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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  fantastic car - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By Cisse - April 8 - 10:00 am

  My second ES. I love everything about this car. Beautiful styling, great power, fantastic ride, extremely quiet, amazing build quality.

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  Affordable luxury in the Lexus ES 300 - 2001 Lexus ES 300
  By MKE - April 7 - 2:43 pm

  If you want a luxury car with an affordable price, buy the 2001 ES3 00 Lexus. The ride is extremely smooth and road noise level is low. The sound system is awesome. I am amazed by the pep when I press the gas pedal. It is a pleasure to drive, and I can now relate to other Lexus owners when they brag about their vehicle. I will continue to buy used, low-milage Lexus autos.

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  It really is THE best SUV - 2005 Lexus LX 470
  By vdragon - April 7 - 1:26 am

  It is a little expensive. It could use a little more HP. Wish the fuel economy was better. But the ride, the quality and reliability, the safety features, all the electronics, are truly the best. You cant beat it in any of those categories. You have to test-drive this vehicle. Drive all the rest, and then drive the LX. Its truly something special.

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  Amazing - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By Melissa Perea - April 6 - 5:03 am

  I love this car! I had a 1987 Chevy Blazer for the past 7 years and now I know why people buy luxury cars. It has been the best experience ever driving this car and I cant imagine my life without it now. Very luxurious and comfortable. Its the perfect SUV.

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  My first Lexus - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By sp8891 - April 4 - 2:00 am

  I bought this used with 50,000 miles...have put on 10, 000 since. Great ride, luxury feel, but still functional. I especially like that its lower to the ground to get into but high enough to see the road ahead clearly. I drove an Infiniti Q45 before this one, and was sure I would miss it, but I am happier with this small SUV and would buy it again.

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  Simply the Best - 2006 Lexus LX 470
  By carnutinca - April 3 - 1:03 am

  This is my 2nd LX 470 (1999) and my 5th Lexus model. I test drove and researched every competing model before I purchased this vehicle. Previous years owners will love the added horsepower. The quality and workmanship is superior to everything else available. I completely disagree with every complaint in the category - I dont think they understand the market. The one drawback is size. If you are looking for a larger SUV (Tahoe, Sub, etc.) the LX 470 will be too small for you. Also, for towing, I just purchased an 07 Escalade ESV. The LX470 is not large enough for towing but its also way easier to park than larger SUVs.

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  Too early to tell - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By raviola4 - March 31 - 1:46 pm

  I purchased a certified 2007 ES350 in Oct. 09. So far so good. Got 33 mpg on only trip. Low 20s in local driving. One gripe is having to keep 36 psi in tires. On smooth surfaces fine, but do notice every glitch in road surfaces. Dealer says they put at least 36-37 in to avoid low tire pressure light coming on. Why? Door indicates should be at 30 psi. Being certified a lot of things were fixed, new tires, brakes etc. before purchase. Im also concerned about the massive recall of ES350s along with other Toyota models for sudden acceleration problems. Many unrelated to the floor mat problem that has received most of the press. Visibility as many have noted is not great.

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  BEST of the BEST - 2003 Lexus RX 300
  By Good Man - March 30 - 10:00 am

  My best SUV/CAR I owned so far !

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  RX - A new standard for crossovers - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Dianne & Ash - March 30 - 10:00 am

  I bot the RX in 99 and at the time I thought it was the most well-rounded SUV out there. The new 330 is so much improved - I feel Im driving a completely different car. Having checked out the X5, FX45, MDX, XC90 - which are all top notch - I had to go with the 330 again since it does just about every thing so well.

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  Great! - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By c - March 30 - 4:03 am

  I am a Mercedes person so I did not know what to expect when I got my RX. I will never go back to Mercedes now. This car is incredible. It is fun to drive and I do not even feel like I am in a SUV. I cant wait to get the hybrid.