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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  First Lexus - 2016 Lexus RX 350
  By Jan McMahon - December 20 - 4:44 am

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  Buy one - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Herc - December 20 - 4:20 am

  The ES 350 is again designed to be a smaller LS package. Most features found on the LS line are also available or already on the new ES. Ride is excellent, looks great. Could do without keyless issues but getting used to that.

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  Nearly Flawless - 2008 Lexus LS 460
  By Dave D - December 19 - 3:36 pm

  This is my 4th Lexus and my first LS and it wont be my last. This is a true work of art and a brilliant machine. The car rockets from zero to 60, opens up and is cruise-like at 70 MPH plus. The ride is so quiet and serene it is easy to forget you are actually in a car even at high speeds. The LS is unbelievably quiet even at all speeds & in the city. Even driving at 50 MPH with the sun roof open is quieter than most vehicle with a closed sunroof. The interior is impeccable and is likely nicer than many living rooms you will encounter. The car surrounds you in luxury at every turn from the plush heated/vented seats and roomy feel to the easy to reach controls and tech features. Overall a gem.

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  Worst car Ive ever owned - 2000 Lexus RX 300
  By Tom Michalek - December 19 - 4:20 am

  The Lexus brand is by far the greatest rip off in American history. The transmission failed at 100K, and the car has more sensors than any car I know. We have spent over $7,00o in repair fees on this car. I can not believe the reputation gets in the media. They give the Japanese car companies a bad name. Beware.

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  plus excellent service - 1997 Lexus LS 400
  By Mr Neophyte - December 17 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle gives a very quite smooth ride

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  2nd IS300 - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By vlad_a - December 17 - 10:00 am

  Car enthusiast... I just purchased my second IS300. Manual this time, only auto was available in 2001. This is an amazing vehicle. Handling is great and predictable, styling is perfect. For those complaining about bad handling in snow - get snow tires!

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  Impressive Ride & Luxury - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By BKB - December 17 - 10:00 am

  I have been very pleased with the car and the dealership service. I had also bought my wifes RX300 from the same dealership, Sterling McCall in Houston, TX. It have very please and it exudes pure luxury. Also, while it is not sporty like a BMW, etc. it is plenty fun to drive around town. It will make you question the justification for the higher prices of the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes E-Class can be so much more expensive. I have not had any of the transmission problems mentioned on the message boards.

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  Davids RX 330 Review - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By David Jaffe - December 17 - 10:00 am

  I love this car because the beautiful extirior and luxurious interior designs. The Lexus RX 330 has the best comfort and sport and utility of any car Ive seen. It puts the L in LUV for luxury or Lexus.

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  Great tweener SUV - 2016 Lexus NX 200t
  By Happy with NX - December 17 - 9:29 am

  Was looking for an SUV bigger than an Audi Q3 or Mercedes GLA but not too big. Was looking at an Audi Q5, but since a new model is coming out soon, wanted to find a more current model. Happened to look at this Lexus. Im a boomer and havent been too keen on the nose of the most current Lexus models, but on the NX, its not too big and in black or grey its not so in your face. We decided to take it for a test drive and we were so impressed by the comfort and ride. Acceleration is good. Not the best in the segment, but good enough for getting on and off of highways and passing. Unless you have a need to race, this turbo 4 is more than adequate. The car ride is solid, like a bigger SUV but handling is good like a smaller SUV. I like that the steering is not overpowered and there is some road feel to it. The front seat is amazing. Its like getting a hug every time you get inside. Lexus makes getting in and out easy by automatically moving the seat back and steering wheel up when you exit the car and returning them to position when you buckle your belt or start the car. Rear seat legroom is excellent. Some complain about the AC controls being up high, but I find this position makes it easy to locate the buttons by not having to look down on the console. The touch pad gets a lot of complaints, but really, once you get things set up, you dont need it a whole lot. I use voice commands for navigation and phone calls. Radio presets make it easy to use the up and down buttons on the steering wheel to change channels. Storage is a bit on the smaller side with the rear seats up due to the angle of the rear hatch door. I actually like this because it makes it easier to open the rear hatch in a smaller garage space. I bought my high school daughter an old ML320 which has an upright hatch. Her SUV is 10 inches shorter, but she cannot open her hatch with the garage door shut because it swings out so far. In fact, I traded spaces with her so that we can both open out hatches with the garage door shut. All said, Im really happy the the NX. Its exactly what I wanted - an SUV that rides more like a car than a truck, has decent acceleration, fits in my garage.

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  GS300 SportDesign - 2003 Lexus GS 300
  By Craig - December 15 - 3:36 pm

  Traded in a 95 LS400 which had 173000 miles and still going strong. The GS300 car handles as good as my 91 corvette without the harsh ride. It is firmer than the LS400 but not harsh. The inline 6 cylinder is smooth as silk. Took a long trip and got 26.5 MPG; in 5th gear at 70mph it is turning 2800 RPM,which seems high for overdrive (compared to 2200RPM on the LS400). This car is an excellent blend of performance and luxury. The brakes are much more responsive than I am used to, but really prefer that. You must drive one of these, very impressive!