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:

• 

  Great car... If you want comfort - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By Doughbuy - February 13 - 2:00 am

  Had this car for only about 2-3 months, but has served me perfectly. Was deciding between the Acura 3.2 TL and the Infiniti G35, but ended up choosing the Lexus because of its superior comfort, sound, reliability, and resale value. I got the DVD-Based navigation system with the Mark Levinson audio package. The Audio package is really worth it for the audiophiles, and the DVD navigation system is a great bonus. Acceleration is slow, and handling is good but nothings spectacular. If you want the best in reliability, comfort and convience, get this car, but if you desire a more exciting car... go for Acura or the Infiniti. P.S. EVO 8s out woooooooooooot!

• 

  I LOVE IT - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By LAD - February 13 - 2:00 am

  Newly retired, but wanting a sporty SUV, I drove ALL of the brands. I didnt think I could afford this, but the dealer was great. This is the nicest, most comfortable car Ive ever owned. I would have bought the Toyota, but the salespeople were not helpful with anything. My husband and I are so happy that we purchased this car. What a pleasure to drive.

• 

  First time Lexus and Hybrid Owner - former "German-Only" car buyer - 2013 Lexus ES 300h
  By g007 - February 12 - 5:14 pm

  I was in the market for a vehicle that had a roomy back seat and good fuel economy and AWD or front-wheel drive for driving in snow. I had a VW CC and looked at the Passat Diesel and Audi A8L. Ive owned only German vehicles because I like how they drive (Mercedes GL320, Porsche Boxter, VW Touareg, CC, and GTI). The new 2013 Lexus ES300 caught my eye because of the 40 inch rear leg room, and 40 mpg in city and highway. Plus, it uses regular fuel. My German cars required premium fuel and diesel is not always convenient. I never cared for the Lexus styling as I thought it was rather bland. However, the new horizontal dash resembles the BMW styling and is much more stylish than the VW.

• 

  Excels in everything it is intended to. - 2010 Lexus HS 250H
  By jd_hook - February 12 - 12:16 pm

  Purchased this car CPO after one too many bad experiences with my beloved 2007 BMW X5 4.8i. Repairs too expensive for my college student budget. I know Im comparing apples to oranges here, however, in everything that this car intends to do, it exceeds my expectations for it. While smaller than the TCH, its shared powertrain move this car pretty decently. Electric/gas transition is very seamless. Well put together all around, and after driving around Naperville, IL for two weeks, I have averaged 40.2 and 41.6 MPG on the last two tanks respectively. After reviews on here, was hoping to get 30. Overall, a very good value for a used car as they are discontinued (unfortunately!).

• 

  I LOVE my Lexus! - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By bradley_k_335 - February 12 - 10:40 am

  I have had the car for about four years and it has never let me down. With countless trips over Snoqualmie pass to our lake house, it drives great in the snow with the all-wheel-drive system. It is a very inspiring vehicle to drive. I have loved it for as long as I have owned it.

• 

  Quiet & Quick/Sleek & Smooth - 2009 Lexus RX 350
  By Michael - February 12 - 10:30 am

  Top notch fit and finish, very quiet, surprisingly quick acceleration, comfortable handling. Useful and spacious cargo capacity. Easy to park and maneuver. Easy entry and exit (especially important for my petite spouse). Bluetooth sound quality is great. Love the navigation system (detour feature saved us on a Dallas trip recently). Family actually likes that it still has an "old fashioned" cassette along with the CD changer. We have lots of books on tape that we thought we were through using. We expect great reliability. Love the RX!

• 

  Enjoying new RX! - 2016 Lexus RX 350
  By Don K - February 11 - 9:26 pm

  Ill start out by saying that this is my fourth 350RX and I have now had it for only 3 days. The first three RXs (2002, 2006 and 2010) were nothing short of fantastic. Only one repair on any of them that cost more than $1000. I will also admit I hated the look of the front end of this new RX so I shopped around for 3 months, looking at BMW, Mercedes, Volva and Audi. As time went on, I did warm up to the front end look. The sides and rear of the car, along with the interior is second to none. I find the acceleration more than acceptable - it is an SUV, not a sports car. It drives considerably smoother and quieter than my previous RXs and it is very agile. The technology is a bit overwhelming but Im working through that. Practically everything can be done via voice - you can tune the radio or change the interior temperature, all by voice. The GPS is a bit slow, expecially when you deviate from the originally planned route. The seating exceptionally confortable. We purchased this from a dealer that is 5 hours away (closest dealer is 3 hours) and driving it home was a pleasure. The attention to detail is off the hook - the way the leather and other materials come together is awesome. I have the safety plus sytem, and it is wonderful. The cruise control is easy to use (same as previous years) and the new safety plus is easy to figure out. Sometimes I would get behind someone going 65 when I had set it to 72 and the car would start slowing down, matching their speed. The minute I moved into the left lane, it accelerated by up to my set speed. Worked the way it was supposed to......I just had to get used to moving over into the passing lane before I got too close to a slower moving vehicle. The sound system is a wow! You can really rock out in this thing. I put the soundtrack from Pirates of the Carribean on from my cell phone via bluetooth and it sounded amazing. The whole car was vibrating from the bass and it was not turned up very loud. All in all, I am very impressed with this vehicle. The improvements over the past 6 years is unbelievable. I really like the look of the BMW X3 or X5, but in hindsight they are very conservative in design. Beautiful vehicles, but the changes each year are slight. With the RX, the look is bold and edgy. I could not be more happy that I went with the RX and would do it again in a heartbeat.

• 

  great car but... - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By steveNsc - February 11 - 8:13 pm

  I bought this car new and the only costs besides normal maintenance was a recent change of the oxygen sensor, 299.00. During warranty period I have had problems with front suspension creaking. Dealer could not correct it so I have learned to live with it.

• 

  Great ride - 2010 Lexus ES 350
  By Joe R - February 11 - 1:10 am

  Unbelievably smooth ride. Feels like Im in an easy chair. Very comfortable. Quiet ride. Great fit and finish. no major complaints. Also I must complement the dealership for their excellent service and attention to detail.

• 

  Great Car - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Scott - February 9 - 10:46 pm

  We have been more than pleased with our purchase of the Lexus GS300. The Car is an absolute dream ! Looks sharp, drives great and gets 30 mpg on average. Plenty of power, lots of luxury, great appeal. We get looks everywhere we go. This is our first Lexus purchase and from the initial test drive we have been spoiled. Lexus builds a great car and knows how to pamper its customer.