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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  Lexus SC 430 - 2005 Lexus SC 430
  By Judy Konos - June 19 - 5:26 pm

  Simply put, I love my Lexus SC 430! It is drop dead gorgeous and commended by everyone, especially drivers on the road traveling beside me. The Amethyst color changes continually with the sun and shade and at nightfall. It hugs the exits from interstates as though there were no twists nor turns. It is extremely fast, comfortable, fun and most of all EXCITING. Lexus should be commended for all the time and effort that went into building his automobile.

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  Absolutely red :) 5M - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By oceanis361 - June 19 - 6:48 am

  Have to agree on the fun-to-drive factor!! Whew! this car is a blast to drive! Love the orange interior lights at night! Guage package likened to a wrist watch face is an original touch. Shifting is solid quality feel. Love the sound of the engine. Handles like shes on rails. Just bought a set of 18" rims (all black) with potenza s-04 pole positions, so the ride should be on fire soon. Im driving a Subaru GT wagon in the winter but my life is changing so Im selling Suby after 13 yrs of ownership. :( But Looking forward to buying a set of micheling Xi3, dedicated winters, to be mounted on the stock rims. Should handle the snow just fine and be a lot of fun in the drift too!

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  A family luxury car for the money - 1997 Lexus ES 300
  By Nandu - June 15 - 10:56 pm

  I bought my lexus in 2001 and now it is over 100000 miles. Its an awesome family friendly car with basic luxuries like power seats, 6 cd changer, premium sound, no noise driving. Great suspension and brake system. Its a reliable car offering great driving control.

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  2016: Love it or hate it! - 2016 Lexus RX 350
  By mfisch - June 13 - 2:02 am

  I traded my 2012 rx350 for the new 2016. I love the redesign! I know others have problems with the new grill. Personally I like the aggressive sporty look!different strokes for different folks. the interior is gorgeous! I opted for the bamboo interior with brown and beige leather. I have the safety package plus which includes the lane keeping, lane drift, and radar cruise control. Also have blind spot side mirrors. The optional 13" navigation display is much easier to view under all conditions. The voice command feature is greatly enhanced over my 2012. Much quieter. New 8 speed transmission makes for smoother shifting transition. Hard pressed to find any negative features of this vehicle. So if the new styling doesnt offend you, take a test ride. I think youll be impressed! Especially if you have owned an earlier model of the RX 350

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  Get what you pay for... and sometimes more - 2017 Lexus RX 350
  By Fred Graham - June 12 - 10:20 am

  Given what we invested, we expected a great deal of of this vehicle. And now that weve gotten comfortable with the daily use of all the features, I can honestly say this vehicle has exceeded those expectations. Many vehicles have features that appear appealing on paper or when a sales associate describes them but turn out impractical or downright unuseful. I find myself taking advantage of nearly every feature built into this car. The safety and awareness features are perfectly designed to integrate effortlessly with normal driving habits. Ive been pleasantly surprised at how simple its been to take advantage of them. We chose an AWD model with the luxury package and Mark Levinson audio system - a set of options that added considerably to the cost. We vascillated over the decision, but Im now overjoyed with the additional features and amazing audio. We look forward to many years of reliability, safety, and comfort.

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  Dependable, High Quality Sleeper - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By lexusboy9 - June 12 - 4:55 am

  So I purchased my ES300 about too years ago with 109K already on the clock. She was mint condition and had one owner..She was flawless even with the mileage and years on her. I purchased her and never looked back! To date she has ran flawlessly, always their when I need her. I had one time where she did not start and it was because of a bad battery, slapped a new one in and she fired right up! Lexus really built this car for the long haul, Sheila (My ES300) currently has 129K on her and each mile has been timeless on her. She continues to get better with time. I plan on driving her until she tells me, I cant go any further! LONG LIVE THE ES300 I love her!!!

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  I fell in love!!! - 2003 Lexus GS 300
  By eoh - June 11 - 10:00 am

  I bought a 2000 GS300 two weeks ago with 36K miles on it. I was trying to decide between a new Beetle converible and a used RX300... and then I saw this. I knew right away it was exactly what I wanted. I spent a little more than I had originally planned, but it is worth every penny. In one week, I have absolutely fallen in love with this car. As long as I live, as much money as I ever make, I will never need more car than this. Its stylish, luxurious and powerful. Its one of the best decisions Ive ever made in my life. I commute 1-1/2 hours to work and this car puts a smile on my face every day. Makes a great first impression but is not overdone.

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  MY SC430 - 2003 Lexus SC 430
  By FAF - June 11 - 10:00 am

  THIS CAR HAS QUIET, SMOOTH, AND RESPONSIVE POWER. IT TURNS HEADS AND COMMANDS LOOKS EVEN WHEN PARKED. COMFORT, LUXURY, AND SPORTS APPEAL ALL ROLLED INTO ONE EXCELLENT VEHICLE.

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  the best - 1997 Lexus LS 400
  By treology - June 11 - 6:26 am

  This car is the best car I have ever owned in my life. Very affordable in this year. I would definitely choose this car over buying a brand car of any type. I have 130,000 miles and I now have a power steering pump go out but once thats fixed it wont need replacing for another 100,000 miles. This car makes a lot of people jealous, if they only knew how much I paid for it. These cars will last forever. Own a LS 400 and you will be completely happy with this choice. Good luck

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  The seats are soooo comfortable! Goodbye Rav4. - 2010 Lexus ES 350
  By Ryan Scot - June 11 - 1:24 am

  I just traded my 2013 Rav4 XLE for this 2010 Lexus ES 350. The comfort of the Lexus is night and day. The Rav4 had rock hard seats (tilted at an odd forward angle) and a punishing, rough ride. My back could not take it any more. But the Lexus ES350 seats are soft like a recliner and I like the cold air hitting my back side in this TN heat. Also it drives so very smooth and quiet. I dont regret it for a second!!