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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  best - 2004 Lexus LX 470
  By lx470 - September 26 - 10:00 am

  best car in texas

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  5 Stars - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Trinity - September 26 - 10:00 am

  We test drove a number of vehicles including the Acura MDX and Volvo X70 and nothing compared to the RX330. From sleek exterior styling, updated dashboard, ride comfort, etc. - this vehicle certainly lives up to the standards set by Lexus.

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  A true luxury SUV - 2006 Lexus GX 470
  By tnn98 - September 26 - 4:56 am

  I had the ML320 2000. It was a good car. I bought my GX470 on 2/3/2006. Before buying this Lexus, I went to test out the ML500, Porsche Cayenne, X5 4.4i and the Volvo suv. I can honestly say that Lexus puts its competitors in the shadow. I was really impressed with the gas millage and the long trip. The road noise is almost unnoticable. Extremely quite and very comfortable. For 50k, its worth it. The only flaw in this GX is the 3 row seating. Its useless. But if not included, back row passengers dont come rear air installed. For those who want to buy this GX, I suggest you all go do like I did. Test drive other SUVs in its class then test drive this last.

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  Enjoying it Even More than anticipated - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Benn - September 24 - 6:16 pm

  Really comfy car; nice all-around; nice mixture of everything. Just noticing the hesitation everyone is talking about but doesnt seem like a HUGE deal to me. I have the black and chromed the 18s and it looks a lot more sporty--not so "grocery getter" like. Front seat a little short? Wish the base stereo was a little nicer (ML didnt sound much better when I listened--at least not for the money). A sub would be nice. Some body roll in turns, but nothing thats bothersome. I came from a Sport Trac, so that might have to do with it. The headlights do seem to cut off, but they are nice. AFS seems cool--but not sure if its really ground-breaking in usefulness. Like it more than anticipated.

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  First Lexus, but not the last - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Paul R. Mow - September 23 - 6:43 pm

  Purchased this fantastic car on 9/26/2006. What you immediately notice is how quiet the car is. Once you start to drive the car, you will marvel at the incredibly smooth ride. The car glides down the road as if it were on a cushion of air! The steering is quick giving the car a surprisingly agile feel. Maybe the IS 350 was meant to be the sportier car, but the ES 350 is no slouch! The car is quite fast off-the-line. The seats are extremely comfortable. If you like being pampered at an affordable price, this car is definitely for you. My wife chose the "Golden Almond Metallic" color and it looks terrific in the sun. Havent met anyone who doesnt like this color once they see it!

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  RX 400h Pleasure to Drive - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By PAPleased - September 23 - 2:36 am

  I have owned a Lexus RX 400h for only a couple of weeks, but I have become very attached to it. From the silent start to the screen display of my GPS/mileage/fuel consumption, this car is a blast to drive. It has great performance and the hybrid technology is impressive. I still have not had to fill the tank. I plan to replace our other car with one of these or its cousin, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. I am very pleased with my vehicle and I have never had a problem with anything built by Toyota/Lexus.

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  Love my Lexus - 2003 Lexus SC 430
  By Black Beauty - September 21 - 5:53 pm

  I have owned my SC 430 for over a year now and love it. You mentioned your editors size, well Im 6 ft 4 inches and weigh in over 350 and have plenty of room. I have driven it 2000 miles on some trips and never feel cramped. The only addition I added was a set of custom chrome rims and low profile high speed rated tires and the proformance and handling is outstanding.So overall the style, performance, handling and luxury features are GREAT!! Rich

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  So far so good..... - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By What a ride!!!!!!! - September 21 - 5:26 am

  I had the unfortunate experience of leasing VW touareg before looking at the other cars... It was a big mistake...I decided to take the loss and go with Lexus...it is like night and day between the VW and Lexus... I could not believe how much of a difference there was between the two.. Get a Lexus ... GX 470, RX330 or what ever.. Lexus is great...

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  1998 Lexus LS400 - 1998 Lexus LS 400
  By ChrstFltch - September 19 - 8:46 pm

  This is an excellent car. I purchased it used in 2003, and this was an excellent decision on my part. I will be purchasing a CLK 500 Mercedes next month (June 2008), I wanted something a little smaller. However, I refuse to get rid of this car, they could never give me enough to trade in my vehicle. The car still looks good inside and out (10 years old). I get so many stares. I guess I will need a bigger garage. This car rides smooth, and is extremely reliable. Since it is 10 years old, of course it requires routine maintenance,not too expensive. This is a fine machine, exceeds expectations!

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  Luxury - 2010 Lexus ES 350
  By Larry Woods - September 19 - 12:56 pm

  Good vehicle for safety and soundness