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 - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Edward - October 20 - 12:00 am

  I have loved this car from the start, it drives great and is a really reliable car. It has never been in the repair shop. The only problem is the hesitation i guess only in AWD models; somethings is weird with the transmission.

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  Almost Heaven - 1998 Lexus LS 400
  By NoVa - October 19 - 10:56 pm

  Great car for full-sized American. At 6-2 and 275 lbs, I fit easily and comfortably in this car better than any I have ever driven. Effortless man-machine interface - this car is takes the stress out of driving in the DC areas insane traffic. Not sporty or flashy - but has plenty of performance if you need it.

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  Happy with purchase - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By TBPoulton - October 18 - 8:30 pm

  Rides like a magic carpet. Smooth, quiet, luxurious, comfortable.

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  03 RX300 - 2003 Lexus RX 300
  By chris029 - October 17 - 10:00 am

  An absolute pleasure to drive this vehicle. Very smooth and quiet. Handles well in all weather conditions. Comfortable and roomy interior. Plenty of space for cargo in the back. One or both seats folds down, a very nice feature. Sound system is superior. Lots of cup holders and other various storage locations which are well hidden when not in use. Overall, a sharp vehicle that is fun to drive.

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  RX330 verdict - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By miclam - October 17 - 10:00 am

  It looks as good as it handles the road, and being in the inside definition gives the most satisfaction of all cross-over. Almost all the novel innovations possible for 2003 and they actually work: pretty HID headlights with AFS and autoleveling, air suspension, airbag network, power rear door, advanced in-dash CD changer with ASL, laser cruise control, backup camera, EL lit console, retained accessory power, auto up/down on all four windows, dual zone climate, driver by wire, iridium spark plugs, pretty 18" wheels, even a cup holder with blue LED.

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  LX 470 Ultimate SUV - 2003 Lexus LX 470
  By DRK - October 17 - 2:00 am

  Was going to buy a GX470 but upgraded to LX470 once found out about SUV Tax break for SUV over 6000 ibs GVWR thanks to edmunds.com. I am very satisfied with this ultimate Luxury SUV. Excellent ride, comfort, and value.

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  Great car, but not flawless. - 1998 Lexus LS 400
  By Hawkman - October 17 - 2:00 am

  Dont get me wrong, I absolutely love my LS400, but being the critic that I am...I was expecting even more perfection. Still the best car Ive driven, though, when it comes to peace and serenity. Stereo system is good but not as heart thumping as I was expecting. My Jeep GC 5.9 Limited with only an amped 12" sealed sub sounded better. Transmission is awfully jumpy at times. Slow speed transitions can result in head snapping if not gentle with gas pedal. The car is SOO quiet, that I am able to hear every little thing. I have a small rattle in the door when driving over bumpy roads...small vibration/rattle in the sunroof also. Thats it.

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  I like It - 2003 Lexus RX 300
  By Vel - October 17 - 2:00 am

  Nice styling. Comfy ride. Good handling. Plenty of safety features, luxerious. Also good fuel efficiency for an SUV. Great value. Can be had for less then invoice with the new RX 330s out.

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  A class of its own - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By denver driver - October 15 - 4:23 am

  Bought ES 350 after driving much of the competition. I drove this one last and quickly realized the car was ar superior to the others. It it truly luxuriuos. The leather is so soft and comfortable. The interior is high quality, with the exception of a few cheap plastic items, such as the coin & sunglass holders, etc. Drive & steering is very smooth - the other cars I test drove werent even close. An unbelievable amount of options on this car and technology out of this world. Sports-car like power, but corners fast poorly. Quiet drive under 55. Smooth styling. Nav. well worth the money. I love cars have owned many nice ones. This is my favorite yet.

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  Initial impression - 2010 Lexus RX 450h
  By Burt10 - October 14 - 11:16 pm

  Very impressed with the RX450h. Excellent comfort and fun to drive. Takes a while to get familiar with all the capability but basic operation is easy and intuitive. Very good dealer service.