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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  My first lexus - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By wesley callaway - December 16 - 5:46 am

  I purchased the Lexus Ultra. This model has all the creature comforts available. All the extra gizmos take a engineer to figure out how to operate.

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  Glorious Automobile - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Denny G - December 14 - 9:36 am

  Gorgeous Royal Ruby Metallic ES 350 purchd in Newport Beach, CA, Oct. 2006. Not easy finding this color with all the extra features. ES has full Ultra-Luxury Pkg, chrome wheels, window tint, and satellite radio. Looks like a fine piece of jewelry. ES replaced 88 Cad, Eldo, and beats Eldo hands down for fuel economy, acceleration, ride (YES!), and features. Love all the techie gadgets/features; discovering more each day. This car can play CDs, DVDs (also movies on 7" screen), and MP3 & WMA audio. Made a music CD in *.wma audio that contained 10 hours of music. Played beautifully in the Mark Levinson audio system.

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  Not a Winter Car - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By JasonW - December 14 - 2:00 am

  I must tell all that are interested in the IS300 to BEWARE if you live in even mild winter climates. I own this car and purchased the limited slip differential and thought that the snow button in the car would help but they do nothing at all in even mild snow conditions. I live in Louisville, KY. It is like driving a death trap. I almost got in a wreck the first week I bought it and actually wrecked this past Thanksgiving. I have to put 200lbs of salt bags in the small trunk to hopefully keep me from sliding and spinning my back tires. Dont buy this car unless you live in the SOUTH!

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  Great Job Lexus! - 2002 Lexus SC 430
  By Dermas - December 14 - 2:00 am

  Great car! Quality is superb. Everything about this car is perfect!

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  rx330: BRILLIANT!!! - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By MONEYMAN - December 14 - 2:00 am

  the lexus is most impressive for its fit and finish and design aswell as its cuting edge technology. lexus does charge more than its competetors for things such as options, service, accessories, and shipping fees. The buying expirience with lexus was like purchasing a hotel!

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  Love this one more than the last one - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Joseph Lo Bello - December 14 - 2:00 am

  Outstanding, solid and more power than last years model

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  OK, but not Lexus best effort - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By Mike - December 13 - 2:36 pm

  I have owned a 2010 RX 350 for six months now and have developed a fairly good feel for its pros and cons. This is my third Lexus since 1990, having owned a LS 400 and currently owning an LS 460. The RX 350 is my first SUV. Let me start by saying that I am not a fan of this style vehicle, preferring a station wagon instead. But I needed something that could tow. I find the peripheral vision in the RX is poor. Maybe it’s the tinted windows. Or maybe it’s the roof lines. But switching lanes, particularly to the right, is never fun in this vehicle. Also, the driver’s side view mirror is blurry and shows double images at the edges. Lexus says it’s a design problem and doesn’t plan to change the

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  Fun car - 2005 Lexus IS 300
  By Ko - December 13 - 1:16 am

  Pros: competitive pricing, mechanical quality and reliability of the vehicle. Excellent driving mechanics and handling of the vehicle. Drives like a sports car, yet it has a comfort of a luxury vehicle. Cons: Outdated style (poor interior design), poor MPG. Not a vehicle of choice for winter road.

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  none - 2000 Lexus LS 400
  By dolphing - December 12 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car that I have ever owned. I had a 1993 for seven years which was also an exceptional car. The comfort is unmatched, and I have owned several other luxury cars.

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  It is perfection. An honest review - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By kuantum - December 12 - 10:00 am

  I have always made jokes of Toyota/Lexus because I have owned 7 BMWs from 3 series to 7 series a Lincoln a mercedes and a Ferrari. I always stood true to my BMW 740i & 525 but I just purchased an LS430 Ultra Lux for $60k and its the best ride, feel, comfort, and luxury I have ever had not just in overall value package but truly an impressive vehicle bar none.