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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  The Lexus Dream SC430 - 2003 Lexus SC 430
  By kent smith - August 5 - 10:00 am

  This is a LUXURY sports car. Dont be fooled by reviews that think this needs to be a Ferrari in the corners, but it certainly holds its own. There is so much automation in this car, you have to do very little to drive down the road. Everyone I show the car and give rides to is in awe of the fantastic look, feel, ride, and comfort provided. I have the run-flat tires, but only 1000 miles so far with no complaints so far. It is as fun with the top up as it is down. If you need to move 3 or 4 our people a lot, this is not your car. It is good for the occasional short run to lunch with 3.

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  Good Hybrid SUV - 2008 Lexus RX 400H
  By New Hybrid Fan - August 4 - 9:43 pm

  I love mine so far. Got before Thanksgiving and drove through the mountains. My husband was heavy on the gas pedal the whole time and still averaged just under 26mpg which is great since most cars and SUVS get 15-20mpg. On my daily business driving, I average 27-28 mpg and have gotten as high as 30 mpg. Im careful to not be heavy on the pedal or breaks and coast as much as I can. This doesnt mean I have to stay at the speed limit, you can still average 70 mph.

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  Best purch I ever made - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By bob - August 4 - 10:56 am

  Bought it new. Have put on 135K miles so far with no problems other than normal wear items. Runs like a top. Still love to drive this car. Wonderfully crisp handling, great powerband. No probs w/fuel economy. I get the mfrs rating of 25 mpg on the highway with 70mph cruising. One of Toyotas finest creations.

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  Best lexus sedan for the money - 1998 Lexus GS 300
  By Wayne859 - August 3 - 11:10 am

  I have owned 3 GSs over the last 6 years and the 98 is the one I currently drive. This car is smooth, well built and a pleasure to drive. Buying it used is easy, because its a Lexus. No unscheduled repairs (Ive put 55k mls on this one and 65k mls on another)! Almost same interior as the LS with better mileage. Better quality feel than the ES. It is expensive to service, but far less than a BMW or Mercedes would be, and if you find a good independent repair shop youre a lot better off. I highly recommend this car.

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  ES - Executive Shmoney 330 - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Furious Stylez - August 2 - 2:21 pm

  Had this vehicle for going on 2 years and it backs up for what it stands for: Lexus ES – Executive Sedan. Im in my 30s and this serves as a professional yet chilled statement car for comfort and safety freaks. Young smart professionals can still flex with the Joneses without “doing too much” like the sporty pretentiousness of a BMW or Mercedes-Benz. The Lexus attitude prides itself on giving you loyalty and luxury in an affordably smart way. V6 is better on gas: Premo octane isn’t required on this model—Mid-grade will help you save on that shmoney! Its a commuter’s bestie and comfortable for long rides. I had to level-up and get the voice navigation with Mark Levinson sound. NO--I cant stand that it didnt come with Bluetooth interface--but no biggie (went to Walmart and bought an FM Transmitter for like 40 bucks--#HOWBOUTDAT). Whisper quiet: can barely hear the engine running and the cabin acoustics is great for when I have to clear my head from a trying day’s work at the office. Be disloyal and hit up another brand outside Lexus? I have SERIOUS doubts about that.

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  The Little Things - 2010 Lexus HS 250H
  By Jess - July 28 - 7:46 am

  This is my 4th Lexus. Traded in 07 Acura MDX 14-16mpg city so 35mpg is welcomed. Car handles well and has a smooth ride. The controls on the steering wheel column are not illuminated, nor are the garage open/close buttons on the rear view mirror...its the little things! The tech package is fun to use. Storage is a problem. With all the manuals in the glove box theres not much room for anything else. Center console box is very small. Steering wheel feels cheap. Fit and finish is what to expect from Lexus. Navi system is easy to use as is Bluetooth. The map screen & the audio info will not display @ the same time, ie: station and song info, etc.. its the little things.

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  Great Vehicle - 2003 Lexus GX 470
  By ceksc - July 24 - 2:00 am

  An excellent car. The ride quality outstancing and the ergonomics are great. I believe the Lexus LX and the new Range Rover are the only comparable cars in the class. In addition you can not ignore the fact that this car is loaded with safety features-- a quality that is important in a sport utility. I do reommend buying the car with the navigation system. It is an outstanding system. This car has an unbelievable selection of gadgets.

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  Sporty and Fun - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By Royster - July 24 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. Its more fun than I deserve.

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  Great Luxury Car - 1998 Lexus LS 400
  By svimburg1 - July 22 - 1:10 pm

  Smooth, quiet and powerful. Drive 400 miles on a tank of gas in serene comfort. My three young children prefer taking the LS 400 where they must sit side by side in the back versus taking our van where two of them can ride in captains seats while the third has the back row to himself. The car amazingly seems to promote family harmony. I bought my car in January 2014 with 133K on the odometer and it has run flawlessly for 8,000 miles over the past seven months. The original owner took excellent care of this car after he paid 60 grand for it. Although it cost much less as a used car, I am still maintaining it and treating it like new. Love this car!!

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  Nice Ride - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By GJ - July 19 - 7:33 pm

  This car takes the stress out of driving. The ride is quiet and smooth. The car is so quiet that you can appreciate the high quality sound system. You are isolated from all the madness around you in the comfort of leather. The navigation system took me from my garage to a resort in Lake Tahoe CA without a miss (Unlike a back seat driver).