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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  Great SUV - Need 7 Passenger Seating - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By AZBuyer - July 22 - 10:00 am

  We love this vehicle from the cutting edge exterior design to the luxurious interior. But how about a stylish crossover SUV for families? Lexus would have the market cornered if they offered this fabulous vehicle with a third row sear. For those without kids, imagine all the extra cargo and passenger room!!!

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  Mcs LS 430 - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By Latrece - July 20 - 8:56 pm

  The most powerful, well equipped luxury vehicle in any class. Our LS is equipped with the sports suspension. The power when I accelerate is unreal. The soft leather heated and cooling seats are the ultimate. It handles like a charm on the road. It is so comfortable that when driving I feel like I will fall asleep. The 18 inch tires grip the road. It makes you feel like you are flying on land. When riding as a passenger, I feel like I am flying in first class on a 757.

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  Lexus RX 330 - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Richard Sears - July 19 - 5:10 pm

  I had one mechanical problem at 6,000 miles -- ABS failure. Dealer repaired it under warranty and provided me with a loaner. The vehicle performs well and no other problems -- 11,800 miles now. The car handles well and I like the workmanship -- excellent both interior and exterior. Transmission shifts very smoothly except from 1st to 2nd gear. This should be corrected in future models. The gears are easy to shift manually. It is fun to drive. Dealership is the BEST! I would prefer the wood grain interior around the dash rather than the chrome metal.

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  Rock Solid - 2003 Lexus GX 470
  By Fathom - July 19 - 2:00 am

  Ive only had the vehicle one week but love it already. Build quality beyond excellent. Small features like lighted door handles (inside) everywhere are a great touch. Nav and integrated electronics very very good.

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  comfort and quality - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By mroberts - July 19 - 2:00 am

  Overall this is an excellent vehicle for someone who doesnt go off-road but wants a less than full size sport wagon. It rides very well, shows excellent construction and has a super dealer network that treats you like royalty. The only negatives I have found are the short turning radius, more wind noise than I expected in a Lexus when on the highway and the plastic interior moulding/trim that is prone to scratches.

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  Cant miss luxury - 2000 Lexus RX 300
  By rob - July 18 - 12:56 pm

  Purchased 2000 RX 300 on 08/04. This vehicle is everything you could want in a entry level luxury SUV. I agree that the RPMs seem high (3000 @ 70 mph), hopefully this will be addressed in future. Nice styling and Toyotas famous reliability make this a great choice. If they make enough RX 400hs in the next few years, I definitely would buy another Lexus.

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  Why buy a 2006 Lexus GX470 - 2006 Lexus GX 470
  By Mike G - July 18 - 12:54 pm

  At the time, it was ahead of most vehicles in technology. Comparing it, today, follow this assessment: The rearview camera is something we would no longer do without! At the time, blind spot was not available, nor was cross-over. Toyota is NOT the king of technology in my opinion--but, the technology that was installed still works and has been without problems. The interior, except for wear on the driver floor mat, has held up extremely well. A good cleaning is all that will be required to look like it is brand new. The exterior of our car needs some repair--as in 2 areas of less than 2 square inches that need retouching, and a good rubbing compound prior to waxing--I think it would be considered excellent. It is almost impossible to own an auto for 10 years, drive it 90,000 miles and not have a few dents and dings--but, they are minor, and NOT the fault of Lexus. As for service, we value Kuni Lexus in Denver as the best dealership we have used. Expense? Well, maybe they are expensive--but, we never had any work done on our GX470 only to find that some "new problem" was immediately discovered--and, when I insisted on new tires (Kuni told me we still had 5,000 miles left on the old ones), they met the price of Costco......! Furthermore, the tires lasted 80,000 miles--unheard of in my experience! Same with the brakes--I practically begged Kuni to put brakes on--they lasted well beyond our expectations! But, had not been driving a Lexus prior to this one. Overall, 10 years with almost no major expense--the transmission didnt go bad, the engine didnt go bad, the electronics still work (including the heated seats, the stereo system.........nothing has gone bad on us! My only disappointment is mileage and the requirement for premium fuel. But.....15 to 16 mpg is not horrible, and it is a big vehicle.

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  Loooooooove!!! - 2016 Lexus GX 460
  By Lexus fan! - July 18 - 5:29 am

  Just traded in my 2013 RX for the 2016 GX, which is what I should have gotten in the first place instead of the RX. Cant say enough about how much I love it. Great ride -- feels much more substantial than the RX (although the RX was great), and has all the features I need. Yes, the new remodeled RXs definitely have more bells and whistles but the GX is fantastic!

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  Satisfied - but..... - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Rick - July 16 - 2:10 pm

  Purchased the Ultimate Luxury Package - even though packed with features the car remains intuitive to operate and is VERY easy to drive - performance better than anticipated but performance is not a reason to purchase. The quality is excellent - used for commuting. Cant get over the quality. Only one nagging issue - I am 62" and am VERY close to the roof panels, even though I purchased the panoramic roof for the extra clearance - drivers over 61" beware and make sure that you are comfortable with the head room - vision at stop lights can be limited.

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  A third Lexus for me - 2016 Lexus RX 350
  By Salim - July 16 - 8:10 am

  This is the third Lexus I owned. I bought my first in 2000 and traded in on a 2006 RX 400H. I have very happy with the vehicle for 10 years but finally I stepped into the 2016 RX and bought on the spot. The technology is amazing, the comfort is outstanding. I expect the reliability to be great too having had the experience of owning two other Lexus vehicles. Even my wife loves the car and says a lot to me. I have owned the vehicle for almost one month and I have zero complaints.