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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  2001 ES300 - 2001 Lexus ES 300
  By will - April 23 - 11:00 am

  Suspension a bit stiff = adjustable desirable? Could use larger-diameter wheels. Paint fragile, easily chipped. Darker window-tinting desirable. More-easily-accessible cabin air filter.

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  01 RX300 - Super SUV - 2001 Lexus RX 300
  By jbruce - April 18 - 5:20 am

  We bought a Vapor Blue, 01 RX 300 with Premium Package, HID Headlights, Roof Rack and auto dimming mirrors. Have only had it a few weeks, but it is one of smoothest and quietest riding vehicles weve had. Shifts very smooth, and the black leather interior is classy and comfortable. The gas mileage is not near as good as our older Honda Accord, but it has a larger engine and weighs more. This is a great car and was worth the $19,000 we paid. Both Toyota and Lexus hold their value about as good as any brand, so dont expect to find one "cheap". We looked at several RXs, but this one with 70,000 seemed to be about the best deal we could find. We cant wait for winter and some snow!

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  My Lexus review - 2003 Lexus RX 300
  By e. chin - April 16 - 10:00 am

  The car is a very good riding car. We have taken it on several trips and it cruises at highway speeds very comfortably. All our friends that ride in the back seats says it is a very comfortable riding car. The car also serves well when I have to carry larger objects that a regular sedan cannot handle. Dealer service has been excellent (South Bay Lexus)

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  Solid B+ Performer - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By Dallas owners 8/2009 - April 14 - 10:00 am

  Owners for over a year now. Great highway cruiser (frequent 2-5 hr trips); very quiet and comfortable. Front seats are superb! Very nice instrument display, especially when driving at night. Storage b/t seats is very nice idea and quite convenient. Very nice balance b/t handling and ride - I laugh every time I see discussion about "handling" and SUVs - if you want sports car handling - buy a sports car! The RX is a very good choice for those wanting comfort with a healthy dose of versatility.

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  Poor experience - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By mjw5935 - April 10 - 9:53 am

  I bought a fully optioned 2004 RX330 and was sadly disappointed. The sports transmission has terrible hesitation that boarders on dangerous in traffic driving and the seat has a clicking noise that I cannot seem to resolve. In addition after the first 6,000 miles (during the first tire rotation) I was informed that the front end was not in alignment. Unfortunately the dealer was unable to help me with the transmission and I have not returned for the other factors yet. Very disappointed for a 50k+ vehicle.

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  My Opinion - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By William Galarneault - April 7 - 2:06 am

  Not as good as previous Lexus autos I have owned. One major problem causes me to never recommend this car. The transmission. It jerks, slows down differently when one lets up on the accelerator. Even acts like you are braking when you are not doing so. In itself, this could be adapted to by a driver, but it is not consistent. Sometimes it does these things, other times it acts like a normal car. Friends have assigned the knickname "Lurch" to this car.

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  Great Car! - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By rubber - April 3 - 2:00 am

  Smooth ride, quick acceleration, great sound system.

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  Disappointed in Louisiana - 2008 Lexus RX 350
  By Kelly B - April 1 - 9:43 am

  I traded in my 2005 4Runner for this car two weeks ago and I am so disappointed. I thought I was buying a luxury SUV, but that was not the case. There is way more road noise than I expected. I dont know if this is due to the tires or a lack of cabin insulation. The ride is average, definitely not luxurious, and do not plan on seating more than four adults comfortably. Also, the radio is terrible for a car in this price range. It crackles already at medium volume. I miss my 4Runner!

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  My first non GM vehicle - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By charlie - March 31 - 9:40 pm

  I bought the ES330 for the ride comfort, and it does the job. The fuel economy is not as expected (sticker ratings). The engine/transmission function is not smooth, but lots of jerk when shifting. Too soon (13K miles) to speak to quality, trusting the market over the years to be right. If the comfort was NOT my main need, I would not buy another. Just not a performing vehicle as I am used to.

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  Excellent And Bland - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By David P - March 29 - 10:00 am

  I agree the ES does not offer GT sedan performance. Kick in another $30K, if thats what you want and get the 430. I do not feel that the power or the transmission cause any safety problems. You can lock in a lower gear ratio, if the situation calls for it and the engine will give you what you need. I dont care about Porche, G35 Coupe, GT Sedan performance any more. Thats why I bought the ES. If you dont care to have high performance handling and throttle/transmission response and if you do want a quiet comfortable ride with very nice interior appointments, excellent sound system and plenty of luxury features, this car is a great buy.