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 Freeway Cruiser - 2009 Lexus RX 350
  By Ohio - February 14 - 5:33 pm

  In the 4 months Ive owned the RX350 it has been from Ohio to California and back, with several 700 mile days in the driving mix. Fuel economy runs around 23-24 mpg at 80 mph+ cruising speeds. Its extremely comfortable, with nice performance, being very brisk off the line, but at speed shows its weight and aerodynamic drag. The car (suv?) is very solid, and most interior features are well thought out. It feels large inside, but I came out of a restaurant at lunch to find it parked between two Suburbans; then it looked tiny! Brakes are very good, but the steering is a bit numb and the suspension is soft with resulting "average" handling. Not a single problem at 6000 miles. Great vehicle

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  L FOR LAZY LEXUS - 2016 Lexus RX 350
  By Joe - February 14 - 1:08 pm

  Something wrong is going on with Lexus Corp. The 2016 RX 350 even without the F sport package has loud noises penetrating the cabin. The shifts between gears in the new 8 speed automatic are not smooth as expected from Lexus. The RX was always a comfortable car. That is what Lexus pioneered. Suddenly they are chasing the Germans with this mid life crisis and anahialting a big chunk of there customer base. The build quality in certain areas is impeccable - though other manufacturers are catching up. Whens the last time you sat in a Lincoln Black Label trim? The Lexus RX should focus on creating two destinct models. The F sport should be sporty while the regular spec 350 should be super luxurious. I have 4 friends who have the new RX and they ALL regret not extending the lease on the 2013/2015 model they had. They feel the older body style was superior on the comfort side. The 8 speed is not smooth and the car is noisier??

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  Not a high quality vehicle - 2017 Lexus RX 350
  By ATLRX - February 14 - 5:35 am

  Disappointed with the vibration and noise issue at 1200-1500 RPM range also disturbed by the hesitation.

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  2013 Lexus LX570 - 2013 Lexus LX 570
  By redsix - February 13 - 10:55 pm

  Purchased this vehicle as CPO. This vehicle will definitely not attract most of the SUV lovers. Its fuel economy is not great and it holds too less for what it needs. As the review says there are many other options that have better features. The new HID adaptive headlights with the spindle grill definitely update the car to certain degree. If you want to buy a large, flagship SUV that has awesome "Lexus" reliability and descent maintenance cost that youll keep for a decade or so while treated welcome at the dealers, this is your car. Otherwise, go lease the European rides and return them as soon as your lease is up or get rid of them once the warranty ends.

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  Amazing SUV - 2000 Lexus LX 470
  By Rob - February 13 - 4:10 pm

  I bought this car new in 2000 and she now has 120,000 miles on her. I often comment to my friends how well the car still drives. I really mean it. After all those miles, the ride is still extraordinarily smooth. The car has held up quite well and all I have had to replace is the front brake rotors. If you are looking for comfort in a big SUV, this is the one to buy! You can get them for good prices used and since they hold up so well, dont be afraid of buying them used with maybe 50+k miles. Also, the thing is an absolute TANK when it comes to snow. I have literally taken mine through 2 feet of snow without hesitation. Its the best car in the snow that I have ever owned.

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  my golden McNugget! - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By Mackenzie, Brocks daughter - February 10 - 6:17 am

  hi i am Mackenzie! I got McNugget for my first car at 16 years old this past summer with only 101,000 miles. WOW! Yes it did smell like moth balls and it had an exhaust leak, but it sat at my grandparents in Florida for 2 years, so what do you expect. The battery has some trouble in these cold Connecticut winters! The butt warmers work great in the snowy weather, as does the AWD system! It does have a temper, like me, and it doesnt like to start sometimes, then give it 10 minutes and it starts right up. It is 14 years old though, so what do you expect! It honestly is a great car if you dont always need reliability and you want to be known for the weird smells in the parking lot, so what do you expect, eh?

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  All Around A Great Experince - 2012 Lexus ES 350
  By U.S. Coast Guard - February 9 - 11:20 pm

  While I have not owned my car since new, it has been such a great experience from both the performance aspects of both the car and the dealership, Lexus of Omaha. I have been a loyal Buick owner for 15 years and when it came time to replace my Park Avenue Ultra, I cringed. Buick no longer makes the Park Avenue and I have not been thrilled with their latest offerings. Reliability and longevity were my criteria in selecting my new car. So many people that have owned a Lexus product swear by the reliability of the cars. One owner I talked to was on their third Lexus having got 430,000 miles on the first one, and 375,000 miles on the second with no transmission problems. Consumer reports also rates the Lexus brand as having a good track record for reliability. I chose to go with a pre-owned Lexus ES 350 with 44,000 miles. Having the warranty from the Lexus dealer was added peace of mind. The ride comfort, low cabin noise level, and acceleration made missing the Park Avenue for just those reasons relieve me from my angst. Driving is part of my job as a manager and all-around comfort and performance are of major importance. The other aspect of owning a Lexus has been the experience of how I have been treated by everyone at the dealership, especially Rob, the general manager. I had reservations about not driving an American made car, but the way the dealership has gone out of their way to make sure I was happy has been absolutely exceptional and without peer in my all my years. This is the way we used to do business in this country by taking care of the customer, and in my mind, this removed any anxieties I had of not buying an American car. My fiancee having been witness to my experience, decided to get a new Lexus from Rob and his team. In doing so, she gave up the albatross of high cost of ownership that comes with every BMW, where the cost of service borders upon being absurd. I am so totally sold. The dedication and service that Lexus of Omaha has shown to me by exceeding my expectations makes the dedication to the Lexus product and people all that easier and gratifying.

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  Amazing Vehicle - 2008 Lexus LX 570
  By Anthony H - February 9 - 9:23 pm

  This car is incredibly quiet yet powerful. The fit and finish is unparallelled.

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  first 300 miles - very poor mpg - 2014 Lexus ES 300h
  By g17w17 - February 9 - 11:29 am

  Very Poor mpg. Not even close. Barely 26 mpg, 50% highway 50% city Speed was maintained withing limits ( 65m/h), driving, eco mode ( even I hate it) I feel cheated.

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  Very good - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By R.B.Benson - February 9 - 10:06 am

  Uses a tad bit more fuel than I thought it would. Has good acceleration, but could use a little more at top end, on ahill.In all it is a joy to drive , seats are comforatable, adjustments OK. I would like turning signal lights on mirrors. I would probably buy another one