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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  A good SUV - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By surface - March 27 - 10:00 am

  I have driven this vehicle for a year and half. Generally Im satisfied with its performance.

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  Love my Lexus - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Jason B. kane - March 27 - 9:00 am

  I just finished a trip to and from Canada of about 1600 miles. Most of the driving was on good roads in hilly and mountainous country. On regular gas I averaged almost 35 mpg at an average speed of 67 mph. The cars mileage calculator said 34.7 mpg. My calculator said 37.9 mpg. The ES 350 is not a formula one car but it is supremely comfortable, handles well for a sedan and has sufficient power to do what needs to be done.

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  LS 430 - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By Jeff Centers - March 27 - 4:43 am

  I just traded an S55 AMG in for this Lexus. There are many pros and cons to this car but it could definitely use more horsepower, more high speed capabilities, and features geared to the driver and front passenger rather than just to the rear passengers. Really how many of us have a chauffeur. I do enjoy driving the car but admit I was a bit spoiled by my German auto performance and its being geared to make driving fun for the driver.

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  Best buy for the money - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By ira c - March 27 - 1:16 am

  Got 33 mpg on highway driving, 18 mpg in city. Very comfortable. GPS is helpful but difficult to first use. Park assist is an excellent option. Quiet and responsive. So far, after 4 months, not one complaint. Car is "bullet proof". blue tooth instructions are not useful. Had to have dealer program the phone.

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  The 2nd Lexus .... - 1999 Lexus LS 400
  By steve397 - March 26 - 6:56 am

  This is my second Lexus. First was a 2001 ES 300 and I still think it is an excellent vehicle. But the 400 is truly the embodiment of comfort. At 63, fun driving is being able to drive for 6 hours to the mountains and arrive relaxed and able to enjoy the football game; Or drive to the formal New Years Eve gala in comfort and style. The gas mileage is excellent, 29.5 on the highway trips (I use the ES300 around town). The back seat is so relaxing, our guests usually fall asleep on the trip. The CD/stereo is very fine. Terrific car.

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  Lexus IS300 - 2001 Lexus IS 300
  By Dianna - March 23 - 9:20 am

  I love the way it drives. It handles great and can accelerate quickly. The E-Shift makes it really fun to drive on the highway.

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  RX 300 poor long term investment - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By mikeb - March 22 - 4:13 am

  A nice car for the missus - she loves it, size and drivability (except for the horrendous small turning circle) - Lexus reliability on this vehicle is a myth - the same things go wrong every two years - there is nothing worse than intermittent problems that leave you stranded!

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  We love our 2005 Lexus GX 470 - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By Richard Lim - March 21 - 7:00 pm

  Weve owned the Lexus GX 470 for a month now and find the vehicle to be an excellent SUV which drives smoothly like our Lexus sedan. There is ample interior space to confortably accomadate 5 adults, the 3rd row seat is only useful for small children. We took out the 3rd row seats so we could have more trunk space. Standard equipment includes unique features such as moisture activated windshield wipers, sensors monitoring tire air pressure on all 4 tires plus the spare, and ability to adjust the rear height of the vehicle. Both interior and exterior finish are typical high quality Lexus workmanship. The vehicles safety features includes curtain airbags protecting passengers from side impact

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  carefree top-down - 2003 Lexus SC 430
  By flatfoot - March 21 - 10:00 am

  Purchased this vehicle after test driving the Jaguar XKR. Not as fast as the Jag, but blew it away in the comfort, value,and ergonomics dept.The peace of mind of the hardtop and the serenity when the top is helped my decision.

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  sc430 review - 2004 Lexus SC 430
  By jportala - March 21 - 10:00 am

  What a driving experience! Smooth, high performance and comfort all in one. Great looking interior and exterior design.