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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  Great Car - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Great Car - February 1 - 3:03 pm

  It just does everything well. Its a blast to drive, and it cruises like a big car. Navigation system needs to be more intuitive, and fuel economy isnt great, but overall were super happy with this little sedan!

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  Just an Awesome Vehicle - 2007 Lexus RX 400H
  By pm - February 1 - 11:20 am

  OK - I was a skeptic going into this hybrid stuff but today we turned 2,000 miles on our RX (bought the first week of June) and Im now a convert!! Were averaging right at 28 mpg with mixed driving. One concern I had was how well the a/c would be and maybe overheating. Not to worry - car spent a week in the Indian Wells/Palm Springs area in 115 heat and it did a terrific job. The nav system is excellent but it takes a little time and patience to get the hang of it. The hands free bluetooth phone tie-in is superb. One quirky thing? I have noticed a little "surging" in freeway driving when using cruise control - not sure whether or not its the car or the road yet

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  solid investment - 2005 Lexus IS 300
  By boogerman - January 30 - 8:26 am

  The best thing is the low maintenance - this is a modest luxury wagon, but is a great alternative to the bmw saab audi or vw wagons. It is quiet, smooth and incredibly responsive. The tight steering and ample 215 horsepower make for an exciting drive.

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  2004 Lexus RX 330 - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By dbarck - January 30 - 7:33 am

  Excellent sound system; very quiet car when at freeway speeds; very, very comfortable for long trips -- leaves you feeling relaxed. Rear view camera and automatic refocusing of side mirrors aids greatly in backing. Good service by dealer.

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  Best Luxury SUV - 2007 Lexus GX 470
  By Pete - January 29 - 2:23 am

  Love It! Ride quality is a 10. Build quality is a 10. Silky smooth from start to finish.

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  Sweet Ride - 1998 Lexus ES 300
  By Storm - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Very very comfortable! No other vehicle is quite like a Lexus. You might say, let me try something else, youll wish the whole time you had a Lexus.

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  Awesome Car - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By IS300NYC - January 27 - 10:00 am

  This car is hot. I love it, and would not trade it for any other car in its class. I test drove both the 3.2tl and g35 as well as the 328i. This car has no comparision to any of these.

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  Simply the best - 2005 Lexus SC 430
  By XTRMLY Satisfied - January 27 - 7:06 am

  Have two lexus cars in our household. Both cars are an exceptional value. Test drove all german imports and by far, the Lexus has proven to be superior in design, reliablity and price. Being able to afford any traditional vehicle under a 150k we have chosen to picked the Lexus as the clear winner when comparing to other cars in the same price range and even above. I was formally an S class owner and will NEVER go back to Benz after all the problems we had with a 90k dollar vehicle. So my advice to you is to compare wisely, and if I had to pick a second choice it would clearely be the Audi A-8 in the W12 configuration. No the BMW doesnt even come close. Have fun in any purchase.

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  Love My GS 300 - 2005 Lexus GS 300
  By Tina - January 25 - 10:20 pm

  What a great car. Its so much fun to drive. I have heated seats and that is such a plus on those cold mornings. The car is loaded with so many extras for the price, it would be hard to name anything more I would look for a car to have. My only concern is that it is a gas piggy, I brake for most gas stations ......

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  Real nice car - 1999 Lexus ES 300
  By Steve Gaylor - January 24 - 5:56 pm

  My 1999 Lexus ES 300 is a real nice ride that has given me no problems in six years. Its very comfortable to drive, performes well, has a great sound system, and is still like brand new after six years. It has 46,500 miles on it, and I have only just now had to replace one tail light and one front blinker light. The original battery lasted 5 years, as did the wiper blades. The car has traveled around the country some, and has performed flawlessly, its very dependable and enjoyable to drive. Id like to trade up, but find it hard to part with such an exceptional car. I highly recommend the 99 Lexus ES 300 for. I see the car remaining in the family for many years to come, its barely