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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  Reliable, Fun, Beautiful,Nice, Sweet Car - 2003 Lexus RX 300
  By Jaxen2000 - December 2 - 2:00 am

  Its a reliable, fun, beautiful, nice, sweet car. we have even named it Millie.Shes part of the family now. Thank you Lexus for making this era in our lives wonderful and joyous. May the Gods bless you in all your life and afterlife.

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  Wonderful - with even greater potential - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By unclecheeb - December 2 - 2:00 am

  A wonderful vehicle in a class by itself. Attracts attention, but the ES and Camry look too similar. Fantastic interior. Comfortable seats with a myriad of adjustments. First-class fit, finish and quality of materials, exceeds quality of others in class. Ride is plush, but not advertised as a sports sedan. Safety features abound. Excellent driver and passenger protection. Many comfort and convenience features, yet there is room to further distance the ES from the pack with the addition of convenience option features from the LS series e.g., keyless entry/ignition, storage bins, auto-adjusting steering wheel, auto door closure, etc.

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  PERFECT - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By DADDYMALU - December 2 - 2:00 am

  THE LS430 IS THE BEST LUXURY VEHICLE FOR THE DOLLAR.....

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  Terrifically safe car - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By Lynn Fischer - November 30 - 12:53 pm

  I love it. Im up high. It is reliable and I feel safe. It is a heavy car without being too big. I wish there were turn signal arrows on my side mirrors like Ive seen on other cars, so I never leave the damned turn signal on, confusing other drivers. I also wish the navigational system were easier to operate. Id like a camera in the front too. But the only really big safety change I would want is for far better "blind spot" vision. Changing lanes is still not safe enough and the Lexus doesnt make it easier. Overall, it is a much more comfortable car than the two Mercedes I had before it, including a large Mercedes SUV. It is a softer ride.

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  A Perfect Luxury Car - 2012 Lexus LS 460
  By jrl999 - November 28 - 5:35 pm

  I bought my 2012 LS 460L with 18K miles certified at a Lexus dealer in Miami FL. Drove it back to NC and found it to be the most comfortable car imaginable. Had a 2006 LS 430 which was also a near flawless car. I like everything about this car and it simply devours long trips on an interstate. Have only driven 3500 miles since buying it, but it is so comfortable and enjoyable to drive.

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  My fifth one - 2002 Lexus SC 430
  By CHUBBY4323 - November 28 - 1:30 pm

  I just purchased an 02 SC430 and I am loving it!! Let me start by saying this is my 5th Lexus. Ive owned 2 LS400, SC400, GS300 and now this SC430. I had no problem purchasing this vehicle w/98,000 mile on it and it looks brand new. (Garage Kept) The car has had every scheduled maintenance service since the car was purchased. It drives just like the 2010 and I saved thousands.. Ive owned many other brands, but Lexus is my favorite. Now that Im hitting mid life crisis I will stay w/Lexus from here on out!!

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  Very Disappointed - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By fellst - November 28 - 2:23 am

  The car is very nice looking. It has some classy features but not many. The drivetrain is very poor. It has problems shifting very jerky. When cornering it will not shift smoothly almost like a person who cant drive a standard.

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  RX 400h Review - Great Car - 2008 Lexus RX 400H
  By jimr - November 28 - 1:00 am

  Very happy with this car after 2500 miles. Fast, responsive, luxurious interior, great build quality, very comfortable. Great mileage if you learn to drive it properly. So far getting 29.5 mpg in town, 27 mpg on highway/freeways. I pulled my 2500 lb boat for 700 miles on the freeway with no problem and still got 20 mpg. Seamless transition between gas and electric. Plenty of fun gadgets.

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  a dream on wheels - 2005 Lexus SC 430
  By Mickey Matik - November 26 - 1:26 pm

  I have previously owned a jaguar sjs, m/benz 280sl, 350sl, 380sl. All great cars! However, the Lexus 430sc truly out performs all other cars I have ever owned or driven in this automotive category. The handling, the soft ride, the accessibility of instruments and the overall design puts this car in a class of its own. You can purchase a convertible with a retractible roof for more money, but you cant buy a better one. Lexus pays attention to detail. This car is quiet, great looking and fun, fun, fun to drive!

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  Great Marketing Car, Comfort and Quiet - 2000 Lexus LS 400
  By Road Warrior - November 26 - 7:06 am

  Took this car out for a 1 hour test drive to make sure I would like it. This car performs like a sports car but is way more comfortable and is so quiet it makes cell phone calls sound like your in your office. For the price I paid this was a deal it will last up to 400k miles with proper care. Lexus makes cars that last, so buy one and you will make a good investment !