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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  Smooth as silk; solid, fun, & luxurious! - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By lenaclas - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Safe, smooth as silk, luxurious, and fun! All in one beautiful solid shell. I love it!

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  Transmission - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By bill arndt - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Very nice car except for transmission shifting characteristics at low speed acceleration and deceleration. Lexus needs to hire some new engine/throttle control/transmission integration engineers. Very anoying waiting for transmission to shift gears.

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  Great car - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By JRBerry719 - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Have had 3 Jeeps, one test drive in my new 3x330 and I was sold. What a fun car to drive, it is beautiful and very functional for Pacific NW driving. Dealership was fair, honest, and have kept every promise. Great car!

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  Love my 04 RX - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By John THW - October 27 - 12:30 am

  Terrific vehicle! Wished I had the voice recognition and BlueTooth which are now standard for the 05, but I got a great price for my 04 so I cant complain. The ergonomics can be better- specifically the radio display and certain controls. NAV is very good, but wish I could combine the best features from Acura and Lexus! Sound system is good (standard), but not as good as our other car (Acura TSX). Power is more than adequate, but wish it got better gas mileage-dont even think that youll get close to 26 hwy, but I love the fact that premium gas is not necessary.

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  I love this vehicle! - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Michelle - October 26 - 11:03 am

  We started out with a 2004 base model RX 330 last year and upgraded this year to a 2005 with AWD, Nav. Sys, DVD player, Mark Levinson stereo, etc... We loved the first one and love this one even more. It handles well, feels safe (IS safe too for that matter), is very comfortable (with a lot of interior space) and has a lot of "bells and whistles" that equal a good value when you compare costs for the same bells and whistles on a BMW or Mercedes! I also LOVE the look of the RX 330 - very sophisticated and sporty. The service from Lexus has been impeccable. I cannot rave enough about this vehicle, and about Lexus in general! Im a fan for life!

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  470 Lx - 2004 Lexus LX 470
  By me2020 - October 26 - 10:00 am

  Great vehicle. Wonderful to drive city and esp highway.

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  the best! - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By crist22 - October 26 - 10:00 am

  I love this car! Its the best car, fun to drive, very comfortable,I have never have any problems with it, my car has 94000miles and it drives excellent, I would recomend it to anyone who likes the good things in life.

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  Absolutely the best in its class! - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Dr. D - October 26 - 7:56 am

  Great vehicle! Above expectations! We were concerned about purchasing the "New Technology" of the Hybrid, but, NO COMPLAINTS! It’s awesome to drive! It does take a little “getting use to” but, in no time, you’ll LOVE driving it. When the engine shuts off and you’re on nothing but battery, the vehicle is quiet as a mouse. My son calls this “Stealth Mode”. The looks you get are funny, they see you moving, but hear nothing. They can’t figure it out. The vehicle runs smooth and quiet during normal operation, you don’t notice the engine shutting down or reengaging, there is NO hesitation what-so-ever. The transmission is superb! One gear, smooth and fast! It just doesnt get better than this!

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  Used but still a lexus - 1998 Lexus ES 300
  By avan - October 24 - 7:03 pm

  I love this car, the 97 to 00 body style with its sporty, deliberate lines stemming from its lifted rear to its lowered front end quite simply seem to flow better than that of the newer models which, though impressive in their own right, seem more to me like that of a family ride. As far as performance is concerned this car handles like a champ and practically drives itself, its impressive 200 hp is more than complemented by its smooth beyond reason shifting. Interior and dash controls are simple and elegant like that you would expect from Lexus. There is a downside in its poor turning radius but its made up for by its ease of handling suitable even to that of a 5th grader. 5 out of 5.

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  Excellent Car - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Jason Chen - October 24 - 6:33 am

  Love my RX 330 but feel little bit powerless