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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  I LOVE MY IS3 - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By SXE-10 - February 13 - 10:00 am

  Not only the IS300 is fun to drive but Lexus Customer Service is one of the best!

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  Buy something else. - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Sade - February 13 - 10:00 am

  Look, I owned this SUV for two months and all I can say is that I bought my RX330 based on the name of Lexus. Dont make the same mistake. The turns are sloppy and the engine noise is horrific. Rides a little bumpy, maybe due the fact they lowered the clearence.

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  Call me IMPRESSED! - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By elijahp - February 13 - 2:35 am

  Original owner here with over 200,000 very enthusiastically driven miles on my IS300. Still runs and looks great. Only unscheduled maintainence was swapping out all of the O2 sensors at about 120K. Bought Denso universals for about $60 ea and soldered them in myself. Did clutch at 100K with aftermarket parts and saved $$$ vs. OEM parts. Aftermarket clutch and flywheel holding up much longer than original, which started to slip a bit at 90K miles. Lots of great aftermarket support for this popular car due to its great driving dynamics, good looks, and wonderful inline 6 motor. Highly, highly recommended. Great drivers car, especially with the manual trans.

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  Versatility Plus - 2009 Lexus RX 350
  By rogue-1 - February 11 - 1:20 pm

  Bought an IS in March, found it too small. Received excellent trade value on it and bought this RX. Interior is much more luxurious than the IS and so is the ride. The engine is not as silky, though; feels and sounds more truck-like. Everyone loves all of the cool and innovative features. Fuel consumption is amazingly low. I averaged 24 MPG on my first tank. I like how you can fold down just the center portion of the rear seats. I am told that this is the best-selling Lexus vehicle. I can see why.

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  $45K Tin Box - 2008 Lexus RX 350
  By mikefoley9 - February 8 - 8:56 am

  I have 1500 miles on the car. I traded a BMW for this "tin box". Do not believe Consumer Reports about how great the car is. It is very light bodied with a lot of road noise, sloppy steering. Lexus Quiet!!! This car has a lot of noise. I will be trading for a BMW or Benz in the spring. Do not be fooled. Drive a BMW or Benz before you purchase a RX350. Yes, it is just a dressed up Toyota for 10K more. The RX350 compares to a Ford or Chevy not a BMW or Benz.The only saving grace is the dealer service and the fuel economy is great. I did have two small problems that have been corrected.

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  Combination of fun and milage - 2008 Lexus RX 400H
  By Dr Var - February 8 - 1:50 am

  Great for long rides and everyday drives. Absolutely love the feeling of CVT and can see the vehicles on the other lanes disappear in my mirrors with out the feeling of gear change.

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  Absolutely flawless - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By jragosta - February 7 - 10:00 am

  Ive driven dozens of cars and nothing under $40 K comes close to the quiet and luxury of this car. Nothing. Absolutely nothing to complain about - particulary since the 2004 is less expensive and more powerful than the 03. Great car.

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  Surprised - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By dick in naples - February 6 - 4:00 pm

  Have had my third Lexus in 6 yrs. I have buyers remorse on my new rx. The power ports are in a terrible location. The nav system is no better than my old tom tom portable. The features are not available when driving. Unlike other luxury cars, one has to pull off the road to execute the most used menus. The power ports are not hot when the iginition is off. There is no storage for the privacy cover. Radio, ac and vent selections have been removed from the dash. I think I liked my 04 rx better.

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  My old one was better - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By Unhappy buyer - February 5 - 1:53 pm

  I had written in before when we first got this car about how uncomfortable the seats were. I should have listened to the prior posters. We finally realized that no amount of breaking the car in would make the seats comfortable so we had to take a loss and got rid of the car. Lexus needs to realize that quality and comfort counts and that it is not about technology and gadgets. My 2007 was better than the 2010. If you have a lease ending on the older model I would not recommend the new one. Perhaps Lexus will fix the issues with this SUV and go back to the luxury, comfort and quality it was known for. I would not recommend this SUV.

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  Best Vehicle Yet - 1997 Lexus LS 400
  By Manuel McKenzie - February 4 - 6:23 am

  I was originaly looking to purchase a Q45T Infinity when I bought this car mainly for the additional horse power and rear spoiler. However when the availability of this vehicle was brought to my attention I didnt hesitate. I was well aware of its reputation and high ratings. It has lived up to all my expectations and beyond. It has been a pleasure both to drive and own. It has been cheap to repair though, but the cost comes with driving a 10 year old Lexus.