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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  Fast,Comfy,Subdued appearance - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By Laurence - September 26 - 8:06 am

  I have had 2 Mercedes(excellent autos) and this is my 2nd Lexus. I like it very much. It is incredibly quick. Excellent in rain, snow and Ice. handling is precise.

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  One of the best cars I have ever owned! - 2007 Lexus RX 350
  By La La - September 25 - 6:33 am

  This car is a smooth drive and very reliable. I am a very short person and the adjustable seats are very comfortable and allows me to feel in complete control of the car while driving. I bought this car pre-owned and at 100,000 miles the engine still runs and looks as if brand new. The design is sleek and smooth and I feel very safe behind the wheel of this RX 350.

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  Exceptional Vehicle - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By The Greek - September 24 - 11:16 pm

  I have owned the RX 400h since late April. I like just about everything about this SUV. It is a lot of fun to drive and it performs terrifically. Passing on the interstates is a breeze even at high speeds of greater than 80mph. It takes off like a "rocket". It is very quiet and comfortable. But most of all, I am elated with the gas mileage I am getting. The average mpg in the city has been better than the EPA estimate of 31. In fact, on one test recently, I averaged a whopping 40 mpg on pure city driving of 27.5 miles. This was without the AC on but I am still amazed. Obviously, one cannot drive like a hot rod to get this type of mileage. I get about 27-28 on the highway. Coasting helps a lot.

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  Great ride, EPA took me for ride on MPG - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Jonathan Cahill - September 23 - 9:33 pm

  A very clean, sharp, user friendly interior loaded with amenities. The exterior looks like RX 330 with larger, sharper wheels, and more angled lights. Hybrid ride is smoother, quieter, greater acceleration than 333rx. When you think hybrid, however, you think great MPG, think again. My wife predominately drives car, uses only premium, drives 90% city, never had a speeding ticket in her life, yet we have never reached 24 mpg on any tankful. Rather, via hand measurement we are at 22.9mpg, 23.6 according to the car computer after 5k miles of driving. Lexus tested car, say its fine & EPA test is outdated, and hybrid battery designed for performance,not MPG,you decide for 50k whats important

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  Your crazy if you dont like it. - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Wa - September 23 - 6:50 am

  We have had this car for 1 year and it has been perfect. It has excelent performance. It is in the $35,000- $45,000 price range. we have not crashed yet, but because of all the airbags(such as SIDE CURTAIN airbags) this is a extremely safe car.

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  Previous RX Owners Might Be Dissapointed - 2011 Lexus RX 350
  By maggiemae1 - September 20 - 7:41 am

  I traded in my 2002 RX with over 130,000 and I0,000 miles and I miss it. Previous RX owners might want to spend a weekend with this car before making a decision. My main complaint is the poorly designed interior. When you cant fit your owners manual in the glove compartment - poor design. When you have to take your eyes off the road to turn on the seat heater - poor design. The driver has to reach behind to get something out of the storage compartment. The list goes on. Feel the weight of the glove compartment door or the weight of the carpet - they dont come close to previous models. This is my third Lexus in ten years, I feel let down by a friend. They can do better than this.

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  perfect car!!!!! - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By manfred - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Me,i drive also a lexus is 200 since 2 years ago...i tell you,i will never change to another dealer!!An exellent,very nice and fast car!! I really enjoy to drive a lexus!!!

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  Fun to Drive - 1997 Lexus ES 300
  By wesley - September 20 - 2:00 am

  This car is really fun to drive. I have owned an Acura and BMW and this car is the most fun to drive.

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  Car and Driver was correct - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By TonyHarto - September 20 - 2:00 am

  After comparing price and quality, we decided to get Lexus LS430. Later we read in the Car and Driver magazine comparing it with all other luxury cars, they also rated LS430 the best in its class. The drawback is, there is too many electronic gadget that I doubt if anybody could make the full use of. We purchased extended warranty just in case the electronic stuff go haywire.

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  The ES is a Junior LS - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By Chuck 3313 - September 20 - 2:00 am

  This is an excellent buy if you want to spend less and get a smaller LS in the Lexus line! The redesigned exterior brings it up to date finally, and the new engine is much better than previous ones.