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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  ES 330 Bad Transmission - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By billp1 - July 7 - 10:00 am

  My ES 330 has a transmission that has significant hesitation between gears. I reccomend not buying this car. This is Toyotas premier car line and the transmission doesnt even work correctly.

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  Almost perfect - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Jay Chen - July 7 - 10:00 am

  This is a extremely nice and well balanced SUV. Its quite, smooth, drives like its on butter, yet never leans or floats around corners. I love the in-dash CD changer and the muscular, angular styling. The leather seats are perfect in every way, theyre supportive, easy to adjust, have memory and heating features. Ive driven it for over four months now and we have taken it on several highway trips. Although its nice and smooth for two people, the interior space limits its use as a family highway cruiser.

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  My first Lexus - 2007 Lexus GX 470
  By saurin patel - July 7 - 8:33 am

  This is my first Lexus and I love it, superb driving and luxurious.

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  My Lexus SUV rocks! - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Lina - July 6 - 11:03 pm

  I have owned several European luxury cars and this is my very favorite car ever! If you have any interest in buying a new car...do yourself a favor and test drive this one.

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  This is the enthusiasts pick - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By MattinCali - July 6 - 3:26 am

  For 2002, Lexus offers a 5-speed manual option to the IS300 model. I jumped at the opportunity to drive one, and I was sold in a heartbeat. The firmer suspension tuning on this model as well as the crisp shifting action of the manual truly make this the enthusiasts choice for a great sport sedan. I opted for the leather/ecsaine interior trim package, which really helps keep you in place while making turns. The seats themselves are top-notch to begin with, even for tall drivers (Im 602"). The acceleration is just as smooth as the braking and cornering. The auto-leveling standard xenon headlamps are a nice touch too.

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  Rusting and peeling paint - 1998 Lexus LS 400
  By Lexus owner - July 5 - 7:10 pm

  2 inch rust bubble at the drivers side roof meets the windshield. The paint is peeling at two places on top of the rear bumper. I have to check if these items are covered by warranty but I doubt it. I never expected these items to happen to a Lexus. I live in California. The air conditioner is also weak even though it has been recharged and checked. I had to cut the factory floor mat as it was too close to the accelerator even with the tabs. The floor mat would depress the accelerator. The engine gunned once and I saw the floor mat against the accelerator. I sent in a complaint but got nowhere. Check your mat. Bad gas pedal design as the mat cannot slide under the pedal.

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  Squeak - 2006 Lexus ES 330
  By shaynew - July 5 - 2:10 pm

  I like the car, but am disappointed with my drivers seat. Every time I accelerate or slow down the seat lets me know it by emanating a loud, annoying squeak. It sounds like there is a spring broken in there or when pieces of styrofoam are rubbed together. I have taken it to the dealer 6 times and they even replaced the seat once, but they cannot fix the problem. It is so loud that even blasting the excellent radio does not help. I spend a lot of time in my car and this problem makes me want to trade the car.

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  RX #2 - 2017 Lexus RX 350
  By BEN GUIDOTTI - July 4 - 4:49 pm

  i HAD A rx 350 2011 SO THE CAR IS VERY MUCH THE SAME

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  Good solid vehicle both on & off road - 2003 Lexus LX 470
  By Bill Graham - July 4 - 4:39 am

  Towable 4-wheels down - roomy but definately not a boulevard cruiser. Body roll is a problem & the rear seats are not all that comfortable...it is basically a truck ride with a fair amount of road/wind noise at speed.

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  good but - 2012 Lexus CT 200H
  By roberta22 - July 2 - 1:28 pm

  I love my Lexus. Have had it for almost 2 years and Im still getting good mileage. I also think its fun to drive and very easy on freeways with all the start and stop of urban driving. What I didnt think about when I purchased it (and should have) was how low to the ground it is. Easy for the driver to get in and out but almost always have to pull away from the curb to let a passenger in and out. Have been losing air pressure in my tires and now find out that its corrosion of the chrome wheels. So far two wheels have had to be resealed. Anybody else have this problem? Let me know...