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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  You Will Love This Car, I Promise!! - 2006 Lexus ES 330
  By Loveit!!! - January 29 - 9:46 pm

  I have been driving this car for almost a year now, and I love it! Lexus offered the "Black Diamond Edition" which has an awesome black wood trim which I love. I drove this baby over 1000 miles and never encountered a problem with it. From its comfortable gray leather seating, to its 29 mpg tank, I recommend this car all the way. This car is excellent if you are a young person like me, or have a family to drive your car in. I previously owned a Lexus, and hope to own a Lexus in the future. I recommend buying a black color Lexus (just preferences!) - its hot!

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  2005 Lexus ES 330 Special Edition - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By HRG - January 29 - 8:46 am

  Last car was 2002 Acura 3.2 TL, very good car however the transmission had to be replaced under warranty at 24,000 miles. Got nervous and bought new 2005 Lexus. Very nice car, more prestige than Acura TL, also larger than Acura TL. Colour is alabaster with black interior,very sharp. Also got optional Package "A" for $4000.00 CDN more. Got 29 MPG on first tank of gas, I think is good. No regrets so far in purchase.

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  IMHO,A SUV better than MBenz, BMW, Acura, Hyundai - 2016 Lexus RX 350
  By hector carunungan - January 24 - 7:12 pm

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  2003 LS430---$ for $---Best Luxury Car EVER Made - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By Douglas W. - January 22 - 7:04 pm

  Recently purchase a one owner 2003 LS430.....This was a 1 owner CEOs car that was garage kept..... After 6 months, I am floored by the quality and performance of this vehicle. This car has 238,000 original miles and has had only routine maintanance. I am having the extensive 90K service which will include more than just the timing belt and water pump..(will do tensioner, seals, bearings, etc while already there).. Getting done next week (Using only OEM materials--Aisin, etc...)..There are no signs of leaking, its strictly preventative, and Lets me know Im good for another 100K or so!!.. I challenge you to find another luxury car that will go 238K on original TB/WP and hasnt needed any repair other than routine maintenance (brakes, fluids, etc) ... Feels like a plane at takeoff , only there is no noise, and the trans is still whisper quiet and shifts are undetectable. Mark Levinson sound system compliments the car perfectly...(Not meant for deep pounding base songs, but rather excels with classical, smooth jazz, as well as rock and most pop)..I replaced the foam surround on the rear deck subwoofer , other than that, there is really no wear or broken items that would keep you from thinking your not in a much more newer car. Speaks Volumes for the fit , finish, and quality of the materials used during the buil... Navigation CD was $10 on ebay and was upgraded in a minute... Still havent mastered the voice commands available to me, but its a learning curve for a middle aged man. Ill be going through the suspension next as Im sure the wearable rubber parts could use replacement by now (front end bushings and the like). Again, keep in mind, everything is all original with 238K miles and 14 years of time on them!!..I look forward to finding 2005 or 2006 to add to my garage (as Id like to have an LS with the 6 speed transmission as well).

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  Poetry in Motion - 2008 Lexus LS 460
  By aproforyou - January 21 - 9:26 am

  This is my third Lexus. Ive owned a 1996 Lexus coupe, a 2001 LS 430, and now a Lexus LS 460. I believe the 460 is both smooth and powerful. I like the wind tunnel design and the 8 speed transmission. I also drive a 2006 Corvette coupe. This car accelerates with a rush, and the controls are where they were on the LS 430. I like the changes to the navigation system, the bluetooth phone and the hard disk on which to record my music.

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  Very good SUV - 2010 Lexus GX 460
  By smgebg - January 19 - 1:33 pm

  Purchased this SUV a few weeks ago. We probably are still breaking in the engine but currently the gas mileage is 13mpg. Outstanding interior and exterior quality. Feels sort of "trucky" with the engine growling to accelerate and reach speed, as well as the ride (bouncy).

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  Only for the young at heart - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By Anghang - January 18 - 2:00 am

  The handling on this car is so impressive. I guarantee you a smooth quiet ride even with a 17-inch alloy wheel. I love the interiors! ... no hard wood, nice aluminum pedals, chronograph-style instrumentations and 6-disc CD auto-changer with 8 speakers and 240W power. And the exterior design ... perfect. The first of its kind having white (smoked) lights on both front and rear. Plus the headlamps is high-intensity. Did I mention the fog lamps and the homelink tranceiver and the 8-way adjustable seats in front with 2 driver memory? Guess what, all of those things ... standard! So forget what the oldies like ... This car is for the young at heart.

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  Lexus GX470 - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By Rudyard Kipling - January 18 - 2:00 am

  We were coming out of a 2000 BMW 528i, which our family outgrew, so it is quite a change switching to a SUV. Overall it is a solid, comfortable vehicle with a pretty good ride, especially considering its 4-runner roots. Easy to manuever and excellent off-line torque. The interior is a very high quality and finish. It meets our space requirements with all the amenties and while not a 5-series ride or handling, it is comfortable.

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  So Happy! - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Ellie1960 - January 18 - 2:00 am

  Today I brought home my new RX330 and could not be happier! Prior to my purchase, I did a lot of research and compared it to the other SUVs in its class. All arrows pointed to the Lexus. However, the deal maker was the consumer ratings and comments. Ive heard nothing but great things about this SUV. After test driving, I was able to see it for myself. It looks as great as it drives. Not to mention... I feel pretty special in it!

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  Lexus - 2002 Lexus GS 300
  By Bill Murray - January 17 - 10:00 am

  It is obvious that quality means everything to the people at Lexus. My car is without a doubt, the best built automobile that I have ever owned. I own the GS 300 and the six cylinder engine in this car is surprisingly responsive and you have to drive it to appreciate how quit it is on the road. When you put the "pedal to the metal", you feel the acceleration, but you dont hear it.! I look forward to getting behind the wheel and putting it through the paces. I am sure that I will enjoy this car for many, many years.