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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  My car - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By June - September 1 - 8:20 pm

  The Lexus RX330 is my second suv. I drove a Lexus RX 300 for several years and found it most satisfactory. The RX 330 performs beautifully, is absolutely reliable, and is ergonomically the best car for me. The size is right; I can do some off-road driving; it performs well during rainy weather; the backup camera, and the navigation system make my driving so much easier. I find loading and unloading this vehicle is easy on my back.

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  Ridin in style - 2003 Lexus GX 470
  By Nico - September 1 - 10:00 am

  Great ride. I really like everything about it. Even if it is my wifes car. Stereo (ML) really pumps (when my wife is not in the car)

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  Lexus - 2002 Lexus LX 470
  By Connor Mulvey - September 1 - 10:00 am

  This SUV rides unbelievable,it is the most comfortable automobile I have been in.

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  Lexus, my dream. - 2000 Lexus ES 300
  By zencrafts - September 1 - 10:00 am

  I have purchased 6 cars in my lifetime. 4 of those care were new, including my Lexus ES 300, Platium Series. This is the first car I have purchased in which I truly love driving. I purchased my car in 2000, I purchased this car as my personal vehicle. My mileage totals less than 36,000 miles. This is because I am retired disabled. I truly love driving this car. I have never at anytime felt any regret for purchasing this vehicle.

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  The right choice - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By 2ndLexus - September 1 - 10:00 am

  Shopped the whole spectrum and came back to Lexus, again. The car exudes their motto "relentless pursuit of perfection", interior is the height of luxury, new 3.3/225hp has the power, exterior is contemporary. What a beautiful car to look at and so smooth and quiet to drive. Top-of-the-line material in every corner. Navigation/ Mark Levinson is the icing on the cake.

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  Paying less for more - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By k5861 - September 1 - 10:00 am

  Having bailed out of a 2001 Cadillac Seville which had an unacceptable number of mechanical/electrical problems, I find this car a Godsend of a bargain. Fit and finish are flawless. There is plenty of power to get up the 8,200 foot hill that separates where I reside from the next town to the East. At about $8-10 K less than a Seville, this car has the quality that Cadillac seems to have foresaken.

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  Spice it up a little more.... - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By b ball - September 1 - 10:00 am

  just buy it. all it needs is a little more power.

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  A Diamond in the rough - Lexus RX330 - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By George Eric - September 1 - 10:00 am

  It looks and rides like a dream. The fit and finish is flawless. No other vehicle has the build quality and reliability this vehicle has.

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  No. Va. RX 330 - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Don in Va. - September 1 - 10:00 am

  The car is quiet, fast, and comfortable for an SUV. I have yet to find anything to complain about in the RX 330s bodywork, interior or engine. I do, however, have a complaint about the transmission. At very low speeds (common when commuting in the Washington DC area), the transmission seems to slip into a sort of nuetral. It does this with a pronounced clunk, and re-engages with another clunk. Three trips back to the dealer have not produced their acceptance that this is a problem. Hopefully they will acknowledge that this is not characteristic of a luxury SUV, nor is it symblomatic of Lexus reputation for quality and customer service.

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  Perfect ; absolutely Perfect - 2012 Lexus LS 460
  By mitchellrowe - August 31 - 7:26 am

  2012 LS 460 ; standard AWD , flawless . now that the automobile is perfect ( even premium michelin rubber) , its time for a model change to create unhappiness for awhile . --- absolutly reccomend the 2012 LS ... save + $ 30 k over a 550s MB with 4 matic ... and no need for constanr maintenance ! .... Beats the pants off the Jag , leaves Caddy in the distant dust , saves $ 100 k over a Bentley . Double Black , or White with Alabaster are stunners . The only MUST HAVE OPTION IS THE LEVINSON RADIO . ( perfect balance , crisp stand out highs , and completely undistorted Bass ( last model year for this model Levinson ) ... Gas Mileage is 24 + on the highway ( 92+ ) mitchell rowe ;