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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  Typical Lexus Quality - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By Akent - July 8 - 12:06 pm

  I bought this Lexus online with 51,000 miles as a lease turn-in for my wife. It is even better than expected. The interior was nearly flawless with the most supple leather seats I have ever sat in. I read numerous reviews saying it lacked power, but I have not found that to be true. It was made to be a luxury vehicle, not a fast sports car. The ride is smooth and quiet. It is very different from her last 1993 ES 300 that had over 215,000 miles.

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  FUN FUN FUN - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By lms - July 6 - 10:00 am

  My 2002 has 60k miles in less than two years. No mechanichal problems but cost per mile is high (17" tires). Snow tires a must. Overall, it is the best car I have ever owned, and without a doubt the most fun to drive. I have the 5 spd and wished it had a 6. Comfort zone is 75-90. Extreme noise at 50+ mph with back windows fully down. WOuld buy it again without hesitation.

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  None Like it! - 2000 Lexus LX 470
  By speculator - July 4 - 10:00 am

  We test drove just about all available large size SUVs and never found one that can compete with the ride, looks, and quality.

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  my first lexus - 2002 Lexus SC 430
  By gary L - July 4 - 10:00 am

  HAD IT FOR 4K MILES. A REAL HEAD TURNER, GOT THE INDIGO BLUE W/ECRU. NAV IS OK, BUT NOT TOTALLY ACCURATE. DEALERS SERVICE PEOPLE ARE GREAT, BOUGHT OZ RACING WHEELS FOR $1,000 AT TIRE DISCOUNTERS, ECRU IS VERY TOUGH TO KEEP CLEAN!!! ALREADY GOT 3 CHIPS IN NOSE...MAN THAT FIRST ONE WAS AGGRAVATING!,LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE DEALER CAR WASHES, BUT THEY DO A CRAPPY JOB COMPARED TO ME, SO I END UP DOING IT OVER ANYWAY (SORRY) WOULD LIKE A STIFFER SUSPENSION, MORE LIKE MY X5 BMW. OVERALL, CANT KNOCK THIS GREAT CAR, EVEN THOUGH ITS NOT A MB. GOOD DEAL FOR THE BUCK WITH ALL THE OPTIONS!

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  Finally, the car Ive been looking for - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Brad Gould - July 3 - 2:33 pm

  This is the first car that after owning for a while I havent found anything that I dislike. This oddly enough is also the first car Ive bought without driving first.

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  ES330 2005 - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Coach II - July 3 - 12:26 pm

  Great driving experience, handling is outstanding.2005 design is sleek and just a fun reliable car to drive.

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  mid life - 2005 Lexus SC 430
  By Peter - July 3 - 8:00 am

  I have had my SC 430 since 2002.This car is the best blend of pure elegence and performance. While it wont out corner a 9-11, You wont feel every dead bug on the road. A car for someone who wants to be pampered. The SC 430 is more comfortable than my ES 300. The Mark Levinson sound system is better than my in home Sony system. You will love this car! One thing: it, simply stated, stinks in the snow. With the top up there is a lot of trunk space. With it down, well, thats what the "back seats" are for. It eats gas but if thats a big deal to you, you shouldnt be looking at a 300 hp vehicle.

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  great car!!! - 2008 Lexus IS F
  By EURIEBABY - July 2 - 2:56 pm

  I didnt expect to get 16 mpg on the street on this kind of sports car, but I am getting that. great handling, cornering and braking. This IS-F is just breath-taking. When that mid range intake kicks in, it is monster. Very comfortable seats.

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  Great SUV... our 2nd one - 2008 Lexus RX 350
  By LexusMann - July 1 - 12:30 pm

  To sum it up, this is our second RX. Our first was the 2004 RX 330. However, my wife always liked the Bamboo Pearl color, so when the timing was right, we purchased a 2008 RX 350 in that color. Overall, the vehicles are the same. But I will say the changes made from 2004 to 2008 were needed; performance is better, tighter, and overall a real pleasure. The vehicle is now 3 months old and my wife constantly reminds me of how much she LOVES her new car.

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  Overall good car - 1997 Lexus ES 300
  By Lexus Es 300 - July 1 - 12:40 am

  Purchased this car in 2002. It had 59000 mi. on it. Now the odometer shows 98000. No major problems, except with the radio system. The LCD screen is unreadable. It is very annoying. The dealer wont admit that this is a recall. Also had to replace a gasket seal due to a leak. Regular oil change and the car is fine!