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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  All is good, but GPS sucks. - 2011 Lexus ES 350
  By igorv - July 14 - 1:09 am

  I love this car, this is my second, and will go with it again. One thing I truly despise, which even has been a source of embarrassment for me (in front of my girlfriend with Droid) is Lexus GPS. It is so unreliable, I just gave up on it entirely and now rely on Google Droid Navigation. Which raises a question of why I paid extra 5K or so for Navigation package. Huge, huge embarrassment for Lexus. And touch screen works worse than anything I have experienced ever. You will end up having to press and hold each key in alphabet to enter an address.

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  Lexus: My Dream Machine - 1999 Lexus LS 400
  By sargeusmc57 - July 13 - 8:13 am

  Ive salivating for a Lexus lo these many years, and at last I own one. Used, albeit, but mine you bet. It is a treat just to look at this car. And to sit in it and drive it is a great treat for an auto enthusiast. I have driven just about everything in the American cars, and they can not compare in the slightest with this Lexus LS400. As for performance, it is exceptional - - 0 to 60 as fast as a Corvette. Quick enough for me at age 69. I just love to drive, wash, and polish this car. The look and feel of it are outstanding. On the road it is getting a tad over 25 mpg. I never came near that with any of my Detroit v8s - not one of them. Try one of these used as I did; its great!

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  Love My New GX470 - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By anne - July 12 - 3:10 pm

  I bought my GX470 a month ago, and it meets all my expectations. I have owned 4 other Lexus, all sedans, but I like this model best of all. Plenty of space for my 3 grandchildren, a great entertainment center, and a nice smooth ride all add to our enjoyment. Also, excellent visibility and lots of power under the hood!

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  Excellent Vehicle - 2008 Lexus RX 400H
  By ramskifast - July 12 - 1:44 pm

  I bought this vehicle with 64K miles on it. Now I have 70K. My worse tank was 24mpg and the best was 29.25mpg. I seem to average between 25 and 27.50 with mixed driving. When I get the higher mileage its usually when most of the driving is at lower speeds as you would expect. I noticed a review of this vehicle by someone stating poor mileage. There was either something wrong with the vehicle or it was due to poor driving habits. Way too many people blast up to the light and hit the brakes. Then they hit the gas hard taking off. Dumb-de-dumb. If you use softer driving habbits you will get 26-29. You have to be thinking hybrid. Smart drivers will see the good mileage.

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  01 GS300 Fla car - 2001 Lexus GS 300
  By Boca Drew - July 12 - 10:00 am

  After 3 years and 50K,this was the first vehicle (after 10 others) that I have never had one major problem/complaint After owning Audis (3), all had major and multiple problems, 2 Mitsus both had problems, My new 03 Acccccura TL-S, 3 problems already. But this thing is built bullet-proof. owever, I really miss feeling the road when I drive, No this is not a euro ride, it is true Japanese MUSH. But not the finish of a Merc/BMW or even Audi. The outside metal-tin like a corolla. So If you really want a great comfy reliable mushy car get this. I will say for the last 3 years all I want is to feel the road again....

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  Great Car - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By advancing - July 12 - 10:00 am

  A great car for the $$$. My car history started out with a small Toyota truck for 2 yrs., a 94 T-Bird for 3, I went through 2 VW Jettas over the course of 6 yrs., and now have advanced to the SportDesign IS300. It is amazingly smooth, and hugs the road like a glove. The auto-shifting is seamless, comfortable seating, and superb sound system, comparable to JBL or Bose.

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  Great vehicle with untapped potential - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By Unclecheeb - July 12 - 10:00 am

  The new body is very nice, however it resembles the Camry too much. Fit and finish are suburb. Night time instrument panel is magnificent. The car is full of little conveniences like the drivers dead pedal,tilt out coin holder, compass in the rearview mirror, auto dimming mirrors, overhead grips for driver and passenger, and wippers that can be pulled out of the way for complete windshield cleaning.

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  Dont buy an ES 350 - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By gjfes350 - July 11 - 3:23 pm

  My first experience as a Lexus owner has been a nightmare. I have had one problem after another with the car (transmission replaced, non-functioning voice response, navigation system, Bluetooth, tire pressure sensors, etc.).

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  Clean - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By irishchad - July 11 - 11:30 am

  This is the best value on the road! I love the air-conditioned seats and the keyless entry is a great feature. Just push a button to start it. It handles great, the suspension is above average, but Lexus could make it a little softer. There is plenty of room in the back seat and trunk. It looks like the impressive luxury car it is and you cannot beat the price. If you ask any mechanic what is the best low maintenance car is they will tell you I never see a Lexus in my shop. I highly recommend this car.

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  Second Lexus - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By RDJamison - July 11 - 10:53 am

  This is by second RX, I previously had a 2000. The 2005 model had greatly improved acceleration performance and turning radius. I love this car!