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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  3 time Lexus owner - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By steve - May 24 - 3:00 am

  After leasing 2 RX300s over the last six years, this is a BIG step up. The deal was outstanding but the vehicle really sold itself. Comfort, power and looks all in one package. I would highly recommend this vehicle to anyone in the market for a mid to large size SUV. You wont go wrong.

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  Lexus Family - 1997 Lexus ES 300
  By Lexus Cruiser - May 21 - 9:00 pm

  Bought this ES 300 about 7 months ago and it has been problem free. Its comfortable, quiet, smooth, powerful and gets decent mpg. I have the suspension control and heated seats. Have the factory chrome rims with white pearl paint, people think its a very expensive and classy car. We really like this car and would recommend to anyone.

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  awesome suv - 2004 Lexus LX 470
  By sampan - May 21 - 10:00 am

  i dont know why that they said about lack of horsepower? was it because everything on this car is perfect? common!

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  Great car, great luxury and a nice drive - 2003 Lexus GS 300
  By ak - May 19 - 10:00 am

  Great car! Nice mix of luxury and a sporty ride..... Great service

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  Great car, great luxury and a nice drive - 2003 Lexus GS 300
  By AK - May 19 - 10:00 am

  Great car! Nice mix of luxury and a sporty ride..... Great service

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  AWSOME!!! - 1996 Lexus ES 300
  By Doug23 - May 19 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive,stylish with a touch of class.Include dependability....life long Toyota fan.

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  Superb mid-size luxury SUV - 2007 Lexus RX 350
  By Larry - May 19 - 3:20 am

  Ive got about 1,000 miles on a Lexus RX 350 AWD. We were looking for a 5- passenger SUV. We looked at Volvo, Mercedes, BMW as well. Lexus had the best combination of space, easy to drive, power and luxury for us. We owned 2 Toyotas before - Sienna and Avalon - and thought both were great.

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  love it - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By EUGENETILLEY - May 17 - 11:06 pm

  I love the gas mileage, the look and the feel.If I bought it again, I wouldnt pay extra for the powerful sound system. It is not needed. The top feature is the quiet ride when it runs on electric power with the gasoline motor not running. The great fuel mileage is just a plus!!! Go Lexus! Eugene Tilley

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  Love it compared to competition. - 2013 Lexus ES 350
  By brucemeister - May 16 - 11:17 pm

  I have had my ES350 for just over a month and love it. I spent about 6 months research, test-driving and pricing some competitors. See below: - BMW328i: This was the best ride of all of them and fun to drive. BUT the AWD feels stiffer and the steering is less responsive than the RWD, similarly equipped to the ES comes over $50K, post-warranty reliability suspect, premium fuel only. Annoying stop/start engine. - Audi A4: Great quality but feels stiff to drive and cramped in the back. A little small. - C300: Great handling and style, but TOO SMALL and cramped - even for the driver, expensive repairs, premium fuel only. Annoying stop/start engine. Acura TL: OK but not luxury.

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  awesome vehicle!!!!!!! - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By bharati anand - May 16 - 8:26 pm

  I love the way the RX330 drives...it actually glides...its that smooth. I also like the premium sound system and the navigation system.