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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  Love my Lexus - 2003 Lexus RX 300
  By No minivan mom - October 1 - 10:00 am

  Excellant small to mid-size luxury vehicle with the comfort of AWD. Comfortable to drive, even my 63" husband has no problem with headroom, even with a retractable moon roof. Plenty of room in backseat, if you dont need the availability of 3rd row seating with plenty of cargo area also.

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  Smooth as Silk - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By LexusMike - October 1 - 10:00 am

  My previous vehicle was a 2002 ES 300. The newly updated version is fantastic. The heated/cooled seats are a must! The new maple wood interior looks elegant. The 17 inch wheels look great with the LS430 chrome wheels. The radio controls on the steering wheel are nice, but lacks a mute or off button. The car is still slighly under powered, but the smooth ride and quiet cabin are worth the sacrifice. Lexus quality continues to be the benchmark.

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  lexus rx330 - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By fredmaione - October 1 - 10:00 am

  better ride than my last benz, solid driving performance, good feeling about being in it

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  Love it! - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Susan - September 30 - 2:46 am

  My husband wanted a Grand Cherokee Limited but I won out. He absolutely loves this car...he hasnt stopped detailing it on the weekends. Its beautiful to look at, fun to drive, rides like youre floating on air. Nothing better this year in mid size SUVs and service is fantastic!

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  Great, Fun and Exciting Car... - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Willb - September 28 - 2:00 am

  After taking this car for a test drive, I was sold. So far after a year and 2 months I have had no problems and I feel like a kid everytime I get into it to drive. The mixture of the auto transmission with the optional E-shift feature is down right awesome. I find the E-Shift is best used when you are on the interstate and want to drop a gear to fly by someone. The mixture of the sound system and DVD Navigation and all the other features really make this a fun and exciting car. The ladies like it as well. ;)

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  NOT a bad car - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By EvilJ - September 28 - 2:00 am

  First of all, I would like to make some comments to people who dont like the car: 1) Its a Lexus, but its not supposed to be luxurious; its a sports sedan. If you want a luxurious interior, buy an ES300. 2) You can get it with all leather seats, so thats your mistake if you dont like the partial leather seats. I have had no trouble with my IS300. I expect Lexus quality and thats what I get. The car is very fun to drive!

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  The Perfect SUV - 2006 Lexus GX 470
  By Matthew Jones - September 25 - 9:26 am

  Great truck. very happy with the purchase. The ride is very smooth and very quiet. Traded in 03 X5 4.4 and couldnt be happier. Test drove X5, Mercedes ML 350, RR Sport, and Lincoln Aviator. They just couldnt match the value of this vehicle. I recommend the sport package. Makes the interior much more attractive.

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  Best Car - 2001 Lexus GS 300
  By TJS - September 22 - 4:06 pm

  This is the best car Ive ever owned, not perfect but very good. Runs great - no problems, great road car. I have a problem with the straight six engine, I would like a V-6. Truthfully, I didnt know it was a straight six but its the Solara engine. It is fine but I prefer v-6s and V-8s as a personal thing.

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  Excellent Car-All Mistakes Are Minor - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By The Yo - September 22 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car! It is a must-buy! There are a few minor details (mistakes) though. Its ability to turn isnt as good as the other Lexus models and they kind of screwed up the exterior design. Luckily, the controls arent nearly as confusing as the Mercedes-Benz controls. Also, I have to say that this car is the most addictive car ever created. Once you get in, you wont want to get out. It is a very silent car with a great engine and a really good fuel economy. Look for exterior and engine improvements in the 2004 model.

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  There is a reason not to choose GX470... - 2003 Lexus LX 470
  By DrJT - September 22 - 2:00 am

  Just got my LX470 two days ago. Its a bit surprising to myself, because I went to the dealership to buy GX470 that day. I Never liked the pre-2003 LX470 models because they look like Land Cruzer too much and is not too sporty in look. I test-drove both, and feel GX470 kind of squeezing and very unconfortable on the drivers side, too. The minor changes on the exterior makes the over-all look sporty and pretty.