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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  Proud New Lexus Owner - 2010 Lexus HS 250H
  By NorCal - November 13 - 2:56 pm

  I have been a long time BMW fan (2 decades) and have recently picked up my new Lexus Hybrid. First off, I was very impressed with the Lexus service - from basic research, answering my questions, responsiveness, comfortable not overly aggressive sales people. The new hybrid drives very smooth, quiet and I love the interior design. I have much more room, storage space than the BMW 325i. The gas mileage has been great so far. Im happy to have chosen the Lexus over the other hybrids (like the Altima).

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  The smart ride - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By mark chase - November 13 - 4:33 am

  This car has a look, styling and feel of a real machine. The driver has everything in perfect position for ease of use. You really have a luxury ride in a sporty car. The seats are extremely comfortable as your body is wrapped inside. The car corners well and excellerates smoothly as use reach high speeds. I like riding it each day. It feels great.

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  Great sports sedan value - 2005 Lexus IS 300
  By deanedell - November 12 - 7:16 am

  If you are looking for a well-rounded sports sedan, the IS300 should definitely be in your consideration. The 2JZ-GE I6 is one smooth engine mated with a transmission with barely perceptible shifts. Excellent handling and brakes that stop RIGHT NOW. High quality interior materials and world- class fit and finish worthy of the Lexus name.

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  The Best on the Road - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Steven Muchnick - November 10 - 8:50 pm

  This vehicle is unsurpassed in performance and handling, style and luxery. Enough said!

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  A Great Replacement - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By astro403 - November 10 - 10:13 am

  Decided it was time to upgrade from my 1999 Honda Prelude but was a little skeptical at first. I loved that car. Great handling, good power, unbelieveable reliability, the list goes on. After I bought the IS, all my skepticism was put to rest. Love the handling (although I had to get used to RWD again) performance, sexy styling and yes, even gas mileage. My IS gets about the same as my prelude. And were talking about a 3.0L V6 compared to a 2.2L 4 banger. I was impressed. Traction is OK in the snow. Living up in Canada you need winter tires, but even with them and with both trac. control and snow mode on, the wheels still slip quite easily, but if you pay attention like you should, youll be fine.

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  Cant ask for more! - 2007 Lexus SC 430
  By Abe - November 9 - 9:06 pm

  Traded in my RX300 with this SC430 new in 2007. Three years & 34,000 miles later, I have not had any problems with this car. Black Sapphire exterior and Camel leather interior turns head anywhere I go. Had to change the tires at the 26000-mile mark. With depreciation and maintenance be ready to have a $1000 a month expense on this car. Its worth every dime!

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  Wind noise problem - 2007 Lexus LS 460
  By SAM - November 9 - 7:33 pm

  Purchased car in September 2007. Test drove BMW 750i and decided to buy LS 460 due to reliability track record. The car is a great improvement over LS 430 in most categories. The interior design is more sporty and not just for older crowd. Exterior design is sporty but blends in with smaller Lexus sedans too easily. The seats are not very supportive in hard turns but comfortable. Rear seats with power recline and ventilation are very comfortable. The suspension is far better then previous LS 430. One major flaw is wind noise from both front windows. Just like every one else waiting for dealer to get parts as per Lexus bulletin. I seriously hope that this will fix the noise issue.

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  The Land Cruiser of a King - 2009 Lexus LX 570
  By LXplorer57 - November 9 - 2:50 am

  This vehicle is the 4th LX we have purchased. Following in the traditions of our LX 450 and two LX 470s, the LX 570 continues Lexus trend of building quality vehicles that will endure the abuse of winters in Upstate New York, while also continuing to perform at a high level. The ride quality is excellent, with active height control and driver-controlled suspension. The Adaptive Front Lighting System finally makes its appearance on the flagship Lexus SUV, which makes navigating the winding roads of the Adirondacks that much easier in darkness. The styling is reminiscent of the LS 460, carefully lifted and placed upon an LX chassis. You will not be disappointed with this vehicle.

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  Great Value - 2008 Lexus RX 350
  By Quality Ride - November 6 - 5:03 am

  My RX has 2200 miles on it and I must say I am very pleased. I traded a BMW for the RX. The ride is smooth and the handling is good for an SUV. The RX is so quiet, more quiet than my BMW or my wifes Jaguar! The AWD is great. I drove the BMW X5 and MB M Class, and both were $12-$15K more. The Lexus should prove to be a great value!

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  Fantastic, except for the Navigation - 2008 Lexus ES 350
  By L Cayes - November 4 - 10:03 am

  I replaced a Mercedes E320 for the Lexus ES350. The Lexus is one of the smoothest driving cars I have ever owned. It is quiet, rides and handles great and gets great gas mileage.