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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  Used but still a lexus - 1998 Lexus ES 300
  By avan - October 24 - 7:03 pm

  I love this car, the 97 to 00 body style with its sporty, deliberate lines stemming from its lifted rear to its lowered front end quite simply seem to flow better than that of the newer models which, though impressive in their own right, seem more to me like that of a family ride. As far as performance is concerned this car handles like a champ and practically drives itself, its impressive 200 hp is more than complemented by its smooth beyond reason shifting. Interior and dash controls are simple and elegant like that you would expect from Lexus. There is a downside in its poor turning radius but its made up for by its ease of handling suitable even to that of a 5th grader. 5 out of 5.

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  Excellent Car - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Jason Chen - October 24 - 6:33 am

  Love my RX 330 but feel little bit powerless

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  great SUV - 2005 Lexus LX 470
  By JMACK - October 23 - 9:33 pm

  The most comfortable SUV I have ever driven. Quality is beyond reproach. Buy one if you can afford it!

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  better than before - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Robert Sofer - October 23 - 9:06 pm

  previously owned an RX 300. this is even better. better handling and comfort. fuel economy is very good for car this size.

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  Lexus ES 350 with Ultra Beats The Rest - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Lexus Finatic - October 23 - 2:53 pm

  We have 905 miles on the odometer, but there are a few problems with it. The homelink refuses to connect with our garage door system. The rear view mirrors tilt down in reverse like theyre supposed to, but they dont come back up. Im sure these problems are nothing that the dealer cant fix, but with a car in this price range, youll expect something better. Size was the issue for us so we looked at the Audi A6, BMW 530xi, the Mercedes E350 4Matic, the Infiniti M35x, and even the Lexus GS350 awd.The ES has the best value and has the best ride for the price even though the handling cant beat some, but its expected.

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  Great Vechicle few concerns. - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By Darlene@FL - October 23 - 2:36 pm

  Purchased car in Jan 2008 with 31k miles. Now, Feb 2010 it has 65k mile. It has many luxury and comfort items which I enjoy. Luv the size, not to big and not to small for an SUV, and luv having an 8 cylinder which gets better gas mileage than the 6 cylinder I used to own. The Bad: Just a couple of issues. Have brought to the shop to fix the sunroof 2 times, it doesnt close all the way and creates air flow noises and leaking. 3 lights came on dash which was intimidating and only had to replace the gas cap. Lately, transmission hesitates when I back up in the mornings and put it into drive. Dealer said it is typical and nothing is wrong, I Hope he is right!!!!

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  Almost Perfect - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Lance - October 23 - 10:40 am

  One of the reasons why I love this car is the styling. It is bold, while still maintaining its GS heritage. First thing you notice when you get inside is the abundance of luxurious materials. Leather is smooth and steering wheel is a dream to hold. Navigation with backup camera is absolutely necessary as visibility is impossible out the back and parking sensors add even more convenience. High performance tires wear out under 25k miles and will be pricey to replace. At 6 feet tall, it fits just right, but any taller and Id be against the roof. Trunk is spacious, but opening is small and trunk springs make it a struggle to close. Need a real trunk closer/opener.

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  LS 430 Ultra is the BEST of the BEST - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By system architect - October 23 - 6:36 am

  The LS 430 Ultra is the very best the car industry has to offer. Heated/cooled seats, perimeter parking sensors, laser-guided cruise control, integrated voice-activated phone - this has it all. My ONLY complaint is that Lexus disables 90% of the GPS functionality once you start moving. That is fine for safety (as the driver needs to pay attention to driving) but COMPLETELY ignores that there might be a passenger there who COULD use it. So instead, we pull over on the shoulder on the highway and risk death, to stop the car to put in the location - that we cant do otherwise because my Lexus is saving me from myself. This is going to be a GREAT lawsuit one day!

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  GX 470...conquering one road at a time - 2003 Lexus GX 470
  By - October 22 - 2:00 am

  This is my first SUV and coming from a two door sports car..this has been a smooth transition. Interior appointments are incredible. The engine is very athletic even with the size. Virtually no road noise and comfort beyond belief.

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  Enjoying it more and more each day - 2010 Lexus HS 250H
  By cody - October 21 - 3:03 am

  Ive had my HS(with navigation/backup camera) for just over a month now. Really enjoying all of the tech and the luxury features I missed on my 08 Accord - like the reverse down mirrors and backup camera. Some like it and some dont, but I really like the look and style of it. I have got 3 compliments and several "look at that new Lexus". I am getting on average 35.3 mpg, just as promised. Im glad I switched to the only dedicated lux hybrid in the market.