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 vehicle - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By Gerryusa - March 5 - 2:00 am

  The ride on the Lexus RX300 is unsurpassed in this class. Ive seen reviews where the ride is compared to a minivan and listed as a "con". This is ridiculous. I dont live in the mountains. I dont need a truck that rides like a semi. This vehicle is a car with everything an SUV delivers. And you never have to worry if it will start or breakdown. Which is definitely a worry with Acura, Mercedes, BMW & any american "truck".

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  check it out! - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By N Dwyer - March 3 - 6:40 pm

  I love this car. I can stash the kids, the bikes and the dog and yet it isnt WAAY too big to drive like some of the other SUVs. It drives like a car and turns on a dime. EASY to park and a very comfy ride.

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  A car to love! - 2008 Lexus LS 460
  By xman - February 28 - 5:40 pm

  I love this car! Very comfortable and smooth. Quiet on freeway and car just cruises. The 8 speed transmission keeps car even more quiet.

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  Go for it - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By rx_fan - February 23 - 10:00 am

  I have been a happy and satisfied owner on the new RX 330 for about a month. Most of its interior features have exceeded my expectations. The exterior features are also very classy. I had never expected an SUV to drive so smoothly and so quietly. It handles curves very splendidly and i feel negligible body roll.

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  Researched them all, bought the best - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Byran - February 21 - 7:13 am

  Before buying the GS 300, I researched every other competitor, save the Mercedes. They all had their redeeming qualities, but the Lexus had the best combination of all of them - style, creature comforts, build quality/reputation, and pure driving pleasure. I kid you not - I LOVE this car. I previously had a 1999 Porsche 911 Cabriolet, and thought I loved that - Im sorry Porsche, but our love affair is over. The Lexus emotes luxury - from the welcoming lighting, to the softness and comfortability of the seats.

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  a super experience - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By lee olshan - February 19 - 6:30 pm

  My AWD GS 300 holds the road as though Elmers glue was on my tires. The rear camera make parking a breeze. The nav system is a pleasure... but it is the driving experience that sets this car apart from all others.

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  dream car... - 1998 Lexus LS 400
  By james medlin - February 18 - 2:56 am

  i bought this car in 2003 with 70,ooo miles on it...I now have 224,000 and have had 0 problems!!I keep thinking i want to trade it in but then i always end up asking why..great ride,great realiability and unreal gas mileage from an 8 cylinder...I get 26 plus on long trips...you cant go wrong with this car..!!

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  best of the "small" luxury cars - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By russ heisinger - February 17 - 10:00 am

  I hardly expected the quality of build that is shown in this car. It is excellent. The V-6 is plenty quick enough for entering short on ramps to the expressway, and it handles well. One has to remember, this is a luxury car, not a Vette! So far, it is the best car I have ever owned out of the 30 or so I have had.

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  2005 LS 430 - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By Keith Hartman - February 16 - 7:50 pm

  Wonderful in many ways, not so good in snow country and sometimes scary in the wind & rain. This car that seems so easy to drive does not handle well at the limits of high speed and adverse weather. (My previous car was an Audi A-8; but this car doesnt handle as well as my wifes Surbaru Outback.) Not so important but a niggling problem is the placement of various buttons on the steering wheel that are easily bumped and change the audio system (or turn it on!), set off the voice activation programs, etc. Also, four times I ran the battery down because a door was not completely shut, which I couldnt tell from the interior lights that stay on for a minute or so after the car is shut down.

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  Steering shake & wobble at highway speed - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By zee - February 15 - 8:43 am

  The car is nicely built. At 65 mph and above at highway speeds the car wobbles and the steering wheel shakes.The car has been in for repairs at least more than 5 times in two months. At the dealership they tested new ES 350 2007 cars from the lot, they all had the same problem.The dealership and the Lexus company cannot fix this problem. Lexus HQ from California cannot suggest any repair to this problem, they say it is the characteristic of the car and I should keep driving the car with the steering shake and wobble at highway speeds. I am totally frustrated with this car experience. Spending $40000 and asking for headaches.