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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  Doesnt get much better - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Julia - January 23 - 9:38 pm

  I got my ES330 with just under 100,000. Im at almost 130,000 after 2.5 years. So far its the best car Ive ever owned. Ive only had to do preventative maintenance on it, such as a timing belt, spark plugs and oil changes. Ive gotten everything done at the Lexus dealership and at very fair prices. Thanks to this car, it will be hard to ever drive anything other than a Lexus.

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  Windshield Problem! Dont buy the heads up display - 2016 Lexus RX 350
  By Sam - January 23 - 3:21 pm

  If you want to buy the RX 350 with heads up display, I suggest you wait. I bought this car in March of 2016 and the windshield has a problem. there is a double vision where the all the lights (cars, traffic lights, street lights) are doubled. The dealer changed it once and the problem is still there. The deal says this is the was Lexus designed the windshield, which is a lie!! I contacted Lexus customer satisfaction team and they believed the dealer without even inspecting the car. I warn you from buying these cars. It has other minor problems too. Such a waist of money. Paid $61,000 thinking that its a luxury car. I think I will go back to BMW and Audi

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  2 RX 300s, 2 Good Experiences - 2001 Lexus RX 300
  By Southeatern Owns 2 - January 23 - 4:46 am

  I purchased a 99 RX 300 in 2005 for my college daughter. Early in 2008, after 3 years of excellent service and tremendous utility and service from that vehicle, I purchased a 2001 silver one for myself. Both had just under 100K miles when purchased, both perform better than most new vehicles. If you are looking for excellent service, a used Lexus is a good bet. Repairs are rare, maintenance costs are very reasonable, and the cost to operate are low for the level of service, reliability, and safety delivered. Regular gas is a plus, mileage on these vehicles is around 21-22 combined. Solid vehicle.

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  50,000 and 3 sets of tires later - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By thebratz - January 22 - 12:23 pm

  My car is a service nightmare. Every time I bring it in they tell me I need new tires. Maintenance tells me this is standard on this model. It wont start some days and Lexus is not able to tell me what the problem is. I have never made it out the door without paying over $1,000 in repairs. It is a nice car and fun to drive but not worth the headaches of needing to be somewhere and not being able to get it started. Lexus does not seem to understand its own hybrid technology yet when problems occur.

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  Gas Mileage - 2008 Lexus LS 460
  By williamjamos - January 21 - 9:10 pm

  While Im a little confused looking at the EPA estimated miles-per-gallon performance, I certainly do enjoy the performance of my LS. Around town, including a 25-mile interstate trip once a week, Im enjoying 19-21 mpg. On a highway trip when traffic is moving, I can almost achieve 32 mpg, and thats at 75-80 mph. Except for a trunk opener failure, this is an unbelievable machine.

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  My happy car - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By MCJ - January 21 - 5:23 pm

  Bought it in CA as Certified Pre-Owned. I love the CPO warranty (3 years from purchase and up to 100K total vehicle miles), but havent had to use it. Driving it never fails to bring a smile to my face. Now that its in New England, it is much more rare to see another one, but that only makes it more of a head-turner. The car is small, but comfortable enough for a foursome to go golfing in. I drove it across country in 3 days full of cargo with no complaints. Other than a problem with the dealer fixing my seat heaters (they eventually replaced my seats for me), no unexpected maintenance. Love this car!

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  Great car, missed important protection - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Kaye - January 21 - 9:23 am

  Car has a great drive and is fun to be in..

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  Great car - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By luis - January 20 - 8:03 am

  The best touring car yet. Smooth is an understatement. Well built.

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  Flying ole lady - 2016 Lexus RX 350
  By M Carmack - January 18 - 4:00 pm

  Like the RX but the transmission is so rough, I cant believe it is a Lexus. Like regular gas instead of high-test.comfortable in both front and back seats. Disappointed in low gas mileage. Had by 2011 RX hybrid and I liked it better.

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  sport design - 2003 Lexus GS 300
  By audit - January 18 - 10:00 am

  The GS 300 sport edition is a fun car to drive. The cabin is roomy and I can put all three car seats in the back row. The titanium accents and unique color (graphite gray) are some of its special features