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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  Lovin my Lexus - 2016 Lexus NX 200t
  By WBurr - July 8 - 11:10 pm

  Just purchased vehicle and so far love it. Quiet ride and fun to drive. Im really enjoying it.

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  Nice upgrade from previous model. - 2016 Lexus LX 570
  By Steve - July 8 - 11:57 am

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  Like The Lex - 1996 Lexus LS 400
  By zman1996 - July 8 - 10:00 am

  We got this car in 1995. Nothing went wrong until about 80000 miles when a belt simply wore out. It has been a great car. I love its power and the ride is like driving on air. My whole family is jealous of it.

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  Best of the Best - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By pH - July 8 - 12:10 am

  This is a great truck. Love the ride, handling, comfort and looks. Im 62", so I had no problems to fit inside, unlike 4runner or VW Touareg. Highly recommend this vehicle. Much better than Mercedes and BMW. NAV system in not as good as other competitors and voice activated commands doesnt work as it suppose to. Because of the cabin noise from AC or heater it doesnt recognize commands. Overall Im happy with the purchase. There are, of course, a lot of things for improvement, majority of which I listed in the Improvements section. I also would like to see front connectors on the radio to be able to hook up the iPOD/MP3 player.

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  2008 IS F Review - 2008 Lexus IS F
  By LexusISF_Rocks - July 7 - 10:06 am

  I had a 2005 Corvette with the Z51 package, and I loved the torque. However, I had it for 3 years, and I needed a change. Test drove a 2008 BMW M3 with the new 4.0, and it was a dog. I was very disappointed, as I really wanted to get it. It is not designed for folks that like torque. The Lexus has more torque and is much more fun to drive, especially when the 2nd intake opens up, and you can hear it, very nice. It sounded nicer than my Corvette ever did. The fit and finish are 1st class. The 8-speed Direct Shift automatic is a blast. The brakes are Brembos, and are top- notch. Handling matches the Corvette. Road and Track states that it beats the Corvette in a number of areas. Awesome!!

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  Excellent car! Perfect choice for me. - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By waynem - July 7 - 8:13 am

  I recently purchased a certified used 06 hybrid (the first my local dealership had), and I have to say I absolutely love this car! I had been keeping an eye out for a used one. I am really happy with everything so far, especially the mileage. Since mine has been already "broken in", I am averaging 28-29 mpg, granted I do a lot of street driving, so that helps. Everything I loved about my previous RX is here and many things have been improved, so I dont have any real complaints. The only thing that could be improved further is the nav system, in my opinion. Id highly recommend this car.

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  I love my ES300 - 1999 Lexus ES 300
  By Jazzman - July 3 - 10:00 am

  I cant say enough about this car. I love it so much I bought out my lease. I drove the new model and did not like it as much. I have the chrome wheels and dark blue color which I think looks sporty. The coolest thing is that I have never had to take it in for repair. Not once!! I change the oil and thats it. I love smooth silky ride. The sound system is great. The cabin quite. It is very relaxing to drive. The leather seats are very comfortable. The new model drives more "boaty" and lacks the spark. I may hold on to mine for another 5 years. I want to get a new car but cant find anything I like as much.

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  Best car I have ever owned - 1996 Lexus ES 300
  By KPECOD - July 3 - 9:56 am

  I purchased this car in Nov. 99 as a certified used vehicle. The warranty sold me, but it was the comfort and styling that I was really after. I used this car for a sales job driving over 30,000 miles per year, mostly highway. Let me just say that it was an absolute joy getting in this car every day and driving for 6-8 hours! I have had not had to put a penny into it after 175,000 miles, and am sad to say that I have decided it is time to get rid of it. The good news is I have purchased a 2001 ES300, and cant wait to have the same experience!! If you are considering buying a 1996, please believe me when I say you can be confident in the reliability and performance of your "new" used car!!!

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  IS 300 Rating - 2005 Lexus IS 300
  By R. Freudberg - July 3 - 7:16 am

  A beautifully constructed vehicle, fun to drive, great looking and very comfortable for a sports sedan vehicle.

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  Best value - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Mr.S.Schiavo - July 3 - 12:23 am

  I have had this car for about 3 months now. It is well built, very quiet and a real pleasure to drive. Best near luxury car for the price. Quieter than our E-class Mercedes, and about 20 K less.