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:

• 

  LOVE THIS CAR!! - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By smashingk - June 18 - 11:10 pm

  I test drove several cars including Mercedes S class, BMWs, Jaguars. etc. I chose this car because of reliability, price and the whole package. I bought the ultra luxury package which comes with a massager in the back seat, navigation, sound system, smart key, parking sensors, back auto shades, etc. The handling is great in this car. I have left my keys in the car twice at the shopping mall cause I couldnt hear the engine running. This car also gets great gas on the highway. I can drive from Atlanta to northern VA on a full tank of gas. I was very impressed. I never had any problems.

• 

  SC430 A GREAT, FUN CAR - 2003 Lexus SC 430
  By gagdds1 - June 17 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned several sports cars and other fun cars, but none compares to the fun and exhillaration of driving the SC430. The quality of this car is the defining trait---from design of interior and exterior to the engine and transmission. Then there is the aspect of it being a hardtop coupe changing to a convertible in 25 seconds. Give it a try when shopping for porsches, bmws, mercedes, etc!

• 

  Cant Beat the RX300 - 2003 Lexus RX 300
  By Fun is back - June 17 - 2:00 am

  Lexus is the benchmark builder of the small SUV. The RX handles like a car and provides the utility of an suv. Performance and road feel are very good. Its hard to switch brands after driving one of these.

• 

  FSport - 2017 Lexus RX 350
  By Lo Carren - June 16 - 6:29 pm

  Had a 2010 RX. This is a lot more car and the technology is fantastic.

• 

  A Very Good Sedan - 2005 Lexus GS 300
  By OC_Sedan - June 14 - 10:00 am

  An excellent sedan. Quiet, roomy, comfortable, great steering and brakes. Controls are logical and have the right feel. Not as fast as a G35, but much quieter, better ride, much more logical switch gear, useable side mirrors (size) and, best of all, no snow moblie noise the minute you step on it. More room than a TL and no torque steer. TL is nice and worth a look if a little less room will work for you same with an M45. The car will grow on you as you drive it as all of the little things are right. Prior years owners are VERY satisfied with this car. My reliability score is based on what I have read.

• 

  Nicest 8-yr old car you can buy - 1997 Lexus LS 400
  By NC girl - June 14 - 10:00 am

  Bought this car for the wife to drive for errands/soccer carpools (Her other car is a Jaguar XJS convertible). LS rides quietly & smoothly, absorbing every bump and curve. The quality stands out in this car, surpassing other models of vehicles several years newer. Paint is perfect, leather comfy, stereo crisp. It is apparent this car will go another 10 years if maintained. Consider this car over a 2-3 yr old Camry/Accord for the $ any day.

• 

  Buy! - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By motherof2labs - June 14 - 10:00 am

  Test drove Mercedes SUV, Volvo C90, Landcruiser, and Land Rover LR3....None compared in terms of luxury, ride, & handling relative to price. Previous car was Lincoln Navigator. While GX470 is in fact on a smaller frame, I feel Ive lost nothing in storage space, passenger room and only gained in a smaller more managable ultra luxurious SUV!!

• 

  Great luxury SUV - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Karim - June 14 - 4:03 am

  This vehicle has everything I wanted inside of a SUV. It rides smooth. The accessories are easy to reach. And the nav does everything the drives tells it to do. Great SUV would not trade it for any other SUV.

• 

  The best value of any entry luxuary car - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Steve in CT - June 13 - 12:26 pm

  Owned for 1 month. I researched every so called entry luxury sedan out there. None of them had the smooth and quiet ride that I have experienced with the 2007 ES 350 Lexus. Before you purchase an entry luxury car do yourself a favor and sit in the back seats of the Infiniti and Acura. No comparison for comort. Only sedan that can comfortable fit 5 adults. Try that with the competition. When driving over 60 miles per hour in each car, You will notice some noise in every auto except the Lexus. Much smoother, cushier ride then the Infiniti and Acura. Fuel economy. Im getting 23-24 mph in city. All hwy. was 28-29 mph. Using mid grade gas.

• 

  Love it !!!!! - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By tyler - June 12 - 8:03 am

  My first luxury car and love it !!! If you want a luxury for less than 40k, this is the one. 2005 model has almost all the luxury options you can think of. The service dept at Lexus is awesome! Only 1 minor minus is the acceleration is not as powerful, still I have no regret for choosing the ES 330 over the others (i.e. TL by Acura or G35 by Infiniti). I strongly recommend it.