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:

• 

  Wow!!! es300 rocks! - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By my1st lexus - September 12 - 10:00 am

  I bought my ES300 against my wifes objection. We have always been Benz fan and my last car was S320. Let me tell you my friends, this car actually runs smoother and quieter that my last benz. Fits and finishes are first class and Valencia Lexus service is better than any dealership Ive ever been. To be honest, I am disappointed with the declining quality and service of Mercedes benz. even my wife is thinking of getting RX330 when it comes out next year.

• 

  No Complaints - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Sidster - September 9 - 3:50 pm

  The car is a very smooth ride. Great mileage for a its engine size. Avg 21.7 mpg overall, but its mostly driven on roads. Freeway I typically get 30.2 mpg.

• 

  Luxury Utility Vehicle - 2001 Lexus RX 300
  By PGLUVSLEXUS - September 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 2001 RX300 in May 2004. So far, I LOVE IT! Absolutely smooth ride and handling. You also get a great view of the road. The Lexus dealer in Rockville Centre, NY, serviced my car wonderfully. They defined all the needs of the car, and handled them, detailing every step to me.

• 

  Top Notch - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By Matt3416 - September 8 - 10:00 am

  Just picked up my 04 GX 470. All I have to say is WOW!!! I am thoroughly impressed with Lexuss design. Not only does this vehicle drive like a dream, it has every interior gadget you can think of. I test drove the BMW X5, Cadillac SRX, & Escalade. Let me tell you they dont even compare. Lexus set the bar with this design!!!

• 

  practical with luxury - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By latte4me - September 8 - 10:00 am

  Looking for a reliable car thats practical and comfortable? This is it. Add a top-notch dealer experience and youll never want to buy another car.

• 

  Making an old trip New. - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Herman Goldberg - September 8 - 4:43 am

  When I purchased the first 4wd Sedan in Florida every one said I was wasting my money. On the trip back to New York we hit a hail storm outside Tallahassee. Trucks had overturned but the little Lexus held the road like there were magnets in the tires. It truly exceeded my expectations. Quieter and peppier than expected for a 6 cylinder. It got on the Turnpike and passed trucks with ease. No complaints on performance or dealer contact (the best in my 50 years of driving luxury cars). On the down side the trunk is too small for all the luggage my wife and I take on a vacation, the fold down auxillary access to controls cannot be used when driving and the GPS sometimes gives bizarre directions.

• 

  2006 GX 470 - 2006 Lexus GX 470
  By Mark - September 7 - 10:46 pm

  I moved from GM to Lexus for reliability reasons and have no regrets. I will probably never buy an American made vehicle again. I did have an issue with the driveshaft but the dealer installed a new one for free since the vehicle was still under warranty. This vehicle would be perfect if it had about another 2 feet added to the rear cargo area (similar to the Suburban or Yukon XL). The power delivered from the 4.7 is superb. Interior styling and finish is nothing less than what you would expect from Lexus. For the price, look real hard at this vehicle if youre in the market for this size of vehicle. Im not sure if any other automaker can top this one! Looking forward to moving up to a LX.

• 

  Bought 2000 GS in 2010! - 2000 Lexus GS 300
  By boinz - September 7 - 8:30 pm

  I have never bought a 10 year old car before. But it was roomy for my 63" frame and 275 lbs! I found a 1 owner Car Fax certified model with 94,000 miles. Beside routine maintenance, I had work down on memory front seat and upper and lower control arms in the front. I have not regretted buying it.

• 

  1995 LS 400 - 1995 Lexus LS 400
  By Motoboarder69 - September 6 - 2:00 am

  We purchased this vehicle from our car lot in Eugene Oregon in 1997. Since then all we have replaced on it was tires, spark plugs, battery, antenna, and the wipers. All are normal things that wear out on cars. I love this car, I just got my permit about 2 months ago, and almost all of my driving time since then has been in the vehicle, the other time was spent in our brand new 2003 F-250. This car handles great, it accelerates excellently, and is very roomy. It the most dependable car we have ever owned and we have owned A LOT of cars. I hope that in March when I turn 16 I will get this car or a Toyota Tacoma.

• 

  High Point of My Day - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By Attorney - September 6 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car I have ever driven. The car handles extremely well in city or high speed driving. The only problem that I have experienced is premature tire wear. The tires are bald at 15,000 miles.