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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  little black car - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By shelly - January 30 - 6:43 am

  AWESOME is all I can say. I will never buy another make again.

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  I would not own any other car - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Barbara Roth - January 30 - 3:56 am

  I have owned a Lexus since 1992 and have not had one problem with them. However this is my first SUV and I absolutely LOVE this car, I will probably purchase it after the lease. I have turned all of my friends onto them.

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  Too good to be true - 2003 Lexus GX 470
  By lexite - January 29 - 10:00 am

  Many SUV/LUVs to choose from, but this one is the most practical car for my family. Already spoiled by the lexus luxury ride and comfort of my 98ES, we could not settle on X5 or MDX. I found X5 to be a stylish fun car to drive but way behind the GXs silky ride comfort and space. MDX being a good value SUV but lacks the luxury that Lexus provides. GX is a magnificient blend of luxury and utility accompanied by unsurpassed Lexus customer service, and proven reliability, engineering and technology. It simply works great for my daily use as well as family vacation trips.

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  02 SC430 - 2002 Lexus SC 430
  By jdleroy - January 29 - 12:58 am

  Bought the car 1 year ago @ 12 years of age with 100K and loving. All original equipment is still functioning perfectly and car is running strong, with the exception of 3 busted speakers that I replaced.

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  Definitely worth the extra dollars! - 2006 Lexus LX 470
  By TonyG5003 - January 28 - 10:53 pm

  I have had both a 2001 and a 2003 Landcruiser. I upgraded to the Lexus after a lot of research and thought. Boy... Im glad I did. The difference in price between the LC and Lexus is well worth it; the interior finish is better and the ride absolutely superb. With the new engine, there is also a marked improvement in power and smoothness when shifing and passing other vehicles. I also LOVE the Bluetooth phone integration and pre-installed XM Radio.

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  Sweet Retiree Car - 2000 Lexus ES 300
  By Kathleen - January 25 - 7:03 pm

  Car had 33,000 miles when purchased and exterior looked brand new. Acceleration is slow but once you get going car is fast and fun to drive. A little mushy on turns faster than moderate speed. First 3 years required only regular maintenance. In the last three, replaced two batteries and needed service on the Trac system. Car is good on snow covered roads.

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  Great Luxury Car - 2007 Lexus RX 350
  By Balaji Arunachalam - January 25 - 4:30 pm

  When we bought Lexus RX350, we also looked at Benz ML350, BMW X5, Infiniti Fx35. BMW X5 (2007 or later) would have made us pay an additional 10K on price. We didnt like 2006 or earlier models of BMW X5 (as 2007 is a fully remodeled one). X5 is also not very good with gas mileage. Benz ML350: Bad gas mileage, little bit lagging in trunk size. FX35: Really poor rear seat legroom, very bad trunk size. Finally Lexus won with its luxurious interior, nice mileage, smooth ride, reasonable price, pre-owned certification and warranty. It has plenty of legroom for all passengers, nice trunk size, flawless bluetooth integration, GPS, std moonroof, awesome sound system, auto trunk door opener etc.

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  Allmost perfect.... - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By tonyjannetta - January 24 - 10:40 am

  Build quality and driving dynamics excellent. while it is said that suspension is a little soft that is a small inconvenience for the way it glides over rougher B roads. one complaint if any - dealer maintainance costs are high compared to other quality makes....

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  short and simple - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By crsballer007 - January 24 - 10:00 am

  The Lexus LS430 is a great sedan and i feel that it doesnt get enough credit with other luxury sedans. The LS is very reliable and comfortable on long trips.

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  Review of LX 470 - 2003 Lexus LX 470
  By GJ - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Excellent all around SUV