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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  Great Car! - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By LLabrepotsirhc7 - November 2 - 3:26 am

  The Lexus Rx400h is a great car. Nice interior, comfy seats and I love the power liftgate. The 4-month wait for us was worth it! It has a lot of power and is very fuel efficient. We love it and would recommend it any day. Toyota/Lexuss build quality and reliability is great! We look at all other Mid-Size Luxury SUVs and found this to be the best, and it is!

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  Lexus RX350 - 2011 Lexus RX 350
  By Kim Christensen - November 1 - 4:39 am

  Love this SUV

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  We Love it - 2007 Lexus RX 350
  By sender7 - October 31 - 2:53 pm

  Have had mine since Nov 2006. Absolutely love it! I would not hesitate to recommend to anybody. Most comfortable ride of any car I have owned. The only thing is, its so popular around here I see myself coming and going all day long!

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  fantastic - 2004 Lexus SC 430
  By pamelak - October 31 - 10:00 am

  this is a fun, fantastic car to own and drive.............................

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  Smooth as silk; solid, fun, & luxurious! - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By lenaclas - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Safe, smooth as silk, luxurious, and fun! All in one beautiful solid shell. I love it!

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  Great car - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By JRBerry719 - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Have had 3 Jeeps, one test drive in my new 3x330 and I was sold. What a fun car to drive, it is beautiful and very functional for Pacific NW driving. Dealership was fair, honest, and have kept every promise. Great car!

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  I love this vehicle! - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Michelle - October 26 - 11:03 am

  We started out with a 2004 base model RX 330 last year and upgraded this year to a 2005 with AWD, Nav. Sys, DVD player, Mark Levinson stereo, etc... We loved the first one and love this one even more. It handles well, feels safe (IS safe too for that matter), is very comfortable (with a lot of interior space) and has a lot of "bells and whistles" that equal a good value when you compare costs for the same bells and whistles on a BMW or Mercedes! I also LOVE the look of the RX 330 - very sophisticated and sporty. The service from Lexus has been impeccable. I cannot rave enough about this vehicle, and about Lexus in general! Im a fan for life!

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  470 Lx - 2004 Lexus LX 470
  By me2020 - October 26 - 10:00 am

  Great vehicle. Wonderful to drive city and esp highway.

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  the best! - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By crist22 - October 26 - 10:00 am

  I love this car! Its the best car, fun to drive, very comfortable,I have never have any problems with it, my car has 94000miles and it drives excellent, I would recomend it to anyone who likes the good things in life.

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  Absolutely the best in its class! - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Dr. D - October 26 - 7:56 am

  Great vehicle! Above expectations! We were concerned about purchasing the "New Technology" of the Hybrid, but, NO COMPLAINTS! It’s awesome to drive! It does take a little “getting use to” but, in no time, you’ll LOVE driving it. When the engine shuts off and you’re on nothing but battery, the vehicle is quiet as a mouse. My son calls this “Stealth Mode”. The looks you get are funny, they see you moving, but hear nothing. They can’t figure it out. The vehicle runs smooth and quiet during normal operation, you don’t notice the engine shutting down or reengaging, there is NO hesitation what-so-ever. The transmission is superb! One gear, smooth and fast! It just doesnt get better than this!