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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  Trunk - 2009 Lexus GS 450h
  By lucky - November 19 - 6:50 am

  Quite an excellent car after 9 months. No maintenance issues or malfunctions. 25 mpg in city traffic, 30 mpg on the highway. Those over 63" need more headroom. The fit and finish are flawless and the CVT runs quietly, smoothly and with uncanny power. The handling is excellent. The Navigation package and Mark Levinson sound system options are fantastic.

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  Lexus discomfort - 2012 Lexus RX 350
  By keendriver - November 18 - 3:10 pm

  Having just completed an 1800 miles road trip I have to report that both I and my wife found that the seats were not ergonomically supportive. On drives of only 150 miles we found that we both suffered from lower back pain, especially in the passenger seat. The lumber support is quite inadequate. I never suffered these pains when I drove my BMW X5 as much as 400 miles in one day.Other criticisms of the car are - view of the clock is blocked by ones right arm: the outside temperature numbers show very small: there is no storage for glasses: the trunk area has poor additional cubby spaces: the reversing camera is poor - my KIA Sorento was much more accurate. I would not buy another one.

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  An opinion - 2007 Lexus GS 450h
  By hadrien - November 17 - 8:36 pm

  It is not a BMW 550i, but it comes quite close in terms of handling. Interior materials are a bit superior to those seen in a BMW, especially when it comes to sound. Given Lexus/Toyota high levels of reliability this vehicle was a better choice for me.

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  Third RX - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By third rx - November 17 - 10:23 am

  Flawless in quality (no repair needed ever on any of three RXs Ive owned over past 9 years).

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  Awesome! - 2003 Lexus SC 430
  By madcaper - November 17 - 2:00 am

  Smooth as silk, fast and fun. Incredibly quiet even with the top down. Luggage capacity has worked out better than I expected. Trunk is decent and back seat is great for added capacity.

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  Best car I have ever owned - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By Dabrt - November 15 - 6:13 am

  I have had my Lexus for a year and a half and its been wonderful. No problems at all. Driving it is so much fun and it handles great. The only downside about owning a Lexus is the upkeep is very expensive if you get it done at the dealership.

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  Worth the price - 2006 Lexus GX 470
  By Neil Cassidy - November 13 - 2:20 am

  A real surprise. The GX470 is a well built, very comfortable SUV -- I looked at the Range Rover and the BMW X5 and am glad I decided on the Lexus. Everything in the car works -- not a single issue in the first 2000 miles. True, its not a sport sedan -- and it drives like an SUV, not a car. But it has plenty of power and handles well. Id recommend the GX 470 to anyone looking to replace their mid size SUV.

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  Great Car - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Ross - November 12 - 7:23 pm

  Maybe the best car I have ever owned. Like the navigation system and quiet ride. Out of the 30 some cars I have owned this is the first time I have really had to study the drivers manual to figure out how to work everything. To someone who is not computer experienced I would imagine the navigation system would be a bit of a challange. MPG has ranged from 15 in town to high 20s on the road. Doesnt have sports car performance but has plenty of "go" for an old guy like me. However, even my grandson liked it.

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  Lexus 400h - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Gordy - November 12 - 4:10 pm

  Rides high in the saddle with great visibility and suspension; superlative interior and more pep than I expected. The cornering and handling are excellent. This vehicle has just about every option that one could desire in a luxury vehicle with gas mileage that is unparallelled in such a large vehicle. Price reduction and more info on tax credit for 2006 would be helpful.

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  The best car in the world. - 1997 Lexus ES 300
  By John Holland - November 11 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this car in 1997, since then, Ive never spent a penny on repairing except tires and oil/coolent change. Although the upfront cost for a Lexus is a bit pricy, you can make it back in the long run. Many people think that Lexus is a bigger Camry, theyre WRONG!!! I had a Camry V6 XLE, it was a good car, but Lexus owners can tell the difference. The average maintenane cost is no higher than a Camry.