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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  A RX 300 Yippy Skippy! - 2001 Lexus RX 300
  By Mr. Hank - December 12 - 10:00 am

  I bought this Lexus used with 3,200 miles. Why? Mainly due to the resale value - it beats the heck out of a Hyundai Sante Fe!! Its not bad! Quality leather seats, solid ride, luxury appointed trim. After all - its a LEXUS!

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  Great, but still room for improvement - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By nickm52 - December 11 - 3:13 am

  Great car overall. Executive comfort package makes ride enjoyable for all passengers. The car performance-wise is good and It beats out my previously owned benzs and bmws in all of the categories except for handling and exterior design.

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  Lexus GX - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By gchance1 - December 9 - 10:00 am

  My experience with the GX has been a pleasant one. This vehicle replaced a Toyota 4-Runner. The GX is not as sporty, but was not intended to be. Considering its size, it is very quiet and comfortable. Initially, I did not think I would enjoy full time 4 wheel drive. One drive on a rain soaked road changed my mind. No more unintended wheel spin departing signals on wet streets. Overall, a very comfortable, capable vehicle.

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  Subtle Yet Noticeable Improvements - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By IDriveAnM5 - December 4 - 1:23 pm

  Upgraded from 2007 RX 350 AWD. Wifes car - shes a lifetime Lexus fan. 2010 model is touted as "totally redesigned," but I think it is more subtle than that. The engine is quieter, gearbox is much smoother, and suspension rework is a big improvement. Others have complained about wind noise, and I seem to agree. Overall, not much disappoints in this new car. Very glad that new rear suspension creates a flatter cargo floor. Were pleased with the upgrade so far. The wife is concerned about the on-demand AWD feature, so we may spend the winter with the Diff locked, which will probably penalize the fuel mileage.

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  Not too bad of a choice for the money. - 1997 Lexus ES 300
  By Roman - November 28 - 11:26 am

  Well... When I bought it four years ago I thought it was a perfect car, and it is close to that. However, I had to change rear bushings, fix brakes, change timing belt, rotors, window motor went down (when driving on highway), stabilizers had to be changed, wheel bearings had to be changed, exhaust, the heater on drivers seat stopped working right before last winter. So... this car always took me from point A to point B with comfort, but its not as perfect as it may seem to be. Lexus is reliable, but far from perfect. The best car I had so far was Civic (but again, it was practically new).

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  Bad and Dangerous Transmission - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By Jim N. - November 28 - 10:00 am

  This cars transmission hesitates very badly when accelerating off the line. I have used premium fuel. This does not help at all. Lexus will not fix it. Please read all the other consumer complaints in these reviews. Time for a class-action lawsuit. I love the rest of the car but this transmission problem is ruining my enjoyment of driving my new car.

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  Wind Noise Problem - 2007 Lexus LS 460
  By Leza2279 - November 27 - 3:23 pm

  The LS4 60 has a manufacturing defect that allows a very noticeable wind noise that emanates from the drivers side window. Lexus states that there is no fix. New buyers should carefully evaluate whether they want to spend $70,000+ for a car with noticeable and annoying wind noise.

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  Need more luxury for the price - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By mrs luxury - November 24 - 2:00 am

  I have driven several American made cars and have owned 2 Volvos. However I found my Lexus LS430 to be smooth, roomy and very pricey. Its seems all the great gadgets are optional. Body styling looks too much like the Avalon which is 25-30% cheaper. There should be a video tape in programming the GPS system.

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  Beautiful, but if you have kids, no way! - 2005 Lexus SC 430
  By Alexandra - November 24 - 12:50 am

  Beautiful car. Read some reviews before I leased it, from Edmunds that stated there was plenty of room for children. I have a 2 and 3 year old and well, there just isnt any room. Just wanted to clarify that online, if you have kids, and expect them to drive in this car, youre in la la land.

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  Home-Run - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By 03is - November 21 - 10:07 am

  Ready? Love the car, but since I just recently bought it, Ive had to do some work getting it up to par as the prior owner didnt take great care. However, its a Lexus, so a blind monkey could drive it into a lake and itd be better than anything on the road. A few cosmetic issues inside and out, and 90k service hadnt been done. When something breaks on this car, its costly. But if you take care of it, itll take care of you. I wish they had that mentality! That said, Its a joy to drive. Slightly heavy and a bit sluggish, but with 200+hp, you dont lack for power. Finding low-mileage units is just about impossible, and when you purchase yours, youll see why.