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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  Solid SUV with a luxury car feel. - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By Savona - November 29 - 9:16 pm

  At 32,000 miles the car drives like the day we bought it. Great value for the price which included third row seats, rear spoiler, side rails, sunroof. Overall a better ride and value than our previous BMW X5.

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  Reliability is out of this world - 1996 Lexus ES 300
  By adam2009m - November 29 - 10:10 am

  Everyone thought I was stupid when I decided to drive this car from Chicago to Miami when it had 328K miles on it. I had 0 incidents during my round trip of over 3500 miles. Enough said, the best car ever built in my opinion.. I have more confidence in this car than driving a brand new car from any manufacturer. I change my oil every 5000 miles and it has a minor oil leak which I decided isnt worth fixing. I just top it off and it has been like that for couple years now. I bought this car used with 254k for 1700. I have already put 100k on it lol. I definitely got my moneys worth.

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  Great, but a few flaws - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By LA-Dave - November 28 - 12:40 pm

  Overall, I am very happy with the car. It performs well, rides very well, and is a real joy to drive. Though I paid dearly for not buying OEM-specified tires, I have dealt with a few defects (AC vent sweep, passenger mirror failure, headlamp gasket replacement, and a manufacture- defected windshield). Also, (as a safety issue) I have a problem with the mirrors rotating in before exiting the vehicle, especially when parking on the street. Even with these drawbacks, I would definitely recommend this vehicle.

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  RX300-Whats There Not to Like! - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By TengPresby - November 28 - 10:00 am

  This is my second RX300 (my previous was a 1999), and if Lexus keeps it up, I may never switch to another vehicle! It rides comfortably and drives instinctively. The gas mileage is superb for a SUV its class--19mph. On REGULAR gas! This is for around town in the Washington Metro area! The styling is appealing and the High Intensity Discharge Headlights are great.

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  Loving It! - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By J&K - November 26 - 6:40 pm

  I am a repeat Lexus owner. I loved my 1997 LS 400 and now the improvement of perfection is shown in my new LS 430. I intend to enjoy it for at least the next 7 plus years. Driving the car is a joy, its ease of handling and speed is incredible. Its almost as if the moment I think about it - Im doing it. There is no hesitation in its performance and it LOOKS good too. Thanks Lexus.

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  Wind noise from drivers outside mirror - 2007 Lexus LS 460
  By Bill - November 26 - 1:53 pm

  Coming from a BMW and I liked the styling and competitive pricing in this LS 460 luxury auto. After two visits to the dealership, they have no answer for the very annoying whistling coming from the drivers side rear view mirror when reaching speeds over 40 mph. Had to do my own detective work - seemed to be coming from the drivers window, but after some painstaking effort on my part, I narrowed it down to the mirror housing. Have to turn up the radio to drown out the intolerable whistling noise. Only time it stops is when it rains. Only disappointing problem. Other than that, a great luxury car that gets constant compliments from admirers.

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  wonderful gas hog - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By mary e burns - November 25 - 2:10 pm

  My only wishes are for more storage space in the console, and better gas mileage. The ride is superb, and the heat/air vented seats, stereo, voice- activated travel guide, and overall comfort is non-parallel to any car I have owned, including Cadillacs and Lincolns. I have owned 12 GM luxury cars. Lexus has the best car for the price, and is more reliable.

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  Great Car- Bad dealership - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By Rudy12 - November 23 - 2:00 am

  By far the best buy in my life! I have been leasing new cars, but decided to purchase. This being the oldest car by far- Still stands out over the new cars like Nissan and Volkswagon(not that there bad cars, b/c their not) But this ride is so smooth is sick!

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  GX470 - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By Colorado Jeff - November 23 - 2:00 am

  Outstanding fit and finish. Engine is satin smooth and builds power with additional mileage. Ive been averaging 18.9mpg with a combination of city(commute) and highway driving. Acceleration is strong but transmission shifts too soon (albeit very smoothly). Sports sedan type handling and a very tight turning radius, surprizing for a vehicle of this size.

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  Expectations - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By chrisKY - November 22 - 10:00 am

  Meets or exceeds all expectations of quality and driving experience. Fantastic roading handling and comfort for a car of this size. Dont see many of these on the road (at least where we live) and brings a lot of positive comments. Agree with other postings: FUN to drive.