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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  Dont Keep for Long - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By Nikki - January 16 - 11:36 am

  The car is good as long as you get rid of it after the 5th year. I had to purchase a new transmission during the 6th year and 2 new cylinders.

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  One of the Best Cars Ive Ever Owned - 1999 Lexus ES 300
  By LCD44 - January 16 - 1:56 am

  Ive driven nothing but Toyota products for over 30 years; and to me, the ES300 is one of the very best cars ever built. The only thing better than an old Toyota is a new Toyota... so ten months ago, we traded in our old Camry for a Lexus RX 400h, and 10 years from now, I am likely to be here praising it also.

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  Exquisitely Fun & Beautiful - 2005 Lexus SC 430
  By TDT - January 14 - 1:53 pm

  Weve only had the car for almost a month and have driven over 1500 miles already, 90% of it with the top down. Our two kids, ages 6 & 8, still fit in the back seat, and they absolutely love it! The quality and finish are unsurpassed. This is our first Lexus, and after driving Mercedes and BMWs, nothing beats the Lexus experience!

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  My second Lexus - 1998 Lexus LS 400
  By Barney - January 13 - 6:36 am

  I bought my first an ES 300 in 2000 for my wife to be, she loved it but I loved it more. I sold it to my brother in law after we were married and got my wife a Mercedes and almost a divorce. Needless to say I bought her a 1998 LS 400 from original owner that was impeccable and I found my true love. This is the best motor car for price, comfort, reliability in its class. This is as good as it gets! Classic styling, smooth riding and dependability. I love this car almost as much as my wife!!

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  Wow! Amazing Car! - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Jay Marino - January 11 - 2:00 am

  I purchased a 2002 IS300 with the 5 speed manual transmission. Let me just say that this is by far the most fun to drive vehicle ever. I have driven everything from the 3 series BMW, Audi A4, Acuras, nothing even comes close to this vehicle. Especially for the money. Definitly well spent. More reliable then the others too. That 5 speed manual transmission is the smoothes, creamiest gearbox ever made.

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  Best Car Great Value - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By TukuCheng - January 11 - 2:00 am

  I was looking for a BMW and have been following 530I and 745I for quite some time. I test drove both recently and finally decided to purchase a Lexus LS430. I am a technology guy and appreciate technologies that make sense. Lexus LS430 connects technologies with people perfectly. The ride was excellent even under aggressive driving that I enjoy. You can only admire Lexus for their extreme attention to details.

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  Ultimate Luxury Car - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By johnfsteph - January 11 - 2:00 am

  This is my sixth Lexus and it is the best one I have owned. From the interior to the way it handles (make sure you get one with the sports package) to the bluetooth technology. The LS430 drives so much better than the Mercedes E500 (which drives like a tank)... Buy the Lexus and with the money you save you can go to Europe!!!

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  Impressive but ...... - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By cdyang - January 11 - 2:00 am

  The interior design is beautifully done. Sitting in it, you felt you probably spent more than $50K although most likely you spent significantly less than $40K. The exterior design, though, is quite dull - almost indistinguishable from a Camery. The acceleration is significantly improved compared to the 3.0L version, but still significantly deficient compared to SAAB 9-5 or Lincoln LS V8, both are only slightly more expensive. It is a very comfortable and very quiet car to ride, although driving it for long distance can put you into sleep qucikly. The fuel economy though, is a bit disappointment: I registered about 20 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on highway.

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  Great Family Vehicle! - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Gail & Andrea - January 11 - 2:00 am

  I have a 17 & 18 year old. We took our RX 330 out with them for "winter driving experience". I tried to demonstrate how to recover from a slide, but we didnt have to do anything -- the car made the corrections! The RX 330 is a great, safe family car. The kids drive it when ever they get the chance. Its comfortable (my 6 tall son has plenty of leg room even in the back seat), responsive, peppy and can haul a lot of gear. Its also a great value -- compare cost per mile to similar vehicles.

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  Im satisfied - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By bigtoot - January 10 - 10:00 am

  I test drove the IS and the 3-series BMW. The IS was crisper handling, but the BMW seemed to do the "little things" better, particularly quality of materials. But by the time you got them comparably equipped, the BMW was $4-5000 more expensive. While I think that the BMW is slightly better, its just not $5000 better! Ive been driving the IS since last August and even now I still havent found any annoying flaws. Count me satisfied.