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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  Great, Fun, good re-sale and RELIABILITY - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By joekkl - August 6 - 10:00 am

  I like it alot. ZERO problem with the car so far. Only a light bulb is replaced. Other than that, regular 5k maintenance is all I did. Great handling, great acceleration, very comfortable interior. Quiet for a sport car. Overall, a better car than Acura CL-S, 350Z, Audi A4 and C240. No regret buying the IS-300.

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  Best little convertible in Pasadena - 2004 Lexus SC 430
  By SoSherrie - August 6 - 10:00 am

  The most wonderful car Ive ever owned. And so much fun!!!

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  Ipod disatifaction - 2010 Lexus RX 450h
  By Larry Gathings - August 4 - 10:13 pm

  I purchased this vehicle Sept 2009. I very much enjoy the vehicle. The mileage is great. I dont like the connection ports. The usb ports are very hard to reach. The main problem I have is my ipod will not play. The ipod will play intermittently. I have addressed this problem to the dealership as well as Lexus. Neither have solved this problem .

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  The RX 400 h lives up to the hype - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By drnsoi - August 3 - 4:20 pm

  The luxurious, quiet ride combined with effortless acceleration and speed make this SUV a joy to drive. In regular city/highway driving we are easily achieving 29 mpg overall. The only drawback is the narrow drivers cockpit legroom impeded by the center console. This console is completely unnecessary and should be eliminated or narrowed to provide better medial leg room (not every one is 56"). The RX400h handles like a sports car, and exceeds performance and quality expectations. It even out-accelerates the turbo- charged Range Rover touted as the "fastest" 0-60 SUV on the market. We had to put down a deposite and wait five months to get ours, but it was worth the wait.

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  100% Satisfied - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By SteveH - August 2 - 5:30 pm

  This SUV is the perfect blend of a car and truck. Coming from my previous SUV (2002 Lincoln Navigator), I truly appreciate its attention to detail and quality finish. I recommend this vehicle to any one in the market for a luxury SUV.

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  Love it - 2008 Lexus ES 350
  By Mike - July 31 - 11:20 pm

  I am not a car fanatic nor do I know much about mechanics, performance, etc. What I will tell you is that I just traded my 1997 Mercedez C280 in for the Lexus ES 350. I drove the 2008 BMW 328, Mercedes C300, Cadillac CTS, Audi A4 and A6. The Lexus is by far the most comfortable and quite ride. More power then you could possibly need and the nav and audio system is a dream. The car has a beautiful interior with too many safety features to list here. Lets just say I love this car.

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  Moving on up - 1998 Lexus ES 300
  By metfan - July 30 - 12:13 am

  Have been a Toyota loyalist for the last 15 years until I purchased my first Lexus about 3 years ago. I bout a 7 year old ES 300 with 100K miles on it. I have put about 50K on it since then and the car has been flawless. I change the oil about every 5K, and that is all that I have needed to do. Yea, I have the CD display problems that everyone else has, but other than that, the car is great! I get a realistic 25 mpg, and can hardly hear the car purring, even when completely stopped. I seriously do not believe they can make a car run any better than this one! Ill drive this baby for another 5 years.

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  Great All-Around SUV - 2008 Lexus RX 350
  By realtorsales - July 28 - 7:30 am

  I recently purchased a new RX 350. I have been very happy so far! I go through about 35k miles a year, so comfort and quality are my biggest concerns and this vehicle meets these with no problems at all. I trade out about every year and this is by-far the most enjoyable midsize SUV that I have owned. And I have driven everything from Toyota to BMW to Honda. There are a few weird things could be changed but not every vehicle is perfect. Great choice for a comfortable and stylish ride and perfect for sales!

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  June Hybrid review - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By LEXUS 400H - July 26 - 7:43 pm

  Have enjoyed the car immensely. Because of our hills, Im not able to get the mileage I expected, but still is about 8 - 10 mpg better than my 300RX. Lots of nice "whistles and horns" I didnt know about - and leave it to Lexus to include a bilingual valet key to tell the car checker how to start it!!!

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  Smart Car - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Lexus Man - July 26 - 3:23 am

  As with any Lexus, the cars are made to last. However, the Lexus GS 300 is the smartest car on the market. It can fly down the highway and it is easy to drive. The car can tame the road with its impressive power. It is quiet, comfortable and the best deal on any luxury car.