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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  Lexus SC430 is awesome - 2003 Lexus SC 430
  By ckearney - February 5 - 10:00 am

  After testing the BMW & Mercedes, I drove the SC430 and never looked back. Incredible feel to it and the interior luxury is unmatched.

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  LX-470 is a sweet ride - 2003 Lexus LX 470
  By Mark3101 - February 4 - 1:40 pm

  Very smooth and the 5 speed transmission is better than the old 4 speed I had in my 2000. The interior upgrades are nice as is the adaptive steering. The 2003 is also quieter than the previous models. Gas mileage is not bad, but should be better. Otherwise a great vehicle for driving in all conditions.

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  IS300 Cheaper BMW? - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By pelindaba - February 1 - 10:00 am

  I have enjoyed driving this car.....0-60 in just under 7 seconds on one occasion! Plenty of zip and it handles very well. I think it is an underated car......only drawback is most of the colors are less than appealing. I am averging 22mpg.

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  Love My GS 300 - 2002 Lexus GS 300
  By LuvLexus - February 1 - 1:30 am

  I have owned my 2002 GS 300 for 6 years. It now has 167,000 miles on it and it has been an awesome car. All I have done is had its regular oil changes, changed a belt or two and have had absolutely no issues at all with this car. I prefer driving mine over the newer Lexus loaners I have driven. My car is solid, still drives smoothly, quietly & is quite dependable. This is by far the best car I have ever driven and would definitely buy another Lexus due to its superior quality and performance.

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  Cool - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By BabyCasey - January 31 - 9:56 am

  Good investment. Its a comfortable ride if you drive a long way. Very fuel efficient. City drive is about 24 mpg & highway is about 30 mpg. Very smooth. On the bad side, the trunk space is small & headlights are low.

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  Just what you were promised - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By fred savoy - January 30 - 10:36 am

  This car is precisely what it is supposed to be. A very quiet luxurious ride with ample power and very good gas mileage at a relatively low price.

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  Pursuit of perfection? Please catch up. - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By dbllc - January 29 - 1:36 pm

  I agree with a writers assessment about noises, poor highway handling and the so-so radio. The important problem is the highway handling. At 60 to 65 mph and above, the car seems to have a wobble, and the steering wheel actually shakes. I am still working with a dealer to fix this. From day 3 of owning the car I have had noises, creaks, rattles, whatever inside. Most of the dashboard noise has been fixed now, but other noises are coming from pillars or doors. I drive a lot, so the problems are very disappointing.

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  Great car, but ....... - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By mahesse - January 29 - 9:33 am

  This is a great car, but underpowered. And dont buy it if you care about gas mileage. My biggest complaint however is with the navigation system. It does a poor job of routing often recommending roads that dont exist. Finding destinations is inconvenient. Not being able to operate it while moving makes it almost useless in many circumstances, when there is more than just one person in the car. Our other car has a Garmin that plugs into the lighter, and while not as pretty it is MUCH, MUCH better. I can look for restaurants or gas stations while driving, and we dont have to pull over. BTW, the Bluetooth doesnt always work either.

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  Excellant Review.. - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By quick - January 29 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my IS300 this past July. I am very happy w/ the way it handles and accelerates. The ride is nice and smooth for the tight suspension. I find it easy to out handle the Fire Birds, Camaros and CL-Type S on the road. The GPS system is good. I would probably rate it as 2nd best on the market. It is correct about 90% of the time. I think Acura has the best GPS.

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  Great vehicle - 2005 Lexus LX 470
  By hkypuk10 - January 27 - 10:00 am

  This is the best riding most comfortable SUV i have ever owned. I will never buy any other type of SUV than this one ..It beats all the competition in every category except mileage.. I have owned the rest and this is the best one!!!!!!!!!!