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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  02 Lexus LS430 Ultra - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By jeffdinohio - February 2 - 12:42 am

  Recently purchased a 02 Lexus LS430 with the Ultra package. This vehicle replaced a LS400 with well over 250,000 miles. You cannot compare the bullet-proof reliability of Lexus vs. the other so-called luxury brands. This particular Lexus is giving me 25+ mpg on the highway along with the best ride imaginable. No squeaks, no rattles, nothing out of a vehicle that is over 12 years old! Doesnt use a drop of oil and when you do change the oil it looks like it is still brand new. The Ultra package gives extra refinement especially to the rear seat passengers. The reclining, massaging seats are extraordinary for a journey of over a few hours. Definitely a 5 star vehicle and one I recommend.

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  Great Car - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Great Car - February 1 - 3:03 pm

  It just does everything well. Its a blast to drive, and it cruises like a big car. Navigation system needs to be more intuitive, and fuel economy isnt great, but overall were super happy with this little sedan!

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  Just an Awesome Vehicle - 2007 Lexus RX 400H
  By pm - February 1 - 11:20 am

  OK - I was a skeptic going into this hybrid stuff but today we turned 2,000 miles on our RX (bought the first week of June) and Im now a convert!! Were averaging right at 28 mpg with mixed driving. One concern I had was how well the a/c would be and maybe overheating. Not to worry - car spent a week in the Indian Wells/Palm Springs area in 115 heat and it did a terrific job. The nav system is excellent but it takes a little time and patience to get the hang of it. The hands free bluetooth phone tie-in is superb. One quirky thing? I have noticed a little "surging" in freeway driving when using cruise control - not sure whether or not its the car or the road yet

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  2010 rx 450h hybrid - 2010 Lexus RX 450h
  By cosgrove6345 - January 31 - 11:58 pm

  I bought this car after careful review from all the usual sources. I am very pleased with my new red car. Comfort package and all the bells and whistles. I studied the reviews and surmised that the way you drive the car dictates the mileage you will get. So no quick starts and using the cruise control when ever possible and averaging 28 mpgs! I live 6 miles from work and drive to mountain bike on the weekends and am getting over 400 miles per tank. You really have to take it easy and enjoy the car to get this but it is achievable .Love the complete voice activation for everything. Just read the manual and you are on your way. Very comfortable and a joy to drive.

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  solid investment - 2005 Lexus IS 300
  By boogerman - January 30 - 8:26 am

  The best thing is the low maintenance - this is a modest luxury wagon, but is a great alternative to the bmw saab audi or vw wagons. It is quiet, smooth and incredibly responsive. The tight steering and ample 215 horsepower make for an exciting drive.

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  2004 Lexus RX 330 - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By dbarck - January 30 - 7:33 am

  Excellent sound system; very quiet car when at freeway speeds; very, very comfortable for long trips -- leaves you feeling relaxed. Rear view camera and automatic refocusing of side mirrors aids greatly in backing. Good service by dealer.

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  LS430 - 2002 Lexus LS 430
  By michel - January 29 - 10:06 am

  My lexus ls430 is an o.k. car. The engine is under powered. It is very quiet and the ride is nice though I just dont like the car at all. It was a horrible buy. The dealers at the dealership treated me like I was buying a geo metro. I shouldve bought the new Q45. The sound system in the lexus is horrible! It is very tinny and doesnt sound very good at all.

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  Best Luxury SUV - 2007 Lexus GX 470
  By Pete - January 29 - 2:23 am

  Love It! Ride quality is a 10. Build quality is a 10. Silky smooth from start to finish.

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  Front end shimmy - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By Bill Mclaughlin - January 29 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car for the safety & reliability for my pregnant wife. Immediately after picking it up I noticed a significant shimmy at 60-65 mph. I have had it back twice to the dealer and it has not been corrected. Watertown Lexus has told me it been occuring to some of the GX470s. Lexus Customer Satisfaction has been no help solving this issue. I am pursuing this & if they fail to fix it this 3rd time I will pursue the lemon law. At this point I am very dissapointed with Lexus,the dealer and the vehicle, and would not recommend the GX470 as I feel the shimmy is significant enough where it could render the vehicle unsafe in certain conditions.

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  Incredibly Mediocre - 2007 Lexus GS 450h
  By BLS - January 27 - 10:13 pm

  I bought this after 3 BMWs and did so because service is so awful on BMWs in Southern California. Lexus service is truly amazing and so far ahead of any other car type that it is hard to believe. However, this car is like driving down the road on a jello square. It handles loosely, and because of the continuously variable transmission it feel like you are driving a motor boat more than a car.