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 love the car still - 1996 Lexus ES 300
  By justafineride - July 2 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car used and but still love it. It was already five years old when i purchased it and have had no major problems with the exception of an oil leak on the rear main seal $ 800.00. The cup holder broke $450.00 if you can believe it and the antenna motor went out. Still, I love this car. Quiet, powerful and comfortable. Needs more bass in stereo. Paint is excellent and visibility is unmatched. Great colors also. Heated seats are great too.

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  Fun on Wheels - 2005 Lexus IS 300
  By Artsvet - July 2 - 10:00 am

  A real kick to drive. Traded in my BMW 3 series for it, and Im not sorry. Handles like a dream, a has a real sport car feel. Only complaint is the small trunk.

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  I like it! - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By Valeriy - July 2 - 10:00 am

  No problems yet. I am tall, so, it could be bigger. Also rear spoilers should be good for the car.

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  Need more for GX470 - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By monkey56 - July 2 - 10:00 am

  So far, I like the truck. I drive it around the corner just like the way I drive my car (40+ miles) so KDSS must be working hard at the corners to maintain the balance of this heavy truck. Both the DVD and Navigation can pay DVD movies to entertain all passageser when truck is not moving. The 5:1 sound channels worked wonderfully, the sound quality of wireless headphones are crystal clear. I think it works even better than my home theater sound system. It even offers a cassette player which I can use to play those tapes I have stored in my closet for nearly 20 years!! For mechanical and electrical components quality only time will tell but I would trust Lexus to offer superior build quality

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  The Best SUV on the market - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Raulin/R. Corbera - July 2 - 10:00 am

  First time Lexus buyer, The confort, handling, ride and quality are excellent, second to none. I am truly impressed. Best buy I have made in many years. Customer service is excellent and a truly pleasant buying experience.

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  Best crossover/SUV with decent mileage - 2008 Lexus ES 350
  By SA - July 2 - 7:26 am

  Great all around. I was very surprised to get 28 mpg on highway although in city it hovers around 18-19 mpg. Smooth, quiet and great ride.

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  Lexus RX330 - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By L. Witherbee - July 2 - 5:40 am

  This is our 7th Lexus fron a GS 300 to 2 LS 400s 3 RX 300s and a GX470. We feel this is one of the best Lexus ever. They have corrected all the negatives we expewrienced in our previous RX 300s. Great car and well buy another one.

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  Great Auto - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By Alina81 - June 30 - 10:26 pm

  happy with my RX

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  Transmission hesitation is unforgivable - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Lee Anders - June 30 - 4:13 pm

  Ive owned this vehicle for three months, and now have a little over 5000 miles on it. From day one, the transmission has been unacceptable! I brought this to the dealers attention, the day I drove it home. The transmission is programmed not to gear down until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. So when one slows to make a right or left turn - or when one slows down as in traffic on a busy freeway, then you need to accelerate, the transmission will hesitate for a couple of seconds - as though it doesnt quite know what to do - then it will slam into a lower gear and lurch forward. This is not only annoying, it is dangerous in traffic.

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  My Lexus LS 460L - 2008 Lexus LS 460
  By Michael OBrien - June 29 - 4:23 pm

  This is my 6th Lexus and like all the others it is performing well and is totally reliable. Although a big car the fuel economy is very good. On my regular highway journeys I get 28-29 mpg. Average mixed around town and highway this only drops to about 24mpg. The park assist steering is too complicated to set up and responds too slowly for it to be useful, but it is a fun feature. This is truly a luxury car which is quiet and a pleasure to ride in. The extra rear legroom is always appreciated when I carry passengers.