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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  My Lexus LS 460L - 2008 Lexus LS 460
  By Michael OBrien - June 29 - 4:23 pm

  This is my 6th Lexus and like all the others it is performing well and is totally reliable. Although a big car the fuel economy is very good. On my regular highway journeys I get 28-29 mpg. Average mixed around town and highway this only drops to about 24mpg. The park assist steering is too complicated to set up and responds too slowly for it to be useful, but it is a fun feature. This is truly a luxury car which is quiet and a pleasure to ride in. The extra rear legroom is always appreciated when I carry passengers.

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  Great Car - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Bill - June 29 - 6:30 am

  Had an 04 Acura RL. Considered the 07 RL and liked it. Also considered the Lexus GS-350 but found it cramped. The salesman talked me into looking at the ES. It was love at first test drive. This car had all the features except AWD as the RL or the GS 350 and was $8000 cheaper. The car is quieter than my old RL and I think the ride quality is better. It has more room than th RL or GS 350. This car is absolutely fablous on the highway cruising at 75 MPH. The audio system is great. All in all a great car for the money.

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  Great Car - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By Ron. K - June 29 - 2:00 am

  Our family buys only stick shifts because they are fun and so much more responsive. We were attracted to The Lexus for its small size and the Lexus reputation for service. Before the test drive we had no clue that it would be such a hoot to drive. It is responsive, comfortable, quiet and solid. The only drawback was that it made the choice of a second car much more difficult as we were spoiled.

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  Welcome Home - 2016 Lexus RX 350
  By Tony - June 27 - 1:11 am

  I bought my first RX about 16yrs ago (in those days they still had Toyota on all the glass, headlights etc) then I had 2 other over the next 9 years, I since then moved away and have had a couple of Porsche Cayannes but have recently just bought a new 2016 RX 350 (which I must admit was totally turned of by that big nose!) But once I drove it and specked if with a few nice extras and the sharp 20" wheels I think it looks very nice indeed and notice a lot of people looking twice as they admire it and realize its the new Lexus RX. It was not long before I remembered why I loved them from the past and why they have got such a great reputation, If you want a top quality, well finished, comfortable SUV this is the one for you, yes it does not have the largest load carrying space nor the fastest acceleration but when compared with other premium brands in this price range it stands head and shoulders above, you will be very pleased with your purchase..........only other thing you will need to add is a set of winter tires as the standard all weather ones honestly dont cope well with snow and ice but thats a small price tp pay for piece of mind and problem free trips at this time of year.

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  The best SUV!! - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By shell - June 26 - 3:20 am

  This is by far the most comfortable riding and roomy SUV Ive ever owned. I would highly recommend this car to anyone. The interior features are intuitive and easy to figure out. The designers thought of just about everything - even the easy opening back door. In addition, the exterior is just plain classy!!

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  Best Ever - 2001 Lexus IS 300
  By Shea McCuen - June 25 - 4:13 pm

  This is the best looking Lexus ever made. It looks sporty while still maintaining is luxury image. It handles like a rear wheel drive sports car should handle, and engine and transmission performance are perfect.

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  The best ever - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By D.D.D. - June 23 - 6:26 pm

  Have owned 5 Acuras, switched to Lexus - I dont think Ill ever go back. The mileage & quality made it an easy decision. The last 2 MDXs had tranny problems with less than 75 thousand, lost a motor at 7,000 with the 1st.

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  My Lexso - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By Robert Smith - June 23 - 2:16 pm

  Im completely satisfied this vehicle, though Ive only owned it for a short time. The ride is so smooth and enjoyable, the cabin is quiet and comfortable. I test drove many luxury cars before deciding on my ES300 but none could compare nor do they rate as high.

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  GX470TheUltimateLUV - 2003 Lexus GX 470
  By CharlesBettertown - June 23 - 10:00 am

  After shopping around for months for the ultimate Luxury Utility Vehicle, I came to the conclusion that the new Lexus GX 470 is it for me. I wanted to enjoy the well-known advantages of owning a Lexus including the award- winning customer satisfaction and high resale value but I didnt want just another one of the tens of thousands of RX 300s and the LX 470, while truly exceptional in just about every way, did not seem worth the extra $20,000. Driving down curvy mountain roads near Sedona in the GX 470 was as exciting and thrilling as downhill skiing!

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  Love my Lexus - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By dancingdawg2000 - June 23 - 10:00 am

  I had an RX300 purchased in Novenber 03. In April 03 I was unfortunately involved in an accident that totaled it via a broadside collision. Having enjoyed the vehicle, it was my first Lexus, I immediately started looking at another. The culmination of the subtle changes made to the RX330 really combine into a significant overall improvement. Increased power, more agressive and unique styling inside and out make the RX330 a terribly SEXY vehicle. I did look at the 470 but it is not nearly as sexy as the 330.