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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  best of the "small" luxury cars - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By russ heisinger - February 17 - 10:00 am

  I hardly expected the quality of build that is shown in this car. It is excellent. The V-6 is plenty quick enough for entering short on ramps to the expressway, and it handles well. One has to remember, this is a luxury car, not a Vette! So far, it is the best car I have ever owned out of the 30 or so I have had.

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  Amazing SUV - 2000 Lexus LX 470
  By Rob - February 13 - 4:10 pm

  I bought this car new in 2000 and she now has 120,000 miles on her. I often comment to my friends how well the car still drives. I really mean it. After all those miles, the ride is still extraordinarily smooth. The car has held up quite well and all I have had to replace is the front brake rotors. If you are looking for comfort in a big SUV, this is the one to buy! You can get them for good prices used and since they hold up so well, dont be afraid of buying them used with maybe 50+k miles. Also, the thing is an absolute TANK when it comes to snow. I have literally taken mine through 2 feet of snow without hesitation. Its the best car in the snow that I have ever owned.

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  my golden McNugget! - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By Mackenzie, Brocks daughter - February 10 - 6:17 am

  hi i am Mackenzie! I got McNugget for my first car at 16 years old this past summer with only 101,000 miles. WOW! Yes it did smell like moth balls and it had an exhaust leak, but it sat at my grandparents in Florida for 2 years, so what do you expect. The battery has some trouble in these cold Connecticut winters! The butt warmers work great in the snowy weather, as does the AWD system! It does have a temper, like me, and it doesnt like to start sometimes, then give it 10 minutes and it starts right up. It is 14 years old though, so what do you expect! It honestly is a great car if you dont always need reliability and you want to be known for the weird smells in the parking lot, so what do you expect, eh?

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  All Around A Great Experince - 2012 Lexus ES 350
  By U.S. Coast Guard - February 9 - 11:20 pm

  While I have not owned my car since new, it has been such a great experience from both the performance aspects of both the car and the dealership, Lexus of Omaha. I have been a loyal Buick owner for 15 years and when it came time to replace my Park Avenue Ultra, I cringed. Buick no longer makes the Park Avenue and I have not been thrilled with their latest offerings. Reliability and longevity were my criteria in selecting my new car. So many people that have owned a Lexus product swear by the reliability of the cars. One owner I talked to was on their third Lexus having got 430,000 miles on the first one, and 375,000 miles on the second with no transmission problems. Consumer reports also rates the Lexus brand as having a good track record for reliability. I chose to go with a pre-owned Lexus ES 350 with 44,000 miles. Having the warranty from the Lexus dealer was added peace of mind. The ride comfort, low cabin noise level, and acceleration made missing the Park Avenue for just those reasons relieve me from my angst. Driving is part of my job as a manager and all-around comfort and performance are of major importance. The other aspect of owning a Lexus has been the experience of how I have been treated by everyone at the dealership, especially Rob, the general manager. I had reservations about not driving an American made car, but the way the dealership has gone out of their way to make sure I was happy has been absolutely exceptional and without peer in my all my years. This is the way we used to do business in this country by taking care of the customer, and in my mind, this removed any anxieties I had of not buying an American car. My fiancee having been witness to my experience, decided to get a new Lexus from Rob and his team. In doing so, she gave up the albatross of high cost of ownership that comes with every BMW, where the cost of service borders upon being absurd. I am so totally sold. The dedication and service that Lexus of Omaha has shown to me by exceeding my expectations makes the dedication to the Lexus product and people all that easier and gratifying.

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  Amazing Vehicle - 2008 Lexus LX 570
  By Anthony H - February 9 - 9:23 pm

  This car is incredibly quiet yet powerful. The fit and finish is unparallelled.

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  Very good - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By R.B.Benson - February 9 - 10:06 am

  Uses a tad bit more fuel than I thought it would. Has good acceleration, but could use a little more at top end, on ahill.In all it is a joy to drive , seats are comforatable, adjustments OK. I would like turning signal lights on mirrors. I would probably buy another one

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  To Date, A Great Car - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By R. Howard - February 8 - 7:16 am

  The new ES 350 has been a great car to date. If youre looking for an entry level luxury car at a decent price, its definitely worth a look. It can get pricey with all of the options, but if you watch it, its actually a pretty good value in this segment. Ride, handling, performance, build quality and gas mileage have not disappointed. Although our car still has very few miles on it, I would recommend it. Worth a look and a test drive. It might not match some "sports sedans" in all areas, but I think its an overall very good performer that will hold its value well and be satisfying over the long run.

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  GX470 Rocks - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By Stiffelrep - February 7 - 8:13 pm

  I drive over 30,000 miles per year. I need a heavy car that is comfortable and that handles well. I have owned four SUVs prior to this one. The GX470 is awsome. I like this car so much that I bought one for my wife in June.

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  I what I hoped for in a luxury car - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By carbuff - February 6 - 3:26 pm

  The ES 350 has met or exceeded my every expectation. It is comfortable, safe and sedate. It is equipped with every feature that I think a luxury car should have.

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  I enjoy driving this car every day - 1999 Lexus LX 470
  By ohsupharmd - February 6 - 3:36 am

  I love the comfort and realibity of this car. I wanted an SUV with a look, performance, comfort, realibility and I found the LX. I just make sure I change the oil every 3 months, and do the maintenance at recommended mileage. I wish Lexus offered 22 inch rims for the car; it is very hard to find a rim that will fit the car. It has an unusual ball pattern. Great car, what else can anyone ask for?