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 SUV - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By Thomas E. Dahlberg - May 6 - 12:03 pm

  This vehicle is great. The handling, power and comfort are amazing. The engineers did their homework and anticpated needs I was unaware I had. I strongly recommend the Navagational/DVD options. My model has the Dynamic Kinetic System and drives backroads like it is on rails.

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  Worst Car Ever Purchased. - 2000 Lexus RX 300
  By Upset with Lexus - May 5 - 5:13 pm

  I bought this car for reliability and have put so much money into repairs on this car that Ive exceeded the value of the car. At 110,000 miles the transmission went out! (I thought Lexus built quality) I have had to replace 4 oxygen censors at the tune of $450 each. The engine now leaks oil. Just got new oxygen sensor last week & various other repairs ($800) today the check engine light came on again!! I am so disappointed in Lexus. I contacted them about the transmission problem which 1000s of people are having and received nothing! I thought when I bought Lexus I was buying a great car that would last forever!! NOT!! U need to trade this car at 80000.

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  Fun and Green, Too - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Carol - May 5 - 4:13 pm

  This car has it all - incredible handling, luxurious appointments (there are literally no options on this model). The driving experience is flawless with excellent performance all around. If you want a hybrid that can match a BMW in response and feel, this is it. And getting 30 mph with super low emissions is the icing on the cake. Lexus has done everything right in this car. It is a pleasure to drive and own and Lexus customer service is truly an experience.

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  A Very Good Car - 2005 Lexus GS 300
  By OC Driver - May 5 - 4:03 am

  This is a very quiet and comfortable car. It has good power, great steering and great brakes. Controls are logical and well placed. The standard sound system is a good one. Very solid feel. The interior is nicer than that of competing vehicles. If you have to have a very fast car, look at a G35 or TL, but neither is a quiet or roomy. The G35 makes significant noise if you are cruising and step on it even a little bit. Smaller, more expensive, but very nicely done is the Audi S4. All of the little things are right on this car, but it is the last year of this version.

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  Comfortable Cruiser - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By mb280sl - May 4 - 3:56 pm

  This vehicle is hard to beat for the combination of luxury, comfort, reliability and economy. Not as exciting to drive as a BMW and somewhat underpowered, unlike the 07 GS 350, but just as comfortable and more economical. Build quality is legendary, as is reliability. This is my second Lexus and I would not drive anything else.

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  What I Expected - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Carolina Rocket - May 4 - 6:53 am

  Car is exactly what I expected except the gas consumption. Tried to save money by using mid grade instead of the premium required. Have gone back to premium and expect mileage to improve. Sound system is fantastic. Steering is equal to the S2000. Room in the rear is much better than expected.

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  Sleeper Sports Hatch - 2016 Lexus CT 200H
  By Peter - May 3 - 9:28 am

  Bought this car "certified" used from my Lexus dealer. Best decision ever. It performs beautifully. Lots of warranty . Dont believe the " slow acceleration" and /or "poky" performance claims - this car, if driven properly (sport mode works well), takes off like a shot and corners very well. Certainly not like a supercharged JAG, but well within sporty car realms, for a lot less money. The build quality is superb, as it should be for a Lexus. The cockpit feels, for my 150 lb. frame, just right, is very luxurious , (almost like my wifes ES 350 ) and it fits! Plenty of room in the back for cargo, too. The ride quality could be improved, though. Those low profile tires are terrible, they dont add much to cornering prowess, at reasonable speeds, and just give you lousy ride quality. All this saved, I love the car overall and hope to enjoy it for a few more years.

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  Mechanically great but a few particulars - 2008 Lexus RX 350
  By Curt and Barb - April 30 - 11:53 pm

  Great vehicle. Having owned it 3 weeks, there are disappointments: 1. Basic sound system is shockingly poor. My 2000 F-150 system is better. We assumed the sound system would be superb and failed to even turn it on during the test drive. I assumed Lexus would overachieve on this basic. Dealer says thats how they all sound. I would have paid for the premium system but there werent any on the lot. Dealer advises it is not a good idea to post-sale upgrade it due to complexity. 2.The Lexus on site programmer advised that the bluetooth is not compatabile with either of our <1 year old name brand cell phones.

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  LACK OF CUBBIES - 2011 Lexus RX 350
  By bff - April 30 - 7:03 pm

  Where do you put your stuff in this car? No place for pens, note pads, etc. for the driver. The storage in the center console is very difficult to access. And the cell phone charger set-up!!! That has GOT to be improved.

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  Best large SUV bar none - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By eeeee - April 30 - 11:06 am

  Over the last 8 years I have owned the following SUVs ... Mitsubishi Montero, Mercedes ML 430, BMW X-5 4.4i, Infiniti FX. All of these have been top of the line and fully loaded with every option in the book. This time, I shortlisted and test drove the Range Rover, The LX470, the Cayenne, the Touareg the MDX, and finally the GX 470. Other then the 3rd seat (which despite the bulk, is still very convenient for my 6 and 10 yr old), there is simply no down side to this SUV. Even the gas mileage is good (18 mpg) considering it weighs in at 6800 pounds. It beats its own older brother (the LX 470) at its game for $15000 less. If you need a large SUV with superb comfort, you need not look any further.