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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  2001 AWD RX300 - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By 2001RX300 - November 10 - 10:00 am

  I love my Lexus. Im 21 so I get all sorts of strange looks from older people with the same car. The stereo is loud, really loud, but lacks bass. and one more thing.. for the price differance its way WAY better then a Highlander. Never drove a X5 or a ML series, cant afford so never tried. As for a MDX i didnt like the looks as much as a RX300, i was going for luxury not a off-road vehicle. If its like that i would have got a Yukon or a Durango. But this is my opinion and if you dont agree thats just your taste.

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  Goes - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By gordon thorpe - November 7 - 12:36 pm

  THe RX400 flies like a rocket. Hard to hold down to 70. Gas mileage is excellent and navigation system is a real treat. Best car I have ever owned.

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  When you Care Enough to Drive the Best - 2007 Lexus LS 460
  By James R - November 6 - 5:03 pm

  We have owned 5 Lexus cars and the LS 460 is the best in a grouping of cars that were all outstanding. The attention to detail, the comfort and style, inside and out, are exceptional. We have been approached several times by people wanting to look at the car and to congratulate us on having such a beautiful automobile. Dollar for dollar, there is no other luxury car in its class that comes close to the Lexus LS 460.

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  Excellent Car - 2008 Lexus LS 460
  By KJM090 - November 6 - 12:20 pm

  True luxury vehicle with no real drawbacks. Acceleration excellent at all speeds and driving conditions. Went with all the bells and whistles. No wind noise experienced at highway speeds so far. Driver feedback from steering wheel could be greater compared to a M45 or 5 series. Liked LS 460 ride and street acceleration much better than considerably more expensive 7 series. Much more luxurious and larger than 5 series or M45. Great mileage so far. Fit and finish are excellent. Only driven 1500 miles so far but includes lots of driving including highways and rough back roads. Extremely comfortable.

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  best entry-level luxury baby - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By chrislee - November 5 - 2:00 am

  previous had a bmw 323i and wasnt too happy with its reliability. always in dealership to get small things fixed. a little too sporty for my taste. finally saved enough money and traded that in for a lexus es330. totally happy in the last 2.5 months. incredible ride and luxury for a good price. lots of interior room, too.

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  New Lexus Owner Experience - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By Jeson - November 5 - 2:00 am

  Just bought ES330 and sold 96 Avalon. Disagree ES330=Camry comment. What I compared here is top equipped 96 Avalon vs. top equipped ES330. Here is something I didn’t expect: 1. accelerate from 0 to normal is not strong as expected, or even slower than my Avalon. 2. Related with 1, the gas mileage is much better than Avalon (33-35 in highway and 26 in city, is it a problem for the particular car or for a new car?). 3. The 4th generation Navigation System is impressive, it is the item you MUST have. It is not only an elegant GPS mapping and road information system, it also makes everything easy to control: Audio, Radio, CD, etc.

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  Beware of 2004 Transmission - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By ces2 - November 5 - 2:00 am

  I purchased an ES330 based on the Lexus reputation. The transmission hesitates when changing gears. Lexus states the transmission is OK and there is nothing they can do about the hesitation in shifting gears. So much for Lexus quality.

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  2nd Timer - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By NORO - November 4 - 10:00 am

  This is my second RX300 and it just gets better. I leased a 1999 for 39 months and loved it, hated to give it up. So I leased a 2002 and love it even more. It feels more refined and just gets better and better. TRY ONE!!!!!

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  2001 Lexus LS 430 - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By Les - November 3 - 9:03 pm

  Flawless reliability, after 5 years and 95000 miles not one repair issue. My only visit to the dealer was to have the Nav system re-programmed due to a satellite change (they sent me $50 for my trouble). It is still as solid and tight as the day I bought it, still not a hint of wind noise.

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  900 miles so far and no regrets - 2008 Lexus ES 350
  By Don - November 3 - 7:20 pm

  I never thought Id want a Lexus; then I drove an ES350 and it made me forget the competition. The ride is incredibly smooth but still very solid, not floaty. The car is very quiet. I like the standard radio; sound quality is fine for me. Definitely drive a few and drive for a while; I think the seats are very different without the Premium Plus package; w/o the PP package the lumbar support was just painful; PP seats with base extender feel very different; very comfortable for me. Gas mileage is impressive for a V6. Controls seem well placed. I like the power outlet in the glovebox; you plug your phone in to recharge it and use the bluetooth to make calls.