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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  Perfect SUV. Well, Almost... - 2001 Lexus RX 300
  By BryanD - December 23 - 5:33 am

  I have owned this truck for almost a year now, long enough to know its good and bad points. Overall a great SUV with quite capable handling and performance. A few quirks mentioned below.

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  FSport Hybrid--UNBELIEVEABLE! - 2016 Lexus RX 450h
  By Brock Bizzell - December 21 - 5:34 pm

  We started out only looking at the regular RX, but after much deliberation about what packages we wanted, we decided to choose the FSport Hybrid. That was the best decision we have ever made. We are extremely happy with all the features this vehicle offers. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!

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  For a specific purpose - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By Titans Fan - December 20 - 2:00 am

  If you are looking for a big car that has alot of room to haul around cargo and people, then you shouldnt be looking for a sport sedan. But if you are truly interested in a vehicle that makes you part of the road then look no further. This cars ability to grip the corners at high speed is rivaled only by your local theme park. Its the most fun you can have in a car.

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  SIMPLEY SUPERB - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By imaciasjr - December 20 - 2:00 am

  My white 2004 Lexus ES330 sparkles like a diamond. The ride is quiet, smooth and luxurious, and the 225 HP 3.3 V6 is responsive, powerful and agile. The added leather/wood steering wheel and shift handle gives it an eye-catching extra that gets great comments from all admirers. Way to go LEXUS!

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  Is it worth the high price? - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By margy - December 18 - 11:30 am

  The car is very comfortable, quiet and safe. It has excellent acceleration and braking. It is very bad in snow. I dont have snow tires, so maybe those would improve driving. The a/c compressor just broke down completely and had to be replaced. It was an expensive repair and I was very surprised and disappointed that this would happen on a Lexus. I dont know if I would buy another Lexus, if it was truly worth the expense.

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  Great SUV with only two complaints - 2010 Lexus GX 460
  By VN - December 18 - 5:50 am

  Great combination of luxury and utility. Typical Lexus build quality and reliability. Very comfortable ride particularly for a truck based SUV. Not the most fun to drive (also typical Lexus). My Acura MDX is much more sporty. Has just about every gadget/amenity you could ask for and some that you do not need (heated steering wheel?) Not a lot of cargo space for a midsized SUV. Average to poor gas mileage for a vehicle of this size. I also have noticed some issues with the engine suddenly revving up 1000 or so rpm when using the cruise control when heading uphill to try and maintain the speed. Anyone else had this issue?

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  07 ES350 - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Bob - December 17 - 5:03 am

  The car is still brand new, but we are pleased with the purchase, as well as with the ride, comfort and handling . The new ES offers a lot of near-luxury features for the money. With options, it does cost a little more than some of its direct competition, but that should be made up when its time to trade it in. At this early stage, Id recommend it to someone looking for a car in this segment.

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  excellent ride - 1998 Lexus ES 300
  By john - December 17 - 2:00 am

  wow.what a ride

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  great car - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By montrose - December 17 - 2:00 am

  Own an LX470 as well. This car is a great value considering fit/finish and Lexus reliability and build quality.

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  First and probably last - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By David Moore - December 16 - 9:00 am

  I bought this car fully loaded. I would not consider the stereo system to be premium. I feel the car leans too much on turns. On a highway, you can feel every bump in the road and I feel the ride is jittery and tosses you from left to right as you travel. Too much engine noise when car downshifts. Not expected in a luxury car.