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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  Quiet smooth ride with good safety features - 2006 Lexus GX 470
  By Jim Hughes - March 25 - 7:08 am

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  Transmission noise - 2008 Lexus LS 460
  By ted - March 25 - 6:20 am

  Previously owned a LS 430. LS 460 similar with improvements. Great audio system and ride but not sports car like in quality.

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  Love My Car - 1998 Lexus ES 300
  By Love My Car - March 25 - 2:00 am

  I really just love this car. It is the best thing to drive. Enough power to get up and go also it has a really nice comfort level.

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  Excellence pursued - 2000 Lexus ES 300
  By Spain1966 - March 25 - 2:00 am

  Part of why I have enjoyed this car so much is that I got a great deal (with Edmunds help of course). But almost everything about the car we have enjoyed. Plush interior, nice get-up- and-go, excellent sound system, and EXCELLENT reliablilty (no problems whatsoever). Would buy another Lexus in a heartbeat.

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  ES - Good Purchase - 2010 Lexus ES 350
  By Seth - March 24 - 8:46 am

  Ive only had the car a week; however, Im enjoying the quietness of the drive, navigation system, and comfort of the seating. I would suggest buying the ES-350 for those people wanting a little more luxury than a Camry (without the big sticker price).

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  Good for Gadget Geeks - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By dantobias - March 24 - 5:40 am

  This car, loaded with high-tech features, offers a smooth, comfortable driving experience. Driving it has a "liquid" feel, with steering, braking, and acceleration smoothed out. However, you *do* feel the road beneath you; youre not so totally cocooned that you cant tell when youre going over cobblestones or speed bumps. The engine has more horsepower than earlier ES models, and there is an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission. Mine *did* require servicing within the first month to fix a brake rotor that was not machined properly and was causing a moaning sound; however, its worked fine after the servicing.

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  Awesome - 2009 Lexus LX 570
  By Dan - March 23 - 2:13 am

  I will never drive another SUV and I have never been more happy with a purchase in my life. Power, comfort, ease of driving. A true machine.

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  You have to be kidding - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By Rpac - March 21 - 11:06 pm

  I purchased a 2010 RX350 in Dec 09. Car built same month. I noticed that in making a change with the engine manifold etc the car warms up faster than earlier model. But, driving into a driveway like into a gas station the car rocks like a canoe on the ocean. The improved suspension is a joke. I have 19 inch wheels; I don’t know what for as I don’t have the sports edition. The car does not have the quiet smooth ride as mentioned in reviews. All in all I am disappointed in the car. You slam the driver’s door and it sounds like a car full of tin cans. I would expect this from an American car of years ago but not a new Lexus. The car sounds cheap, rides cheap, and is just an overpriced mess.

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  Improved over RX 300 (mostly!) - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By JG - March 20 - 11:20 pm

  The styling, interior, and luxury features are all substantially improved over RX300. Handling, turning/parking, cornering, overall power better too. Cruises at 80+ wonderfully. BUT, annoying manifold buzz (even after recall); brake rotors needed turning at 12K and 25K miles; transmission downshift lags badly at low speeds (i.e. accelerating suddenly from 15-20 MPH). Almost all units have 18" wheels with very expensive, short-lasting tires (mine are gone at 31K, $800+ to replace). I believe that quiet ride is sacrificed with the larger wheels and lower-profile tires. Lexus still cant get auto-climate control right - my 10- yr-old S500s is truly "set and forget".

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  Great Car! - 2008 Lexus RX 350
  By deltagirl_16 - March 19 - 1:33 pm

  So far, so good! Im a first time Lexus owner and the transition from internet inquiries to actual possession was very smooth and professional! I will admit, theres a bit more wind noise than I anticipated (based on the reviews); but its still a quiet ride. I had to make adjustments to the way I would normally sit in order to be truly comfortable in the drivers seat. The navigation system seems adequate (Ive compared it to Mapquest/Yahoo Maps and find them to be a bit more precise). I havent connected the Bluetooth phone yet, so I cant comment on that feature. Actual gas mileage isnt bad for an SUV - I get about 20-23 MPG in the city, so I cant complain. :-)