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:

• 

  Excellent Vehicle - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By nebtap - October 25 - 2:00 am

  This is my midlife crisis car - love it! Tried the Infiniti fx - too stiff. This has rteh luxurious ride I wanted, teh power, and not too large. Cerritos Lexus was GREAT - definitely deal with their internet rep, as it was no haggle and a good price.

• 

  Great handling -Smart Styling - 2005 Lexus SC 430
  By Benchdex - October 24 - 7:30 pm

  Very responsive. Trouble Free. Back seat good for luggage storage only. Best looking convertible on the road, especially in silver. Heavy and powerful. Handles well. Hugs the road. Great responsiveness. I like the famous Lexus service at the dealerships. Like no other, and I have tried many other brands and dealerships.

• 

  Great car all around - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Amski - October 24 - 10:00 am

  Definitely an excellent car. Fun, quite fast. Handling is crisp and predictable; ride is smooth. Much better car than competition in the same class. The only thing it could use is a little bit more power.

• 

  Owner - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By greg farrow - October 24 - 10:00 am

  Excellent car. I have had Lincolns, Cadilacs, Jags & their is no comparison. All Lexus dealerships I have dealt with for service have been more than excellent.

• 

  Sweetness - 2002 Lexus SC 430
  By john q - October 24 - 10:00 am

  This car is HOT! Everyone should be priviledged enough to own one of these!

• 

  Cant beat it for the price - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By William Kayen - October 23 - 12:46 am

  I have the car for one week and love it. Traded in my BMW 325Cic. New car is so quiet and has great power. Plenty of room compared to my convertible.

• 

  The best SUV on earth - 2013 Lexus RX 350
  By eddymwu - October 22 - 8:28 pm

  I just purchased my first Lexus a few days ago and it was the best decision that I had ever made. The vehicle is so comfortable and well built. The quality of the vehicle is absolutely outstanding. The interior is very well made and I really do not want to finish my driving! This vehicle has all the features. The vehicle is so quiet and I just love it. I am not sure about realiability yet, but my Toyota experience ( I used to own a 2002 Toyota Highlander) has been great. This will not be my last Lexus. I am sure that I will purchase another one in the near future. Eddy

• 

  Happy Owner - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By Very Happy Owner - October 22 - 7:23 pm

  Car is driven over 100 miles per day. Average mileage 26 mpg. Great road car. Very reliable.

• 

  My ES 350 - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By William - October 22 - 4:20 pm

  Ive been driving Lexus since 1999 and I think now Im hooked. I love the car! For the price I rate this car better than the test drive my wife and I had in the 5 series BMW. The car is just all upgrades to say the least. You need the Navigation system even if you know your town like the back of your hand. My overall driving experience is at an all time high. Luxury I finally feel value in paying for. If youre thinking about anything else in the price range, forget it! I even like my ES 350 over the GS 300 because its just so grown up. The only thing I would do different is get it loaded and not just with Navigation, but after the test drive I couldnt wait! Neither should you and your family!

• 

  What A Great Vehicle - 2006 Lexus ES 330
  By Ray - October 21 - 1:16 pm

  I purchased this vehicle three weeks ago and it is a great vehicle. The ride is quiet and smooth. There is plenty of power when you need it, and the interior is very well built. The confort level when your in this car is very high. The ventilated and heated seats our a must have option. If you purchase this vehicle I can not see how you could be disappointed. Everything in the 300 ES is luxury oriented.