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:

• 

  my experience - 2004 Lexus SC 430
  By srtinc - June 27 - 10:00 am

  great auto. Does not beat you up.

• 

  Where is the gas savings? - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Jon G - June 26 - 8:26 am

  I love the car, and Im glad I have it, but I dont have a clue about fuel economy. I traded in my Ford Explorer for the Lexus when MY gas prices hit $4/gal. Ive never gotten any better then 22mpg.

• 

  Awesome - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By fred - June 26 - 1:13 am

  This car really is fun to drive. I had a VW Toureg before the Lexus and this car so far is more reliable.The fact that the Toureg used high test at 13mpg made me look for an alternative ride. I am happy with the choice I made.

• 

  Worth the extra cost over time! - 2007 Lexus RX 400H
  By Don Benton - June 25 - 1:16 am

  This has been an exceptional vehicle in all respects! The local dealership has been excellent since purchase. All service has been completed in a timely fashion and with great care for our time and convenience.

• 

  The Relentless Pursuit of Luxury - 2003 Lexus SC 430
  By SCamp - June 24 - 2:00 am

  Relax, grin like a fool and enjoy a friend, the scenery and your favorite music for a 10 minute or a 10 day drive. Meander, wander, toddle & wave - plenty of people will likely be watching. The sc430 handling will not excite the "pure" sports car enthusiast: BMW & Audi handle better, Corvette launches faster, and so on. The sc430 can be made to go fast and corner hard, but the suspension, steering & seats are not really set up for it: This is a modern day Packard! Yes, this car *is* fast, as an artifact of excellent engineering, but that is not the main point. Luxury is. And BMW/Audi/Corvette &c cant match it.

• 

  Red Hot SC430 - 2002 Lexus SC 430
  By Eantonoff - June 24 - 2:00 am

  By far this is the best car Ive ever owned. This car rivals a F-16 with afterburners at full throttle. Since the day Ive owned it, not one day has passed without getting the attention of another driver or comment in a parking lot. But that is nothing to the feeling of hopping into it, putting the top down and the incredible Mark Levinson Stero on some really fine tunes and cruising the roads at high speeds and quick subtle turns. Like I said, this car is RED HOT !

• 

  Best Fun Car - 2006 Lexus SC 430
  By Orange - June 23 - 6:53 pm

  What could go wrong, its made by the most reputable and reliable car makers in the world. Forget about the bucket seats, everyone knows its a car made for 2 people and that is fine by me! We bought it for the reliability and quality of the car.

• 

  Well Built Car, Never broken down, Reliable. - 1997 Lexus LS 400
  By happy59 - June 21 - 11:19 pm

  Purchased car in January of 2011 for $3800. It is very reliable. If you dont want to worry about being stranded or expensive repairs, this car is for you. You must be ready to pay for premium fuel but other than that it is a great car. Better to buy used than new and better to buy used from a rich person than from a poor person. Good luck.

• 

  LS 460L - 2007 Lexus LS 460
  By Dan - June 20 - 9:53 am

  Exceptional quality again. As always, Lexus provides the smoothest, reasonable luxury car on the market. The LS 460L finally brings a sportier look than the previous 430s. The controls remain very intuitive and significantly easier to use than my previous BMW 760Li or Mercedes CL 55. If you want a lots of back seat legroom, quiet, quiet, smooth and reliable there is nothing better. And the cost remains relatively low.

• 

  Great garage car. - 2011 Lexus RX 350
  By Mona Windham - June 20 - 2:55 am