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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  I absolutely love my 07 LX470 - 2007 Lexus LX 470
  By Mom of Two - November 4 - 4:43 am

  Ive been wanting to get a Lexus SUV for quite some time. I waited until I was able to find the right price. I also wanted to get the older body type instead of the new 570s, which look a bit odd to me. I absolutely love this car! It has great handling, smooth ride, and a beautiful interior. It came fully loaded and you cant ask for anything more. The only downside is of course the gas mileage. But why would you buy an SUV without knowing that you would be paying a lot for gas. Anyhow, weve taken it to various off road terrains and it handles nice. I would highly recommend this car to any family!

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  Mercedes S Class vs LS 400 - 1999 Lexus LS 400
  By james r - November 4 - 2:00 am

  The Mercedes seats are bigger.You cant get the Lexus seat to go parallel like the mercedes seat.The Lexus will reach 130 like you are going 90 but the mercedes feels safer and you dont feel a detached from the road. I like the Mercedes larger steering wheel which makes a real difference at hgh speeds. the LS 400 is virtually maintenance free The interior of S class is much nicer.The cheap sun visors of the LS 400 and head linner are pretty sorry when you look at Merceds even 20yrs.ago The fuel economy in the Lexus is averaging 18-19mpg/city 24-26.9 hwy @75- 85mph The omputer of the Lexus is always off 1-1.5mpg. I still want a newer S class class

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  Buy it! - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By lawdawg - November 4 - 2:00 am

  What a great car! Add to that the low price, and this car cant be beat.

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  Rolling Luxury - 2002 Lexus SC 430
  By dpb - November 4 - 2:00 am

  This has been an outstanding automobile. The car is fun to drive, comfortable, and has plenty of power. The sound system: incredible! I get more postive comments about this car than I did with the Corvette C-5 I had owned.

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  Excellent - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By Melanie Charmichael - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I thought tat tis vehicle was marvelous. It rode wonderfully and it was just like heaven drving it.

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  Absolutely Perfect - 2007 Lexus LS 460
  By Lexus Loyalist - November 2 - 3:53 pm

  This is the perfect car! Beautifully styled, luxuriously outfitted, strong performance, and incredible finish and reliability. I have owned 10 Lexuses, including the previous generation LS 430, but this one is the pinnacle of perfection. The worries and stress drain from me when I sit behind the wheel, glance at the elegant wood trim, tune the Mark Levinson stereo, and sink into the cushioned leather of the most comfortable drivers seat in autodom. The interior is whisper quiet, with a faint engine noise as the car effortlessly accelerates to freeway speed. I am in heaven.

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  Fab Car! - 2017 Lexus RX 350
  By Kara Lee Rusy - November 2 - 10:21 am

  I absolutely LOVE the car- the comfort is amazing and the ride is fantastic. Well worth the proce. The technology is a bit daunting- but that may just be me!

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  The Ultra Luxury Edition Nightmare - 2005 Lexus LS 430
  By Nestor - November 2 - 2:53 am

  I love the car. The interior design seems to be flawless. The smoothness, the quiet ride and comfort are all excellent. A minor problem is I keep hitting the audio button when I am on the touch screen for navigation. I have been to the dealership for a suspension problem four times and so far I have had no luck of getting the problem resolved. The car is sitting higher on one side. The air suspension is a very complicated system since it is controlled by the computer. The Service Manager told me that it is normal to have a variation of up to one inch. The height of the car on one side is much apparently higher. I measured it close to 3/4 of an inch. Consider this comment before buying one.

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  Whats not to like with the IS-300 - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By Runner26 - October 30 - 10:00 am

  Its a fine typical well built Japanese car and its what youd expect from Lexus. Ive driven BMWs and was not impressed with the quality or reliablity...for the $$. The IS-300 is soft, smooth, and quiet. The audio package is really fine too!

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  Fun, Reliable Car, Expensive to Maintain - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By 2001isowner - October 30 - 7:50 am

  Its a quick fun car to drive on dry surface. Worst car on the road in snow with high performance tires installed. Running into high maintenance cost down the road. I have a 2001 IS ... be prepared to drop $500+ at the dealership on the timing belt at 90k and $300 when the oxygen sensor goes. Rims and tires are a nightmare.