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:

• 

  Shoulda kept the Cadillac - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By BigBen - September 19 - 3:13 am

  I just traded my 2006 Cadillac DTS for a Lexus RX 350. The Lexus is everything I expected, but I miss the Cad. Almost everything is done well and works as designed. Unfortunately, for a Luxury car, it just doesnt ride like a luxury car. The Cad was much better in ride, handling, power, and mileage. I wish now I had bought the Lincoln MKX .

• 

  Squeaks and rattles - 2009 Lexus LS 460
  By SteveF - September 19 - 1:46 am

  Great car except for the squeaks and rattles in both the drivers and front passenger doors and in the drivers seat. Had it back to the dealer 4 times in 5 months - I finally gave up and sold the car back to the dealer and took a loss. Is this really the pursuit of perfection? Goodbye Lexus - you built a true lemon. Never had these problems with my S-class or 7 series cars.

• 

  I am glad I bought GX470 - 2003 Lexus GX 470
  By WLu - September 18 - 2:00 am

  I was debating between GX and LX. Ended up getting the GX! It is a nice car and feels very modern compared to the LX that feels just a bit dated. The performance and gas milage is excellent for a truck this size.

• 

  IS has it all - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By archtctura - September 18 - 2:00 am

  The overall performance and handling of the car is superb given that its lexus first shot into the mid-size sport category. I have driven the car in the heat of arizona summers and the cold of chicago winters and truely say it starts without a complaint. The build quality is what you would expect from toyota, plastic to fill in the voids, and a horrible paint job! The design aspects of the car such as aggressive lines on a 5 star 17" low profiles is great to look at in the parking lot and interior was cutting edge and the first of its kind.

• 

  You must test drive it at highway speeds - 2003 Lexus RX 300
  By shmerls - September 18 - 2:00 am

  It drives great in the city, badly on the highway. The front feels heavy and you have to steer it all the time. It doesnt just cruise straight. The steering is progressive power steering which gets more like manual steering the faster you go. Feels like a truck without power steering on the highway. This makes highway driving tedious and tiring - your arm muscles are always slightly flexed like isometrics. The CD and AC and heater controls are confusing and not intuitive. If you lower the steering wheel, you cant see the blinkers or the mirror controls. The estimated gas mileage is not accurate. Im only getting 16 mpg. I am VERY sorry I bought it.

• 

  Rear Door Rattles - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By 4ali - September 18 - 2:00 am

  This is a powerful vehicle but is not at all quick off the starting line. The adaptive variable suspension works well and responds to the drivers mood. The ride quality is truly "creamy". Braking distances are very competitive. If you can afford the Mark Levinson sound system, you wont regret it.

• 

  Fun for work and very safe - 2006 Lexus RX 330
  By barnacle - September 17 - 4:06 pm

  It is by far one of the most fun vehicles I have ever owned. I now have about 12000 miles on my RX 330 and I have enjoyed every mile. One day the speakers sounded funny, I brought it into service. Service replaced all the speakers due to one which was cracked. You cannot beat that feeling you have finally purchased a quality car/suv. My car/suv rides like a car and completes all of the requirements of the suvs that I have owned in the past 20 years. I would buy again.

• 

  Amazing... leaves you speechless - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By John - September 16 - 7:16 am

  This car is amazing. Besides its sleek design, in and out, it has great handling capabilities and drives as smooth as glass. This car is amazing compared to its price. It is totally worth considering. I think the 06 GS is the best in its class. I just got one and I couldnt be any happier.

• 

  sensibility - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By mel - September 12 - 1:30 pm

  This car glides on butter-very comfy to drive. If you like to feel the road, the jerky motions and tossing around on your seat, this is not for you. Most sensible and reliable car on this planet. You can pay more for better acceleration and sharper looks, but why? I am comfortable with myself and have no needs for bigger ego from a fancy type. I can live in this car! No others provide the same refinement.

• 

  Lexus GX 470 - 2003 Lexus GX 470
  By TNL - September 12 - 10:00 am

  I have been driving an ML 320 for the past 3 years, finally I got rid that nightmare tri star. The GX 470 is a completely better SUV all around compare to the ML 320, it behave very well for such a large vehicle. Smooth engine, quite interior and very well built vehicle, if you are in the market for a luxury SUV, give the GX 470 a try. You will like it. Dealers begin to discount now, so shop around and enjoy your new toy. I got a great deal from Lexus of Thousand Oaks ( I got a fully loaded one for way below the MSRP )