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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  The Best - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By cougarmt - June 9 - 2:00 am

  Best car I have ever owned. Well worth the money

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  Attention Grabber - 2014 Lexus CT 200H
  By John Sholty - June 8 - 7:29 pm

  Bought this car at end of 2014 inventory year and at True Car "Good Price" recommendation. This car is and F Sport Premium trim level but now, 6.5 months into 2016 Private party resale is a measly $24,000.00. That is almost $23,000 off our purchase price. NOT HAPPY!! Aside from that, this car is a great city car and very good road trip car. Turning radius is so good that I can almost turn around on a two lane road. Lots of room in the garage too. Acceleration is poor but adequate and we have averaged almost 43 mpg over our 27,000 miles. Not bad. Cargo space even with the back seats folded flat is not adequate for road trips but we managed two trips to Florida jammed tightly with two Shi Tzus and luggage in spite of that. Difficult. Car gets lots of compliments, most often from some kid on a skate board but just the same. I can almost wash the entire roof from one side because the car is so low but it gets lost easily in the parking lot because it can hide behind something as small as a Volkswagen Rabbit. We have learned to make sure to remember what row it is parked in. Except for anticipating taking a beating when selling or trading, we give the car a "B" mostly for good looks and economy.

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  RX 300 - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By Disappointed - June 7 - 6:56 pm

  Paid cash for this beautiful car in the summer 2.5 years ago. I have since put so much money into repairs that I dont know what to do. Ive put less than 12,000 miles on it in 2.5 years and spent thousands. First - O2 sensors (TWO) at once, then electrical, which NO one but Lexus will touch and will probably run me thousands at 90 an hour. I suddenly had no control over heat, radio, - anything on the console. Now, as of today it is parked because of yet another problem. Seems like horrible mix of gas - O2 sensors again??? I cant even limp it to the dealer this time. Second owner. Now I know why he got rid of it.

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  Best in class - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Tukkus - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Im 36 and not small by any means. I thought the IS300 was for younger folk. Then I went for a test drive. Its lagrer inside than the Volvo, BMW, and Audi. Its also funner, faster and a blast to drive. The sound system is is better than my home theater system. I have had the car for over a month now and have zero complaints. I live in a area with too much traffic, and the IS300 lets me zip through it when I can. Its also nice when you can blow past a Mustang GT, and get better miledge while doing it.

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  chrono - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By graphite - June 7 - 10:00 am

  This car is really sporty looking but it fails to deliver in terms of straight line speed. Even when I floor it, it seems to hesitate. An increase in torque would be called for.

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  IS 300 - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By leadfoot - June 7 - 10:00 am

  This car is an awesome thing to drive...havent had this much fun for a while. Although I genuinely cannot stand the material used for the interior, I think the performance more than made up for it. More linear acceleration would be nice though.

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  RX 330 - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Pittsburgh George - June 7 - 3:13 am

  This is the most over rated vehicle in America. Soft ride with poor road feel, underpowered, overpriced. Seats too soft. Cargo space limited. Not worth high 40s with all the toys. Cost of operation not that cheap as oil change and tire rotation is $125 every 5000 miles.

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  Fine Product - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By Don - June 5 - 6:26 pm

  We purchased the 2010 RX350 as a replacement for a Volvo XC Wagon, which was a maintenance disaster. Weve had one previous Lexus. I concur with many who state they dont understand the negative comments. There is little I find fault with in this vehicle. The seats are firm, comfortable on long rides, and cooled. The handling is solid, with excellent steering response. Quality throughout exceeded what I noticed in BMW and Acura SUVs. As for gas mileage, given engine size and performance, Im pleased, averaging 22.5 after 10,000 miles. We did not opt for the nav system, as I couldnt justify the added cost over a plug-in GPS.

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  Great car, but not very sporty - 2001 Lexus ES 300
  By The Rupp - June 3 - 3:13 pm

  I bought this car July 04 with 37,000 miles on it, and it was perfect. Almost a full year later, I havent had one problem with it at all. Great winter car, too. Gas mileage is great on it as well, Im getting about 21-23 mpg per tank (consistantly) and I dont use the highway very often. This car is PURE luxury. Its not sporty at all. If youre looking for something sporty, try the IS300 or the GS.

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  Third Lexus LX470 - 2004 Lexus LX 470
  By DentalVet - June 2 - 2:00 am

  This is my third LX470, and it is fantastic. The ride is incredibly smooth and quiet, and the radio is exceptional. The NAV system is great.