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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  Reliable but just ok - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Scott - September 17 - 8:53 pm

  I owned an ES 300 from the mid 90s and loved it. I have owned an ES 350 for 6 months and am less excited about it. The seats are uncomfortable and it feels very small for a person who is over six feet tall. Having said this, I think it will be a very reliable car, because I do believe Lexus is all about quality.

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  My 2005 ES 330 - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By wej2 - September 12 - 8:16 am

  A very boring driving vehicle. Transmission hesitates a lot. The tranny cant always get the right gear selected.

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  Boring SUV - 2003 Lexus GX 470
  By BORING - September 10 - 11:46 pm

  Very boring SUV. Its quiet and smooth and reliable but not for people who like to drive. And its good offroad! And without KDSS (additional option) the truck isnt very stable. And to top it off it loses a lot of market value.

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  Is300 - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Big Blur - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my IS300 for about a year. There seems to be a problem with steering the car on wet roads and uneven surfices. In fact at times Im even afraid t drive it. Also you cn smell the exhust of the car in front of you while waiting at lights.I dont recommend th car to new drivers. Good luck

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  Great Expectations - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By doc - July 15 - 6:20 am

  I waited 20 months after researching most all of the major automotive periodicals and was misled. Lexus has delivered a dud. I was told that my fuel cosumption would be in the range of 38 mpg in town and 32 mpg on the hyway. Then about 4 mo.s before delivery they changed 32 in town and 29 on the hyway with an average of 30+. When I returned the vehicle to be examined because of the mileage situation the dealership told me to wait till the vehicle has 10k miles and it should get better. Well at 5k my overall average is a disappointing 24 mpg. Plus a week after purchase the wind screen fractured with out being struck by anything and was not repaired until I threatened legal action. Bad buy!

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  Disappointed! - 2016 Lexus RX 350
  By Bobby - July 7 - 11:56 am

  Poor infotainment system, poor acceleration, very poor steering and you cannot lock the doors and disable the alarm together, thereby making it impossible to leave my dog in the car without fear of theft. Nice luxury , though the seats are a little hard.

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  Overpriced Toyota - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By A. Bata - July 1 - 6:13 pm

  Traded in 01 Merc E class. The Lexus rides very smoothly but understeers severely and feels boaty on curves. The ruby red paint quality is pitiful with the slightest impact even with such items as cardboard or plastic scratching the paint surface. The car was supposed to be a Lexus CPO but came with several problems including warped front brake rotors, dead batteries in key fob, floor board shimmy, unbalanced wheels and paint colored wax covering prior owners scratches which washed off during the first car wash. CPO may only be worth the warranty, the rest is a gimmick.

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  Ok Car - 2007 Lexus RX 350
  By Russell - June 23 - 11:50 pm

  What can I say, its a Lexus. Coming from my fingers, thats not a compliment. Im not the primary driver, but when I do I can find nothing but criticism for it. I myself am a BMW person. Id certainly rather drive my 1998 528i than this "station wagon." The suspension is horrible, there is no feel for the road -- it is very neutral and muted. Same thing for the steering wheel it is very soft with no feel whatsoever.

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  Not impressed - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By not impressed - June 22 - 7:26 pm

  Bought new in 04, hated it so traded my mom for her Audi, shes got 49K on it now and likes it. The car doesnt have the driver/road connection like my Audi or Saab and doesnt feel expensive like other Lexus cars. Around town speed is good but above 60 mph has no power. Original suspension had so-so handling & comfort. Suspension was replaced 3X by dealer bc it kept squeaking, now has K&N suspension & handles & rides better. Other then that no problems, not even brakes. Interior materials & design are cheap. MPG is pathetic. Auto trans is overeager to upshift into 2nd gear which dulls acceleration unless you stay heavy on the throttle- which eats more gas. Manual mode is worthless.

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  Luxurious but Dissapointing - 2015 Lexus RX 350
  By Cynthia - June 20 - 1:48 pm

  I had a RX 300 and then a RX 350, 2009, both of which I loved. They drove like a car and felt like a car, but had the extra room of an SUV. A true crossover car. However, this car is bigger and feels like youre driving a boat. It drives like a large SUV, which I did not want. I cant even see over the hood very well and the seats are up as far as they can go, so now, I have an extra seat cushion. So much for the heated and air conditioned seats. The 2009 was much more comfortable. I really miss the arm rest in the 2009. I make a shake in the morning and now, the cup holders are even smaller!!! I know this is a little thing, but it only holds a water bottle, not my shaker bottle! Why? Why, Lexus, would you make this change? Very inconvenient. The navigation is really slow and painful to use, and does not respond well to voice activation. I also miss the 6 CD changer. The mouse pad is difficult to use, especially when you are driving. Also, there are no guide lines with the back up camera. My husbands new Jeep Cherokee has them, but the Lexus doesnt??? Bottom line, it feels like a full size SUV and the 2016s are even bigger. I wont buy another one of these. They had a wonderful car with the RX 300. I wish I had another one. Lexus pretty much ruined the RX 350 now. Its a shame. And the new 2016s are pretty ugly with that front end grill they have. It doesnt even look safe. Lexus, what are you thinking????