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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  Hooked on GX470 - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By Hooked on GX - November 18 - 10:00 am

  Better SUV than I thought now that I own one. Love it! Very versatile with the removable back seats. Gas mileage however, can be improved.

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  GREAT - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By marrie611 - November 18 - 10:00 am

  THE LEXUS RX330 IS GREAT IT DRIVE SO SMOOTH YOU DONT EVEN HEAR IT,ITS COMFORTABLE IT HAS GOOD PICK UP AND IT LOOKS GOOD TOO.

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  One SMART auto - 2010 Lexus HS 250H
  By charliedatuna - November 17 - 10:56 am

  This car is in a class by itself. There is nothing even close to it. I tried the Prius and it struggles to get up to speed with the rest of the pack and its too noisy. The HS250h is quiet, smart, and has all the bells and whistles (and then some) that my GS 300 had. Lexus really thought about what could make this a great car, and they succeeded. For example the NAV screen can tilt in 3 different angles to allow one to read it in the event of glare, so you no longer need to remove your sunglasses to read it. The bluetooth technology is amazing. Talking hands free is like being there in person. The Park button is really cool and different. Overall, this is a great car and the styling is great!

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  A regal ride - 2001 Lexus LS 430
  By Pat Davis - November 16 - 10:00 am

  Quality, quiet and comfort ooze from every pore of the LS 430. Lots of room, easy to maneuver, plenty of power in a luxury setting. My "best ever" vehicle.

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  Great Car! - 2002 Lexus SC 430
  By Valerie - November 16 - 7:13 am

  I bought this car new in 2002 and have driven it almost 100,000 miles. Still love it. Other than the CD player becoming inexplicably inoperable recently (I spent $800 to replace it), it has never had any major problems. Lexus hasnt changed the body style at all since 2002, so with a recent paint job, the car looks brand new.

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  Best quality convertible value - 2004 Lexus SC 430
  By e-bayer - November 15 - 6:33 pm

  Far better value than comparable BMW and MB convertibles. Automatic top is techno-marvel. Interior is Rolls quality. Body is beautiful and functional. Bought it one year old with 11k miles on E-bay to save $16k off sticker. Couldnt have spent 48k on better car. Highly recommend if you want ultra-reliable luxury convertible for reasonable price.

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  Great Highway Car - 2010 Lexus ES 350
  By masonbarge - November 15 - 5:23 am

  We wanted a reliable, quiet luxury car at an affordable price, and thats exactly what we got. For the price, the degree of luxury and smooth, quiet ride really makes road trips a pleasure, and theres lots and lots of space for passengers and cargo. The big positive surprise is the gas mileage! We are now averaging 31 MPG on the highway, and about 23 mpg overall. No doubt this is improved by 1 or 2 mpg simply because of the excellent variety of displays, which make you aware of the mpg you are getting. The trade-off is disappointing handling. There is plenty of pickup and stopping power for us, but the steering and lateral feel are average at best, and visibility is average minus.

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  Best Reliable Luxury Car - 1995 Lexus LS 400
  By HP - November 14 - 11:53 pm

  I bought a used Lexus LS 400 with 94000 miles from an auction 3 years ago thru a dealer friend for 11K. The car is now at 152000 miles and only work I have done on it is routine... brakes, timing belt/water pump, spark plugs, wires. This is the best ride you can ask for the money as it still rides and feels as if it is a brand new car. Every person who has driven my car has accepted the fact that this is a very smooth ride.

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  Great Car! but Expensive Repairs! - 2003 Lexus SC 430
  By Stunt Jay - November 14 - 4:40 am

  Runflat tires do cause a bit of hard ride. I hit a pothole without seeing it and it bent the rim very easily. Dealer wanted $600 for just the rim. I average 18 MPG as it stated I would. No big deal coming from a Tundra with 13 MPG. Convertible parts are very expensive. Overall I do enjoy driving the car alot and will probably keep it until it dies out on me. I havent had any major mechanical issues at all with the car.

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  Best car ever! - 2001 Lexus IS 300
  By Jake Class - November 13 - 11:23 pm

  I bought my IS300 in July of 2005 and have had it for 3 years this month. It is great I love everything about the car, nothing has broken down on me. It had 69k on it when I bought it and now its 112k and still runs effortlessly. I have done a lot of modifications on it and they have all been great upgrades. I plan on trading this one in for a 2004 or 2005 with less miles so I can keep driving it for a long time. But everything about this car is great and a great value!