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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  GS300 in Georgia - 2000 Lexus GS 300
  By Paige - September 12 - 10:00 am

  The GS300 caught my attention due to Lexus reputation for perfection plus this car has a sporty element to the styling and handling. My only major dislike about the car is the method the climate control system uses in the winter to establish the cabin temperature that results in blowing cold air on the driver. This is by design and unfixable by the dealer. It makes driving in the 30 degree temps sometimes frustrating if you do not like cold air in the winter even in the manual mode setting.

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  Lexus 400 - 1999 Lexus LS 400
  By Jim Ricketts - September 12 - 10:00 am

  It has the ride of luxury sedan yet it can be a performance vehicle when you punch it. Great gas mileage. Lousy cup holders!

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  PERFECTION! - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By Bdiddy - September 12 - 10:00 am

  GOOD CAR!!! BUY BUY BUY!!

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  Lots of Luxury! - 2008 Lexus ES 350
  By Betty - September 8 - 8:46 pm

  Ive had 6 new cars and this is the most luxurious yet. I love all of the fancy features. It is a joy to drive, gets EXCELLENT gas mileage and is very comfortable for my 40 mile roundtrip commute each day. I did a lot of research prior to purchase and the only other car that beat the LEXUS was the 2009 Jaguar XF. Unfortunately, my budget wouldnt allow that but Im very happy with my second choice.

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  Fun Driving - 2003 Lexus GX 470
  By Herb Pawlitsch - September 7 - 10:00 am

  The GX 470 is fun and powerful driving machine. It is a good looker and not something you see on the road every day. The comfort and little creature features of a Lexus are evidnet. I upgraded from the RX 300 to the GX 470 without regrets

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  Favorite Car Ever - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By jroosh - September 7 - 10:00 am

  I really like this car, my second Lexus. It is fun to drive and trouble- free, and you dont see very many on the road. Loaded for the money. Everything a 3-series is without the constant trips to the service department. Great dealerships.

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  Great Vehicle - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By spindoctor10 - September 7 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is very refined and plush. The driving is unbelievable and the amenities are incredible. Before you purchase any suv you have to at least drive the RX!

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  Cross country experience - 2007 Lexus LS 460
  By Tom N - September 6 - 5:56 pm

  I drove my LS 460L on two long trips, one 1,200 miles, the other 4,300 miles. The car was flawless. Using radar cruise, MPG was as high as 30.1 and no lower than 26.7 in a very strong headwind. With a 22.2 gallon tank, the range is terrific and after driving long stretches there was very little driver fatigue. This is my fourth Lexus and the only car of the four that was perfect right off the lot. Having recently owned competitor’s cars, I think this is the very best value on the market today. I drove the LS 460L, Mercedes 550, and BMW 750 back to back. When driving each car I couldn’t find enough of a driver experiene difference so my decision came down to features and the Lexus won.

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  How I wish to be in it now - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By TheMULTIMEDIAman - September 4 - 5:13 am

  The best purchase that I made in automobiles. Saw the vehicle on the lot at night and two days later the vehicle was in my garage. All done over the telephone. Documents signed in a hamburger joint parking lot Hassle free! Lexus knows how to treat their clients

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  Great car - 2007 Lexus RX 400H
  By Rx - September 3 - 7:33 am

  The 400h has great acceleration. It is a well built car and very comfortable. Average gas mileage is 28 MPG, therefore consistent with other reviews. The navigation system is the worst part of the package. Acura has an excellent navigation system.