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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  Drivers seat - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By JR Cole - June 15 - 10:00 am

  I drive about 100 hundred miles a day and find the drivers seat the most uncomfortable and painful. The front of the seat is mounted ~2" higher in the front which positions all the weight on your thighs. Ive tried all the adjustments the seat will allow with no relieve. I spoke to the service manager about my problem his only comment was "ya that seat sucks!". Dont get me wrong all the acculades given this car are well earned and if you only drive around town 10 to 12 thousand miles a year you will probably never notice the discomfort.

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  At home on the road - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By perdel - June 15 - 10:00 am

  Every thing is smooth. From the leather seats to the engine. No rough edges when it comes to comfort. This includes the ride. Ours came with the 18" wheels. No air suspension. Test drove with regular wheels. 18s cost a little for the handling improvement. You need to sit in it for a while before you can really understand all the controls. We traded a 03 Honda Pilot. It was very straight foward when it came to controls. Pilot was great we just did not need the extra seats.We would rather have the extra MPG. Lexus is a wonderful machine. Driven MB, BMW, VW, SUV but this is refined.

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  Asbury - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By elno - June 15 - 10:00 am

  Very confortable. Excelent ride for a suv. Lots of leg room. power trunk is used every day. Auto lights & winshild wipers are also on daily. I would recomend it to anyone considering a SUV of this size to eveyone. The one draw back is the gas milage. I hope that there will be a hybreed modle avaiable for my next purchase.

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  Amazing Car - 2007 Lexus LS 460
  By Jerry - June 14 - 8:16 pm

  The LS 460L sets new standards for the luxury car market. Mine replaces a European luxury car and is a huge improvement over my previous model. The panel is attractive and the controls are logical. Comfort for a king. Never have I seen such luxury. Room, room - the front seats move back far enough to accommodate the very largest drivers. Astonishing rear space for long legs. The car has superb handling and firm cornering. Quick as a cat, it handles tight, rough mountain roads effortlessly. Acceleration is astonishing for this huge sedan. Braking is equally smooth and quick. The LS 460L is a Winner!!

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  GS 300 Platinum - 2000 Lexus GS 300
  By DanO - June 14 - 3:53 am

  Drives smooth and like its on a rail. Low and wide and stable - it looks lowered, but its not. Pearl color is beautiful. Moonroof is real quiet when open, whereas the Acura RL we tested was noisy. Leather is real soft and comfy, even tho I was not a leather guy when buying. The sound system is the best I have ever heard in an uncustomized setup. WOW! My wife had to have this car, and now Im glad we got it. Trouble free, quiet, dependable, sporty and luxury.

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  Its the Best - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By Leon Jay - June 13 - 10:00 am

  The quietest running car I have ever driven. It may be the best car I have ever owned.

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  The quiet one... - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By P. Volckmann - June 11 - 11:10 pm

  This vehicle is better than my previous 2004 LX 470 in the following ways. It is more powerful, faster, more surefooted and stable in handling & driveability. The lack of transmission noise from constant downshifting makes for a very quiet ride. The seats are almost as comfortable than the LX 470 but the 400h steering wheel cover is very slippery, I would like to see an upgrade wood like in the 470.

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  Sporty drive option in NX 300h - 2015 Lexus NX 300h
  By Satya Yarramsetty - June 11 - 3:13 am

  It has very good interior design. I own NX 300h for 4 months. In fact I ordered it November and I got it during March. I had my friends bought non lexus brands. They all liked mine. Two people said..driver cabin is just like "cockpit". My niece is 7 year old and he liked it very much, and whenever he rides, he asks me to choose the drive mode in "SPORT". It is very big difference. You feel the drive is so easy with comfort and nice pick up. It is our first Lexus and first Hybrid. All of my family members are very proud of it.

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  LuvMyRX!!! - 2000 Lexus RX 300
  By LuvMyRX - June 10 - 9:26 pm

  Ive had this car for 3 years now. I purchased it certified pre-owned from the dealership and I still love it. All my friends want to drive my car. No one believes me when I tell them its a 2000 vehicle. Handles great with very comfortable seats. The cargo space is great. The back seats fold down easily and the only problem is that its so roomy, it cant always take all the weight for home improvement projects!

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  One year after purchasing... - 2012 Lexus CT 200H
  By nanday - June 10 - 10:51 am

  I just passed one year driving my CT200H. Firstly, I live in the subtropics in Australia, so driving in heavy snow or ice is not a concern. I wanted fuel efficiency, safety and reliability and this car delivers, and also gives a very comfortable ride. It is not a standout in appearance but is better than the blocky looking Prius. It is an exellent car for a single older person, or a couple (and maybe ones with small children), but the back seat cramped. It delivers everything I wanted and I would recommend it on the fuel savings alone.