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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  Fun Utility - 2000 Lexus RX 300
  By DESUM - September 3 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is a joy to drive compared to the other SUVs I have owned. I drive 15-20K a year in all types of weather and I have complete control in all conditions without having to "shift" into 4-wheel drive.

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  A signficant achievement for Lexus - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By JPANCO - September 2 - 4:53 pm

  As an engineer, I was very curious to see how the 400h would perform. Although the basic concepts of hybrid operation SOUND good, putting into practice while providing a pleasurable driving experience is something else. I am pleased beyond my expectations how Lexus pulled it off. You can barely detect the transitions between gas and electric power. Buyers should have realistic expectations, however. For highway driving, dont expect a radical improvement over a gas engine, because the 400h cruises under gas power. Also, the engine runs constantly for the first few minuets to warm up the catalytic converter. The real economy occurs for around-town driving after warmup.

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  Engine Noise - 2008 Lexus RX 350
  By Karen Ko - September 2 - 2:00 am

  HELP! Engine very noisy especially whenever I accelerate and I was told by LEXUS that it is normal. When I test drove it, it was not noisy and I thought the noise came from the tires as I was told to change when it was under 20,000 miles as the inner treads were worn.

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  love lexus cars - 1996 Lexus ES 300
  By lydiva - August 31 - 2:30 pm

  Ive had my car for such a long time and i jst cant say how reliable this car has been for me. Ive thought of giving it up but the only way i will is to get another used lexus. these cars are so well built. once u have one u cant go back to anything smaller also. my cd player dont work but i plug in my ipod and Im good to go. i plan to get a used rx330 in the future once this dies. Ive got 142k miles and never have to do much to it just routine things. Im a single mom and need a good car and this worked well for years for me.

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  The best - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By bobcaptord - August 30 - 6:40 pm

  This is my fourth Lexus and my third SUV. Had the the large SUV, in fact two of them and both are great

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  Best Car Ever - 2004 Lexus SC 430
  By Mike Hintz - August 30 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car on the road today. The sound system is second to none. The top is great. It is more roomy than you would think.

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  the new gx47o - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By Ronald ciaccia - August 30 - 2:00 am

  This is a great truck, but 1.the arm rest on the captins chairs should be longer. 2.the position of the heated seat buttons are out of reach, try reaching it with a seat bealt on. also the memory seat buttons are in the way, every time i open the door i hit them.

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  Gotta love it! - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By kala - August 30 - 2:00 am

  After doing lots of research on 2004 car/suv models it was decided, the best vehicle for the safety,value and comfort,the 2004 rx330 was clearly a wonderfull find for us. The rx330 is all of the above said, and performs well in the ice and snow!! We are very happy with our rx330.

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  2006 Lexus GS 300 - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By steven chen - August 30 - 1:30 am

  The dumbest things ever done to a car - hide most of the adjustment. You can only reach it by opening a box or using a touch screen. This makes a lot of inconveniences you wont find in a 2005 or earlier model.

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  my Lexus 330 - 2006 Lexus ES 330
  By Lexus 330 - August 29 - 1:50 pm

  Being a senior @ 84, & having driven many miles in many different vehicles, I dont think there could be a more suitable car for a senior citizen. Really a great car!