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 looker, ugh entertainment/navigation control - 2016 Lexus NX 200t
  By D.Coty - February 10 - 7:58 am

  I had done my homework, so I knew quite about this car/SUV. Every review mentioned than the navigation controls were... horrible. Well, yes they are. The silly touchpad just doesnt work in a car, its not intuitive and certainly almost impossible to use while driving, thankfully I can enroll the kids or my wife for the chore. The rest of the vehicle is a dream. The Mica Blue is attractive in almost any light, and the headlights are visually beautiful and work great. The car does look a bit "chunky" from the sides, but otherwise a nice looking car. The interior is roomy front and back, and the cargo area is tight but adequate. Lesux, please fix.... replace the touchpad and you have a winning car.

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  disappointing fuel economy - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Danette - January 30 - 8:50 am

  Im averaging 20 mpg for city driving, NOT the 31 mpg advertised by Lexus. Im very disappointed in the fuel economy. The car is great to drive and has the Lexus luxury feel, but for $10,000 less I could have the same qualities with an RX330.

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  Poor manufacturing quality control - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Carrol - January 28 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned the RX-330 for 6 months. Of that time, it has spent over one month in the shop while the dealer tried to figure out some of the problems. There were two sqeak/rattles, one on a front strut and one on the rear hatchback door. Then there is the very noisy wind sound from the area of the drivers side window. The Lexus dealer has tried replacing almost everything associated with the drivers side window and side mirror, all to little avail. They now say that the noise is associated with the side mirror. My Toyota Tundra has a larger side mirror, and it is quiet. The quality control is not up to Lexus standards!

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  My new Lexus RX 350 - 2009 Lexus RX 350
  By cheryl - January 23 - 7:36 pm

  I have had my Lexus for three days. I am still wondering if it is the right vehicle for me. It is a better fit for my smaller size. Its easy to drive. My escalade was way to big. I love thr shape. The interior could use an upgrade.

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  Great Car But Beware of GPS - 2007 Lexus LS 460
  By jpm - January 15 - 6:20 am

  I love the car, which overall is bulletproof in terms of reliability. The GPS system, however, is as non-intuitive as you could get without showing instructions in a foreign language, and the directions are terrible, taking you on all sorts of wild goose chases. My wifes GX 470 has the same problems. Why Lexus cannot come up with a decent GPS system is beyond comprehension.

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  The Best Gets Better - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By S, Lee - January 10 - 11:40 am

  This is my 4th Lexus ES and it is head and shoulders above the previous models. Tremendous value for the money with impecable quality. Quiet, with more power (thank you) and, finally, no more clunky hesitant transmission problems. This is a driver friendly vehicle, whose intent is to transport you safely, quietly and luxuriously. I have always thought of the ES as a vehicle that has great potential. Lexus has taken the ES to another level and its not over yet.

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  Poor experience of 2005 LS 430 - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By Kim - January 9 - 11:30 pm

  The automatic heating system and heated seats take long time to warm up. When the vent is closed, you suffocate. Very rigid suspension, You feel every bump on the road. My Lexus has a mind of its own. It accelerates and brakes with its own mind. Service department said both brake and engine control by a computer. The computer has a mild delay which is normal according to the mechanics.

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  Transmission problem with 1999 ES300 - 1999 Lexus ES 300
  By spcinca - January 3 - 7:40 pm

  My 1999 ES 300 has 67000 miles on it and I am told I need a new transmission and knock sensors. ABS off and check engine light pop on. It sporadically will not downshift at higher speed. At 60mph rpms will be close to 4000. I have done trans fluid exchanges, replaced valves, seals and air intake hoses. Lexus says they will not cover any repair because it falls out of their warranty. Every mechanic that has looked at it claims it is ridiculous for me to need a new trans with this low of miles and the great condition the car is in.

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  Couple Minor Annoyances - 2010 Lexus ES 350
  By Andrie Chen - December 31 - 10:00 am

  The car performs great; however, it cant link to my cellular phone which is up-to-date and has blue-tooth capability. Lexus website informs me that my cellular is not compatible with their system. No matter how hard I tried, I cant link the garage door opener to my garage door opener which has the rolling code. I did exactly the same thing for my cadillac and it worked beautifully.

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  Remote start is almost useless - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By Don Skaggs - December 11 - 10:33 pm

  The remote start on my 2010 RX is poorly designed as the engine stops when the door is opened and you have to restart the engine which for all practical purposes defeats the usefulness of the remote start.