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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  Lexus LX 470 - 2002 Lexus LX 470
  By jonochi - October 28 - 10:00 am

  with the 2002 lexus lx 470s navigation system being lost will be a thing of the past! I love my lx. so far, i have taken it on 15 road trips and it is still running great! service is great. they come to your house and service it for you in less than an hour. interior designn is superior to all other luxury vechiles. I love my lexus LX 470!

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  2004 Lexus Great Car - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By Larry - October 27 - 11:04 pm

  Dependable, low maintenance and very comfortable even for a 2004 model

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  2009 Lexus RX 350 - 2009 Lexus RX 350
  By curtisam - October 27 - 2:26 pm

  I have had my RX 350 for about 1 month. It is by far the best vehicle that I have ever owned! I love the drive and appearance of the RX 350. We live in the mountains and it handles well in the snow. I was considering resigning from my job because it was getting more difficult to drive the 400 miles a week to work in my car. Now I feel safe and have great visibility when driving. Our drive is 1/3 mile, mostly uphill. We just had a storm come through and I was able to put it in low, use the snow button, and came up the driveway in a terrible mix of snow/ice. It drove up like a luxury tank! The height of the drivers seat and the great headlights make it easy to see the roadway ahead.

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  the best luxury car youll find ever - 1997 Lexus ES 300
  By iantyler112 - October 26 - 7:55 pm

  it will take u places with no props its powerful u can feel it and enjoy life and go places have fun with class with comfort

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  Wondering if I should have upgraded... - 2012 Lexus RX 350
  By jimleslie - October 26 - 5:43 pm

  I recently upgraded my 2009 RX350 for a 2012 model and Im really wondering if I have made a mistake. Im very pleased with all aspects of the 2012 except one...ride quality. My 2009 rode much more smoothly than the 2012 does. I have the 19" wheels with Michelin Latitude Tour HP tires (P235/55/19). Im wondering if I went to the Michelin MXV4s would the ride be smoother. I even asked the dealer if he would swap me the 18" wheels for my 19s...no go. I did take the car for a test drive and it seemed smooth enough to me but after driving it on all types of surfaces, the ride quality is not and upgrade whatsoever. I didnt purchase the car for pinpoint handling...I want a very smooth ride.

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  Happy - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By annapolis - October 26 - 1:06 pm

  Approaching one year and reliability has been terrific; no issues. Get 23.8 MPG overall, with mixed local driving. Highway travel gets 29 MPG.

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  Unpredictable Lexus - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By SUDDENLEXUS - October 25 - 11:23 pm

  I love my Lexus RX 300. I upgraded from a Honda Prelude. It has a lot of features to keep me interested. It is fun to drive and my daughter is having fun throwing everything on the floor.

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  From ES to LS - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By John L - October 25 - 1:30 pm

  After owning an ES 300, my next natural move was to an LS 430. I cannot imagine owning anything else but a Lexus.

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  04 Sport Design Auto5 Sedan - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By Black Sport Design - October 24 - 10:00 am

  Moving on from 6spd manual sports car. Ride comfort is as good as itll get while maintaining this wonderful handling. During sharp cornering, moderate bodyroll. Acceleration very responsive, will not down shift needlessly due to high torque and close ratio gearing (even Auto). Highway very stable, good throttle response. tourque is very high due to inline-6, HP is just enough to give spirited ride. The lack of performance is balanced by luxury and handling. You wont regret value VS price paid. Purchased for invoice price, other test drives include Subaru wrx Sti, BMW330, Maxda RX-8, Infinity G-35, Acura TL.

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  My Lexus sc430 - 2004 Lexus SC 430
  By Ira Ginsberg - October 24 - 10:00 am

  I feel great when I cruise arond town with the top down.Also, enjoy taking it on a road trip.