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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  Serenity in the Suburbs - 2010 Lexus HS 250H
  By friendintocars - March 29 - 4:00 am

  When we felt we deserved a lot more bells and whistles and were watching the fuel prices start the most recent climb we researched the available Luxury Hybrids. Kathy wanted a higher seating position than the 99 Solara, BlueTooth/Nav/Heated Seats and she found it all. My working for a Lexus store didnt stop her from looking at the Prius, Altima and Lincoln Hybrids but she determined that the Premium HS suited her best. Now that she regularly exceeds the posted 35 MPG by 2 or 3 it confirmed her decision. A high point of her day is getting asked for a ride by various co-workers and showing off the cooled seats and verbal commands. That the dealer washes it every week is an added bonus!

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  Excellent Car - 2005 Lexus SC 430
  By James F. Peterson - March 28 - 10:00 am

  Looks great, drives great and is super quiet.

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  The almost perfect Car - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Denzil - March 28 - 10:00 am

  I looked at the TL, but too loud and harsh a ride. Then the Saab 9-5. Great car, but poor resale and loud road noises. Sold on ES within minutes of test driving. So quiet, highest material quality and comfortable interior! Lots of storage. My transmission is jerky. Im hoping the dealer can fix.

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  SWEET - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Ronald Pollard - March 28 - 10:00 am

  The ES 330 is the best bang for the buck in luxury sedans of its class. The quiet interior is very soothing. The handling is really nice. The look is very sleek.

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  Wow - 2013 Lexus RX 350
  By snowman22 - March 27 - 9:17 pm

  Just picked up our new 2013 RX350 Monday. Only one word describes this auto. WOW. It is everything we expected and more.

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  Transmission noise - 2008 Lexus LS 460
  By ted - March 25 - 6:20 am

  Previously owned a LS 430. LS 460 similar with improvements. Great audio system and ride but not sports car like in quality.

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  Love My Car - 1998 Lexus ES 300
  By Love My Car - March 25 - 2:00 am

  I really just love this car. It is the best thing to drive. Enough power to get up and go also it has a really nice comfort level.

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  ES - Good Purchase - 2010 Lexus ES 350
  By Seth - March 24 - 8:46 am

  Ive only had the car a week; however, Im enjoying the quietness of the drive, navigation system, and comfort of the seating. I would suggest buying the ES-350 for those people wanting a little more luxury than a Camry (without the big sticker price).

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  Good for Gadget Geeks - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By dantobias - March 24 - 5:40 am

  This car, loaded with high-tech features, offers a smooth, comfortable driving experience. Driving it has a "liquid" feel, with steering, braking, and acceleration smoothed out. However, you *do* feel the road beneath you; youre not so totally cocooned that you cant tell when youre going over cobblestones or speed bumps. The engine has more horsepower than earlier ES models, and there is an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission. Mine *did* require servicing within the first month to fix a brake rotor that was not machined properly and was causing a moaning sound; however, its worked fine after the servicing.

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  Awesome - 2009 Lexus LX 570
  By Dan - March 23 - 2:13 am

  I will never drive another SUV and I have never been more happy with a purchase in my life. Power, comfort, ease of driving. A true machine.