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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  Just upgraded my RX300 to RX330 - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By vicki - July 30 - 10:00 am

  The RX330 seems to be "tighter" in every detail from the seats to handeling (bigger tires). Speaking of tires, my new RX330 came w/ a great set as compared to my RX300. I love the new features such as the side mirror tilt when you put in reverse, the automatic backdoor open/close w/ touch of a button, the CD holder in the dash vs the glove box & the duel temp. controls.

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  Very good - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By PONDsuv - July 30 - 10:00 am

  Have driven 7000 miles in 5 weeks. Performance very good. Milage 24-25 on Interstate, 17-18 local. Great driver seat, should have all the same options on the passenger seat - uncomfortable to back on the right side. Previous had Mercedes E320 - better seats and performance in the MB, but enjoy the RX as much or more. Standard RX audio system a bit cheap - could do much better. Service outstanding! Back seat with adjustable seats a bonus. Overall, a very good auto. Will revisit review in 12 months.

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  High Tech Luxury - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By JohnConnor - July 30 - 10:00 am

  Fantastic crossover SUV or LUV as they like to refer to it. Total comfort and luxury. Major improvement over the first generation RX300, in both style and performance. Love it!!

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  Great Value, but .... - 2006 Lexus ES 330
  By Steve of Georgia - July 30 - 2:26 am

  Previous cars were all Acuras (Legend and RL). ES 330 was a much better value with equivalent quality. Although we didnt purchase the car for its engine performance, fuel economy has been disappointing. 25 MPG on the highway at 70/75 MPH. City is around 18 MPG. This is WITH Premium gas. Also, a strange sound has started coming the stereo. Otherwise, no problems, great quality/features for the price. Get the ventilated seats, they work great in both winter/summer.

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  Marvelous Used Car - 1996 Lexus ES 300
  By rlr001 - July 29 - 8:03 pm

  Bought this about a year ago. Have done nothing to it since other than oil changes. Drives fantastic on the highway, AC is perfectly cold, CD player is highest quality, seat comfort great, and its very peppy to drive. I was looking for a Camry and found this for a good deal, I am hooked on Lexus now!

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  Pleasing to look at and to drive - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Tom Stangl - July 28 - 10:40 am

  A nice combination. Beautiful exterior and interior looks, quality second to none and a quiet, smooth ride. The navigation system is very easy to use and more practical/helpful than I imagined. Mark Levinson sound system is crisp, clear and powerful! The lexus CPO program was the final touch on a great buying experience.

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  Very good, not perfect - 2016 Lexus RX 450h
  By KC Evans - July 27 - 3:44 pm

  Super comfortable, with one of the nicest interiors in its class. Wife liked the new styling, me I think its a bit over the top. Radio and Nav interface could be better, but once you get use to it, its not bad. Have body fit and quality issues that are a disappointment. Gas filler door sticks proud of the body, the front hood rattles, weather strip around one of passenger doors has come loose. The paint on the front bumper around one of the parking sensors is dis colored. At 4000 miles the sending unit for the gas gauge failed leaving my wife stranded when she ran out of gas with the gauge showing 3/4 of a tank. The on center feel of the steering is vague and there is a bit of torque steer on hard excelleration. Smooth silent ride.

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  2017 LX570 KING OF SUVS - 2017 Lexus LX 570
  By John M - July 26 - 8:46 pm

  Trulely the king of suvs I have had serval suvs including g wagons Range Rover escalade 4 runner LX570 is the DADDY HANDS DOWN. It is the most comfortable SUV for road trips with o cooler in the armrest that fits a full bottle of champagne and still has room. Looks that are amazing and gets complements all the time. If you are thinking about getting one go for it as I can tell Ashly say this is the best SUV ever built.

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  TRANSMISSION & SUSPENSION ISSUES - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By MICHELE - July 26 - 6:10 pm

  This is a nice looking car and very comfortable but it lacks in the mechanical arena. I have had 2 major warranty issues. Front left strut broke (told bolts left loose from factory install caused the break) and the transmission had to be replaced. Not only that but it didnt solve the problem, ECU had to be reflashed a couple months later when they got a software upgrade. Told me I was the only one having issues, found out on Edmunds lots of people have them with this year. Dont buy a used one unless the transmission and ECU have been fixed. You will have problems. Not impressed with service or how they handled the quality issues... pursuit of quality... yeah right.

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  You will love this vehicle.... - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By LindaLou - July 26 - 1:53 pm

  My Lexus RX330 is my first SUV and I love it! The seats are so comfortable and the lumbar support is perfect for me. The heater works immediately, which is great in the winter months. The 4 wheel drive is great in the snow as I just found out.. I would recommend this vehicle to all.