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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  You get what you pay for - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By sak - September 28 - 7:33 am

  The ride is so smooth it feels like the car is gliding on air. But hit the brake and you will see how well grounded the car is as it stops in a heart beat. Optional packages are great. I have little kids and wouldnt have even considered a car without side airbag. The chrome wheels match perfectly with the door handles and are not too flashy to ruin the conservative/classic style of Lexus. I can not wait until the 2008 model come out. We will be buying hopefully newly designed RX 350.

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  Some features could be better, IMHO - 2007 Lexus RX 350
  By amcar - September 28 - 4:30 am

  The best compared to all other SUVs this size. Ride is great. But some serious features are lacking for somthing this pricey. I use hands free a lot and compraed to BMW and MB, the bluetooth features are at least one generation behind and need upgrading. Cannot dynamically download your cell phones phone book, have to register one contact at a time into the cars phone book which is a security risk, no way to add pause, wait etc to phone numbers. Have to add maintenance schedule manually, no self diagnosis as in other imports.

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  Love it! - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Kathy - September 27 - 11:33 pm

  I love this car! Bought this car last summer after driving an Acura TL. I have always loved the classy look of a Lexus car...I get compliments all the time on my car (its white). Drive is quiet & feels great, have had no mechanical issues at all. The cup holder is my only complaint--its not deep enough and you have to hold on to the cup so it doesnt tip over. Otherwise, LOVE IT!

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  DROWNING NOISE THEY SAY!!!!!!! - 2016 Lexus RX 350
  By NOT HAPPY - September 26 - 10:38 am

  Purchased a 2016 RX 350 March 2016. Love the new look and the new changes that were made to this SUV. This is my 4th RX I have owned. I love the way they look and handle. Except this one has a noise when I excelerate, know mater what speed. It sounds like a vibration coming from underneath like the transmission. Lexus calls it a drowning sound. All I can say is it drives me nuts. Totally unexceptable.Lexus claims there is no fix at this time. Be ware and be sure to test drive at length. Not happy ......

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  Outstanding Vehicle - 2008 Lexus LX 570
  By paul zeck - September 26 - 7:30 am

  Most recent vehicle was 04 LX 470. While this was as dependable and quality of a ride you could ever want, it was lacking in several important ways - most of which were totally worked out with the new LX 570. The 3 greatest improvements go to my pet peeves. 1) More power. The 470 was grossly underpowered and that is a thing of the past. New Tundra power plant & transmission work perfectly. Mindful of the seamless power of SL500 Merc. 2) 4 Zone heating & a/c controls. Old system seemed to have a mind of its own. New design again seems to have "nailed" the problem 3) At 61", 240 the 470 never was completely comfortable. Again new interior design is right on.

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  Definition of Luxury Sedan - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By brtmd - September 25 - 2:00 am

  Was looking for a luxury vehicle for family of 4 and did not want another SUV. Shopped vs. S-class and 7 series. Its all about priorities and the LS430 met mine best: Quality/Reliability, Luxury, Performance, Styling--in that order. The fact that it was $15k to $20k less than the others was an added bonus. I look forward to driving it every day.

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  Great - 2003 Lexus GX 470
  By michael - September 25 - 2:00 am

  This guy is worth the money!

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  Love It - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By HTown - September 25 - 2:00 am

  I recently purchased a RX300 with 50K + miles, but to this day not problems. The comfort is exceptional and it handles really well, with the exception of U-turns the raduis is not that good. All in all I have enjoyed and people are very impressed with its luxurious feel and look.

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  Quality at an affordable price - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By Masked Bandit - September 25 - 2:00 am

  I enjoy this car and am glad I was able to get it. I used to have the 94 ES 300 and I never had any problems with it, so got this car because of my previous experience with it.

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  2002 Lexus ES300 - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By justreviewer - September 24 - 9:30 pm

  It is a comfortable car to drive. Smooth and quiet. No seat warmers. I dont know if that was even offered as an option at the time. It would be better if its performance was as good as its luxury.