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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  03 Lexus ES 300 - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By toydriver - December 14 - 10:00 am

  Just completed 500 mile trip in a new ES. Outstanding for quiet, comfortable ride, great stereo, and soft leather seats. Minimal to no road noise with Michelin tires. Fit and finish is perfect - as expected of Lexus. New 5- speed automatic transmission is very smooth. Plenty of head and leg room in front seats for six-footers. Lexus has made major improvements since the ES was redesigned last year. Averaged 27.5 mpg, and hope to improve on that after engine is completely broken in.

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  Not Bad - 2007 Lexus RX 350
  By Eric H. - December 13 - 8:26 am

  Traded in a 06 Honda pilot. Now I have an RX 350 AWD the ride is a lot more like a cars. Its got the power to take off in a green light.

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  TCM, ECM Problems - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Henry Casimer - December 12 - 11:06 pm

  My wife is principal driver but in January 2006 I drove the ES330 4,000 miles from northern IN to Key West and return. The engine and transmission fails to respond to throttle commands and the vehcle does not downshift to third gear when needed. With the pedal to the metal at 60 mph it takes forever to get back up to 70/75 mph. Same problem on entrance ramps. Trying to merge in 4th or 5th gear at 2,000 rpm will not get you out of the way of 18 wheelers. Car is at the dealer now. Have reported this to NHTSA as a safety issue. 25 mph not too impressive. GM can do 30 mpg with 3.8 L.

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  Practical, but still fun to drive - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Jeannie Renn - December 11 - 7:16 pm

  Nice handling, holds tight on corners. Enough power to feel sporty even if it is a sedan. Interior cabin is comfortable, slightly tight on head room if you are tall. All the bells and whistles for a lot less than you would pay with some other luxury brands. No real reason to buy the smaller engined GS when this has it all plus better acceleration for about 10K less.

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  My New E330 Lexus - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Nicola Gismondi - December 10 - 7:36 am

  This car is a pleasure to drive. The interior is well appointed: leather is finely detailed, wood grain matches beautifully with decor, controls are easily accessable, and sound system is superior. I have been very pleased with the gas milage: 22 MPG around town and about 31 MPG on the Interstate. The road noise level is very low, probably the quietest car I have ever owned. You can not hear the engine running when idling. Nice car.

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  WOW, what a machine - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By Wayne - December 8 - 9:33 pm

  I have owned this car for seven years and have enjoyed every minute. We have owned some of the finest sedans and this car takes all honors! We just finished a 3000 mile road trip and averaged 24 miles per gallon and of course, had zero trouble. This Ultra cruise control makes long trips very enjoyable, nearly drives itself!

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  And its still a 96 S-Class - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By CarLover_1 - December 8 - 10:00 am

  You would except to buy a unique and original vehicle when you aiming to spend $60K. However, with Lexus LS you always get an exact copy of 6-8 year- old Mercedes for the price of the current model. In my opinion, it’s just pathetic that the “luxury” automaker copies old competitors styles. Essentially, Toyota is meant to be cheap but reliable car and this is what Lexus is. I might have leather seats and decent audio system, but it’s still a Toyota, not a Mercedes or Jag in any way. Personally, for $60K I better get the original, that the 2-generations- behind replica.

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  Our 2002 Lexus Sportcross - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By WFLaidlaw - December 8 - 10:00 am

  Ours is full of add-ons to include navigation, leather, heated seats, etc, but the most appreciated add-ons are the Limited-Slip Differential coupled with Vehicle Skid Control. Cornering is uncanny and with superior braking makes a very competitive vehicle. Service is poor locally, so we drive 2 1/2 hours one way to the Charleston dealership. It is of the same quality as the car.

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  Better than before - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By mjklaw - December 8 - 10:00 am

  This is my third RX. The new 330 version is longer, wider, more powerful and luxurious....with so many new toys!!! They finally managed to elevate the interior to rival the other models in the line. (I also own an LS430). The turning radius is vastly improved.

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  A prodigious achievement! - 2002 Lexus SC 430
  By toyotas1 - December 8 - 4:40 am

  Thank you, Lexus, for bringing 21st century style and luxury to the FULL-SIZE luxury convertible class. The one who compared this to the Audi TT needs to drive BOTH cars before making a fool of himself. Just wish that instead of the fake back seat, we could get a parcel shelf, more front egroom, and a pop-up rollover bar, like the SL. But this car is a stunner, and an incredible value, at over $25k less than an SL, its onlt real competition.