Dealer tells us its the high performance tires that are noisy. You would think a car of this value would drive quiet, but thats not the case with the tires.