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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  Expected Better - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Ray Boucher - January 27 - 9:50 pm

  Bought the car as a certified unit at 18K miles. Rattles in the dash and drivers door almost immediately. Loud knocking from injection system (Im told) when the engine is cold. Parts of the car sound "tinny" when bumped or doors are shut hard. Poor lighting inside and particularly in the rear seat area. Console storage is poor due to unusual access method. The door panels and door sills should be something other than plastic which is easily marked during entry and exit - carpet would be nice - not up to the quality of design I expected from Lexus.

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  Sweet Ride - 1998 Lexus ES 300
  By Storm - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Very very comfortable! No other vehicle is quite like a Lexus. You might say, let me try something else, youll wish the whole time you had a Lexus.

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  Awesome Car - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By IS300NYC - January 27 - 10:00 am

  This car is hot. I love it, and would not trade it for any other car in its class. I test drove both the 3.2tl and g35 as well as the 328i. This car has no comparision to any of these.

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  Solid 4 Season Vehicle - 2000 Lexus RX 300
  By bmicak - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Excellent handling in snow and ice without having to shift into 4WD. Good power and acceleration for a heavy vehicle. Very Comfortable with a resonable amount of room. Good balance of size, power and economy to run. Vehicle is well thought out and a pleasure to drive.

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  Simply the best - 2005 Lexus SC 430
  By XTRMLY Satisfied - January 27 - 7:06 am

  Have two lexus cars in our household. Both cars are an exceptional value. Test drove all german imports and by far, the Lexus has proven to be superior in design, reliablity and price. Being able to afford any traditional vehicle under a 150k we have chosen to picked the Lexus as the clear winner when comparing to other cars in the same price range and even above. I was formally an S class owner and will NEVER go back to Benz after all the problems we had with a 90k dollar vehicle. So my advice to you is to compare wisely, and if I had to pick a second choice it would clearely be the Audi A-8 in the W12 configuration. No the BMW doesnt even come close. Have fun in any purchase.

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  Love My GS 300 - 2005 Lexus GS 300
  By Tina - January 25 - 10:20 pm

  What a great car. Its so much fun to drive. I have heated seats and that is such a plus on those cold mornings. The car is loaded with so many extras for the price, it would be hard to name anything more I would look for a car to have. My only concern is that it is a gas piggy, I brake for most gas stations ......

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  Lexus Quality - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By lbjack - January 25 - 5:40 pm

  Had 4Runners before and, sold on Toyota quality, decided to step up. Though not as smooth as a V8, this 6 has surprising pickup. Comfortable driving -- trips between LA and Vegas seem shorter than before. Very high-tech -- electronics are sophisticated and intuitive. Handsome interior, wood/leather trim. Deceptively large cargo space: can take 2 full-size bikes! Exterior lines are a bit frumpy, but, like the inside, beautiful fit and finish. Can confirm reviews elsewhere about road noise: pavement-to-tire noise, then wind noise at higher speed. That said, the word is still quality. Whether at home or on the road, Ive found Lexus to be a better class of both car and dealership.

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  Love It - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By Gema - January 25 - 1:03 am

  After driving a honda accord for seven years I decided I wanted a new car. After looking at the BMW 3 series and Audi A4 I went to look at a Lexus ES. Once inside I saw the IS and I said that is the car I want.

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  Real nice car - 1999 Lexus ES 300
  By Steve Gaylor - January 24 - 5:56 pm

  My 1999 Lexus ES 300 is a real nice ride that has given me no problems in six years. Its very comfortable to drive, performes well, has a great sound system, and is still like brand new after six years. It has 46,500 miles on it, and I have only just now had to replace one tail light and one front blinker light. The original battery lasted 5 years, as did the wiper blades. The car has traveled around the country some, and has performed flawlessly, its very dependable and enjoyable to drive. Id like to trade up, but find it hard to part with such an exceptional car. I highly recommend the 99 Lexus ES 300 for. I see the car remaining in the family for many years to come, its barely

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  4th time round - 2015 Lexus RX 350
  By JudyO - January 24 - 10:04 am

  I have owned other makes of cars but I keep coming back to Lexus because of the dependable quality and the luxurious interior.