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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  Good but not Great - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By PMMilam - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Very close to perfect for the $$ but small items get aggrevating the more you drive the car. Should charge $300 for each NAV update and updates are too far between.

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  superb car - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By mishrick - January 24 - 10:00 am

  beats all cars in all categories

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  Lexus LS430 - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By markkhome - January 24 - 10:00 am

  This car is well thought out. the DVD Naviagation is the easiest to read. The Bluetooth tech. is a little difficult to use. Everything else is great.

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  Best Sedan on the Road - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By hockie - January 24 - 10:00 am

  This is my fourth LS 430 (previously LS 400) I have owned BMW, Mercedes, and Infiniti and have driven the Jaguar equivalent sedans and the 430 clearly overall outperforms and out rides them all.

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  The Perfect Car - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By l;mmmcdowell - January 24 - 10:00 am

  This car is a joy to get into and drive every time. Hard to believe they could make a vehicle so enjoyable to drive in all conditions and even sitting in traffic is nice because of the great sound system ( I used to be a Hi-Fi dealer) and the filtered air comming into the car.

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  Newby Review - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By Tom Jordan - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Although we have had the car for only a little over a month, I couldnt be more pleased. The car rides very firmly, it handles well, has more power than you would ever need and is very comfortable and spacious. If I could change one thing it would be the front seats, making them wrap a little more, but they make up for that by being tall enough to make the head rest comfortable and useable. Great car, worth the money and fun to own.

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  superb! - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By lexo - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Excellent vehicle with comfort and style.

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  Great car! - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By cheryldi - January 24 - 10:00 am

  My husband has wanted this car for over seven years. He finally got it for his birthday, and we were not disappointed. It seems like I am learning something new about our car every day. My favorite features are the guidance system and keyless entry. His favorite feature is the high end accelleration. We also have an RX300. I know we will always buy Lexus. They are wonderful cars!

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  LS 430 rave - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By jlonthroad - January 24 - 10:00 am

  superior vehicle in every respect

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  DREAM CAR - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By VITO VIVIANO - January 24 - 10:00 am

  THIS MY FIFTH LEXUS 430. PREVIOUS MODELS WERE LS400. THERE IS NO FINER AUTOMOBILE. TRUST ME-- I USED TO DRIVE MERCEDES.