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 LS 430 - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By Leighb44 - August 22 - 2:00 am

  Lexus has taken care of everything you can think of, and then some. I have never owned such a well appointed, quality car.

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  Love It - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By euskadi92 - August 22 - 2:00 am

  I love my GX470. I did not buy it for its safety ratings. I bought it because I wanted all the bells and whistles. The GX470 has turned out better than I could ever expect. I couldnt think of any other car that I had had what I enjoyed more. It is extremely comfortable on long road trip. I was in a serious car accident in my GX and I survived while those other cars involved did not. I took most of the energy in that accident. I am convinced that the GX saved me. So I originally bought it for the bells and whistles and it ended up saving my life. I will forever drive a large Lexus SUV. For had I been in anything else, who knows where I would be.

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  What a car! - 1999 Lexus LS 400
  By Michael Corbett - August 21 - 10:00 am

  Traded my 96 LS 400 for the 99. I thought the 96 was the finest of the 40 cars Ive bought in my lifetime. I was wrong. The 99 LS 400 tops anything Ive driven, and Ive many cars. The big changes in engine, suspension, etc. that took place in 98 through the 2000 model year were very obvious when I drove the 99. I was hooked on that drive and Im still hooked. I really think this is the finest overall production sedan built, period.

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  ls 430 - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By abassi - August 21 - 10:00 am

  I had an LS400 back in 1994 and was very happy with it but after about 100k miles I drove a 1997 Mercedes S420 and I liked it and bought it drove that for about 40k miles and trouble began after all it was a mercedes and not a lexus traded it for another lexus and have driven nothing but lexus ever since and now I own 2 Lexus vehicles and I love my new LS430 it is quieter and has a softer ride and the best navigation in the market due to it being touch screen.

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  Excellent - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By Marci Cuccio - August 21 - 10:00 am

  I have just recently purchased a Lexus ES 300 and am thrilled with it.. I love everything, the way the car handles and drives. I really like the new body style too....

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  Best Used Car Purchase EVER! - 1998 Lexus LS 400
  By jt821 - August 19 - 10:05 pm

  I bought the car three years ago w/ 80k. I now have a bit over 140. Absolutely no problems whatsoever. I did the 90k maintenance which was about $1000, but was very extensive. The car is comfortable, quick, and surprisingly economical. Every once in a while I get the itch to buy a new car, but think what could I replace this with that would come close. The answer is nothing. I have two other Lexuss that I bought used, a 92 SC300, and a 95 ES 300 and have been just as fortunate with those. My daughter now has the ES at college with 260k, and my SC is my weekend car with 180k.

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  Lucky to be alive - 2009 Lexus ES 350
  By Lucky - August 15 - 10:30 am

  My husband and I had matching ES 350s. My 2 boys and I were traveling in Washington DC one evening and were T-Boned by a guy going about 50 mph who ran a stop light. My ES 350 saved all 3 of us, it was amazing how the car took over, spun around and landed perfectly between the lines of the road and disengaged itself. The car was totaled but we all walked away. The police officer said we would have had a fatality if not for the safety of that car.

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  IS 300 PERFORMS - 2001 Lexus IS 300
  By rebelrichey - August 15 - 10:00 am

  Handles exceptionally well - low and tight to the ground. This car is not lacking any power. It is sleek, comfortable and overall - attractive on the road. If comparing a BMW 3 series, Jag X-Type or MBZ - you may want to test IS 300 Lexus. You will find it out performs and has a stronger maintenance record!

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  Great Value! - 2000 Lexus LS 400
  By Wayne Strong - August 11 - 1:50 pm

  The vehicle handles like a dream. It is without a doubt an absolute great value. For a 10 year old car, it looks great! With over 100,000 miles, it remains extremely responsive. The fuel economy is awesome. I have gotten up to 30 mpg on the highway. This is the second Lexus I have owned. They are, without a doubt the best vehicles made.

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  Love It! Love It! Love It! - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By gallowaymm - August 11 - 12:56 am

  I love my new truck! It is the perfect size - not too big, not too small. My only complaint is that there are not enough compartments for storage. But, I do realize I had to give up something to get the smaller vehicle that I wanted. The ride is great. My 10 year has plenty of room in the middle. I have not yet used the 3rd row, so I have no comments about that. I do know I will stay in this vehicle for a long time. I was ready to get rid of my last SUV 4 months after I purchased it because it was just too large for me to handle. This is worth every penny spent!