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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  Rider seat not as comfortable as driver - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By MA - May 18 - 2:00 am

  The rider seat does not have the adjustments that the driver seat has and leg room is too short.

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  6 month experience - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By bob986s - May 17 - 10:00 am

  A volume button on steering wheel would also help as well as the 3 current ones for the Radio etc.

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  Need more work - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Frank - May 17 - 5:16 am

  Engine and wind noise greater than my ES 300. The ride is much harsher and appears to be a true sports suspension. Not what I was looking for.

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  Lexus GS 450h - Nice but not great - 2007 Lexus GS 450h
  By Andy Kimball - May 14 - 10:16 am

  I received one of the first Lexus GS 450h hybrid sedans. I had been driving an LS model. The GS definitely feels like a step down in luxury. I have been getting a disappointing 20-21 miles per gallon. The interior feels cramped compared to the LS. However, the GS hybrid has plenty of power and is fun to drive. I would think twice before spending the extra money to get the hybrid model of this car.

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  Not well-equipped - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By Himanshu - May 14 - 10:00 am

  The Lexus ES330 is a beautiful car, perhaps the most beautiful and aerodynamic exterior in its class. The interior is classy and tasteful too. A car worth admiring, but not necessarily worth purchasing. Compared with Acura TL 2004, this car seriously lacks some useful features.

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  Cant go wrong - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Lexus fan - May 14 - 10:00 am

  the only bad thing about the old version was the poor turning radius. That is fixed with the new body style. The interior design is GREAT! The exterioe updates are done well also. Good job Lexus.

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  Best Luxury Sedan - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Patrick - May 13 - 7:43 pm

  I had this car for a couple of months and I love it. I actually test drove several vehicles, Infiniti, Acura, and Audi to compare from several perspectives and chose the Lexus GS 300 AWD. I had the dealership change the tires to 18" Michelin Pilot® Sport A/S tires in place of the Goodyear run flat tires and what a difference in ride and handling. This car is fully loaded and the Mark Levinson 14 speaker Audio system is great. I am completely satisfied with this car. This car is an eye-catcher and it delivers on demand.

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  Okay car - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By JW - May 11 - 5:50 pm

  Pretty car. Great for long trips. Loud clicking in the engine until it warms. Taken to dealer several times and they report that it the noise is normal. However, loaner cars do not make that noise. Car has several rattling noises and is poorly insulated from road noise. Poor thigh support. Poor rear vision. Love the keyless entry. Love the large trunk.

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  the greatest----PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 1998 Lexus LS 400
  By tebook - May 11 - 10:00 am

  My first Lexus,a LS 400, 98 model. Absolutely the finest car I have ever owned. Smooth, quiet and fast. Nothing short about this car!

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  Should be better - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By Ole John - May 11 - 10:00 am

  The "fly-by-wire" engine control is unstable causing shutters at about 45, and topping hills or at bottom coming up sometimes causes jerks. The red pointer on the instrument panel is hard to read in bright conditions. My car has warped rotors at 8000 miles.