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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  Love this SUV - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By george - March 6 - 2:36 am

  Not the quietest or most powerful vehicle I have owned, but the overall package is great.

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  Nice car - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By slotmaker - March 4 - 10:00 am

  Great car with smooth inline 6, as smooth as a Honda or a BMW. Edgeier looks for a younger audience.

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  Your only decision will be which color. - 2006 Lexus SC 430
  By SCsc430 - March 4 - 12:43 am

  This is my first Lexus, and driving the SC 430 goes well beyond my most extreme expectations. It has the silkiest shifting transmission I have ever experienced on a car, and the ride is like floating on air. Ultra-comfortable front seats, and plenty of power help to complement the other features of this car. Test one, and compare it to the other cars in this segment. Your only choice will be which color combination to get.

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  Tough choice but happy with the GX - 2009 Lexus GX 470
  By TxLexus - March 3 - 11:53 pm

  We had a tough time deciding between this and the ML. In the end, Lexus reliability and interior finish were what sold us. For the money the interior of the Lexus felt more polished (totally a personal choice here) than the M. Although the GX does have a tape deck, which definitely is dated! Seats are comfortable and layout of dash made sense. Also, the crossover drive feel of the ML, RX and MDX was unappealing to us. The GX works well for male & female but the Xovers felt very girly. After 2 months of use we really are pleased with it. Ride is comfortable around town as well as freeway, fuel economy as with others in this class is OK. Fits 2 car seats easily.

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  beautiful design - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By Steve_E - March 2 - 10:00 am

  Purchased the car used with low mileage, Lexus fixed most of little problems related to its being previously leased. I hope Lexus does not change the wonderful aerodynamic design in favor of current trendy boxy industrial look (no fake aluminum trim!) The front seats cushion can be a bit longer to accomodate tall folks, a solid center armrest/console would be a good replacement for the flip-down armrests. Acceleration is great for an SUV. Its not a "real" off-roader, so stay on paved roads.

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  Best I have ever driven - 2006 Lexus ES 330
  By stan - March 1 - 7:03 am

  Have owned this car since it was new and have over 60000 miles on it. It still handles and drives like a new car. Only problem encountered was a caution lite re: front seat came on and Lexus replaced the whole front seat. Not one other rattle, part problem or issue. Simply the best car we have ever owned.

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  Almost Perfect - 2002 Lexus SC 430
  By Jeff - March 1 - 2:53 am

  Love this car. Fast, fun top up or down. Quiet. Bulletproof. Love the exotic wood look of the birds eye maple. Wish I could add about 100 more horsepower just for fun but then that would be a 911S, wouldnt it? Seriously if you are considering an SC430, its a great 2 seater with a lot of package room. (Dont think of the rear seats as seats, they are simply insurance lowering devices). The Mark Levinson sound system is the best Ive heard in a car. Get rid of the run-flats and put Michelin performance tires on for less road noise. The best compliment that I can give this car is that my next car may be a newer one with 6-speed automatic and satellite radio.

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  Problems - 2006 Lexus RX 330
  By retired - February 28 - 10:40 am

  15 mos in service. At 25k miles, a/c clutch and hub replaced, power steering unit replaced, steering shaft "U" bolt replaced (to stop grinding sound), with tires rotated and checked for wear the Goodyears became noisy @ 25k miles and wore unevenly, tire rep said they usually give 25-27k miles service! Replacements are expensive as "performance" tires are mandatory. New Michelins are doing just fine. Numerous rattles were finally fixed after many miles of aggravation. Key areas failed not the "toys". Limited number of dealerships is a minus.

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  Still the best on the road! - 2011 Lexus GX 460
  By ccdcn - February 27 - 10:53 am

  we traded in our 2009 470 for the 2011 460 and have had it for over 1 year. It still performs and rides as it did the day we drove it off the showroom. Quiet, smooth acceleration, a 500 mile trip is just a smooth ride - no back ache or sore muscles. I have owned a 4 runner and anyone who compares that to a 460 doesnt know what they are talking about. Great vehicle highly recommend it -

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  A home run for "green" vehicles - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Darryl - February 26 - 2:50 pm

  In my first month of ownership I have not found anything that I dislike, and for me thats unusual! The vehicle is a joy to drive and a real attention- getter. I was somewhat skeptical at first about the CVT as I expected it to be sluggish and ungainly, but after just a few miles I completely forgot that it wasnt a 4- or 5-speed automatic. I really like the fact that I can monitor fuel economy while driving and adjust my driving habits to maximize it. As far as Im concerned, Lexus hit a real home run with this one, and it was well worth the 8 month wait from the time I originally ordered it.