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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  Best car I ever owned - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By d wilson - March 22 - 10:00 am

  Those people who say they want more power are pretty stupid They should be driving a Infiniti G35. Everyone needs to know; This is a luxury car folks!, not a race car! I drove every car in the luxury class and this is absolutley the best car I drove for the price. The ES 300 is awesome!! Drove to Vegas and it was like sitting in my family room chair.

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  Getting Spoiled by Lexus - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Allan - March 20 - 2:50 am

  Have a dressed up RX330 with navigation. Have been very impressed with quality, comfort, quiet ride, performance, handling. Have talked with friends whove driven Lexus for 20 years and never needed a repair. Dealership was great, service is great, car is fun to drive. My wife is primary driver, and I thought I would never get her out of her Land Rover (she has a phobia about running into a deer). After one day in the Lexus, shes never gone back to the Land Rover, and will probably buy Lexus from now on. Only complaint: not enough storage bins in front (no place for parking/toll change). Could take a lesson from the Toyota Sienna XLE. Could use parking sonar, too.

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  A Legend... - 1997 Lexus LS 400
  By LS 400 - March 19 - 1:26 pm

  I purchased this car from my brother 3 years ago. Its got 200k miles and every time I put it on the highway, it has already paid for itself. I got 500miles from a full tank! This car is classic. I only hate I didnt get a 99 with the xenon headlights. Still is so quiet and smooth you think its not even running. Someone is constantly trying to buy it from me. I cant wait to try the LS430 or LS460l

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  First sports sedan - 2008 Lexus IS F
  By malujerry - March 18 - 2:06 am

  This car is great. I was leaning towards the M3, but the huge price difference and reliability, along with a test drive, made me choose the ISF. I would not have gone with another car within the same class.

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  Love Everything, EXCEPT... - 2013 Lexus ES 300h
  By murphy50 - March 17 - 6:26 pm

  Ok, everything is great, except the darn front seats. The front seat cushion side bolsters dig into my hips and thighs. It gets annoying and makes me want to dump the car. Last years model had fantastic seats for the butt. I am not fat - in fact I am skinny and tall, and in my early 40s. If you have a slightly larger than average butt, you better sit in this awhile. I do not like it and mad that I have to "get used to it" I want everyone to know that this is something to look at, and what I consider a design mistake

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  If a dream, I dont want to wake up! - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By RedHead - March 17 - 10:00 am

  This is my second LS sedan, having leased one in 1999. After checking the market closely, the LS430 is tops in most all areas. MBs new E500 is close second, but for open interstate roads and in town routine driving, this is really a dream.

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  Hard to describe - 2000 Lexus LX 470
  By ktiger - March 17 - 10:00 am

  We just purchased this beauty (gold) from a dealer in Houston, TX. After driving the LX470, the Escalade (what a joke for $58,000), the Navigator, & the Sequoia we decided to drive to Houston (best prices/live in Louisiana)to purchase the certified LX470 (only 36,000 miles). This SUV is everything we hoped it would be. We traded in our 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee which we drove to Houston and that made the experience driving home a dream. None of the other vehicles could match the LX470 smooth ride and comfortable seating. I cant believe we waited so long to purchase one.

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  IS 300 - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By jgoodyear - March 17 - 10:00 am

  I have owend this car for 10 months, and has been a great car. The I6 is very smooth. Nice power is based on the Toyota Supra 2JZ-GE motor. The 5sp Manual has nice concise shifts. Feels solid. The Manual is almost .5 of a second faster than the Auto, It also has a stiffer suspension.

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  Great Car! - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By PJS - March 17 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car I ever bought. It provides a higher level of comfort than most of its competitors for a fraction of the price.This an extremely refined car

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  Best car Ive ever owned - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By grisch - March 17 - 10:00 am

  You have to understand the Lexus ES300 is the first non-American car Ive ever purchased, so I may not be the best judge. Nonetheless, it is clearly the best car I have ever owned. I traded in a Buick I thought I loved and have never regretted it. I also test drove a Mercedes, a BMW, an Acura, a Cadillac CS and a Lincoln LS. In the end I still bought the Lexus. The ONLY thing I can say that the others had over the Lexus is exterior design. The Mercedes and BMW are "classier looking and the Cadillac is just more interesting looking.