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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  Im in love with my ES 350 - 2008 Lexus ES 350
  By car guy - April 30 - 6:00 pm

  Had the car for four weeks and still so very excited about it. Really look forward to driving it!! Just a pleasure to drive and operate all its features. This car really coddles its driver and passengers. It feels like its worth every penny of the price when you are behind the wheel. Takes curves and corners surprisingly well! Cant say enough good things about it!!

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  is 300 l-tuned - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By richie - April 29 - 10:33 am

  i fell in love with my silver is300 the moment i saw it.the l-tuned package to me makes all the difference in the appearance of the car.great fun to drive,ample power,excellent build quality.

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  Comfortable ride - 2010 Lexus HS 250H
  By Rosebud - April 27 - 6:16 pm

  This is my third Lexus. Went from 2007 ES 350 to this one. Power feels virtually the same, even though this is a four cylinder. Nav screen is larger and use of mouse if much easier - touch screen not necessary. Blue tooth for phone very clear. Nav. traffic is nice feature. Mileage over 32 for first tank with mostly city driving. Exterior looks nicer in reality than in the ads.

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  Best car - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By Henry Walsh - April 26 - 10:23 pm

  The LS was simply amazing and the best car I have ever owned in my life. It gave me 0 problems over 4 years.

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  The perfect car for me - 2008 Lexus IS F
  By caymandiver75 - April 25 - 12:02 pm

  Ive owned this car now for 2.5 years and have put 20k miles on it. The car has performed flawlessly requiring no unscheduled maintenance to be done.

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  My 2000 RX 300 Lexus - 2000 Lexus RX 300
  By gloraus - April 25 - 2:00 am

  Wonderful ride and quietness. The service has been fine. Ive had the car for almost 3 years, and have had zero problems.

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  The Japanese Zen experience - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By - April 25 - 2:00 am

  When the salesman asked my wife how we liked our new ES300 I described it as a Zen experience. We both recommend getting the Mark Levinson sound system. It is so clear that the music permeates your brain and transforms the driving experience. Note: replace the original software with at least rev 3 to correct the transmission shift delay/stutter problems and completely transform the driving experience to a powerful utterly smooth, truly luxurious sensation.

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  Great Ride - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Dick - April 23 - 1:53 am

  I just got my 400h..It is awesome. The performance is wondeful. Fast off the start and kind on the fuel. 27.3 mpg on my first tank. It seems funny at first when the engine shuts down at a stop light, but no loss when it turns green. The integration of the powertain and the smooth ride are wonderful. Lexus has hit this one out of the park....I love it......

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  A Great Little Car - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Ace is300 - April 22 - 8:43 pm

  Ive had my IS for over 15 months and I cant even believe how drama-free and worry-free its been. Its a sweet heart of a car. I love this car. Its got great handling, good acceleration (Ive got the rare 5 spd/man.), awesome color (Solar Yellow), and adequate luxury (Nav.syster,heated seats, full leather, 6 disc cd). But its the fun factor that keeps me smiling.

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  Cloud 9 On Wheels - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Douglas - April 22 - 5:10 pm

  Luxurious performance was my goal in purchasing a new car and the 2006 GS300 had the best blend of luxury and power for my taste. This car has exquisite fit and finish inside the cabin (quietest car Ive ever driven) with performance thats comparable to a BMW 5 series (though less sporty around the curves than the BMW). The base stereo system is fantastic. The leather is much softer than a BMW. If youre looking for a smooth, elegant, but powerful car, this is the one to buy. Its possible to get most of the extras and still pay less than the base model MSRP.