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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  Great car, but ....... - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By mahesse - January 29 - 9:33 am

  This is a great car, but underpowered. And dont buy it if you care about gas mileage. My biggest complaint however is with the navigation system. It does a poor job of routing often recommending roads that dont exist. Finding destinations is inconvenient. Not being able to operate it while moving makes it almost useless in many circumstances, when there is more than just one person in the car. Our other car has a Garmin that plugs into the lighter, and while not as pretty it is MUCH, MUCH better. I can look for restaurants or gas stations while driving, and we dont have to pull over. BTW, the Bluetooth doesnt always work either.

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  All a Matter of Perspective - 2014 Lexus CT 200H
  By Anthony M. - January 27 - 9:48 am

  When car shopping there are 2 cars in a persons mind: The ideal car that appeals to their emotion while tugging heart strings, and the car thats the logical, practical choice. This car falls into the latter category, which is no bad thing. Compared to the MB CLA, BMW 320i, and Audi A3, the CT is hardly a standout. But rest assured itll far outlast any of those 3 in reliability and with lower maintenance costs to boot. Its interior is well laid out, and it possesses the greatest front seats in the business. The media system is simple to use (an easy thing to mess up in a car these days) and the premium audio system is pretty good for a non-branded setup. The Bluetooth streaming is very high quality too, while the interior materials are good for the category, with soft touch stuff where it counts. Its ride (I have the F-Sport with the firmer suspension) is a little harsh but never brittle. Its a controlled tightness that allows bumps into the cabin but takes the edge off each time. As an added plus, the CT can be had for thousands below sticker due to its lower demand, a benefit often overlooked in car reviews. If theres one big drawback to the car, its the speed, or lack there-of. This is a slow car, no two ways about it, and it doesnt want to be rushed. Thankfully, the engine is well isolated so you wont feel like youre in an economy car when entering the freeway. Luckily speed is the CTs only dynamic downfall. In the hills this little hatch can hold its own when the going gets twisty. Steering is numb but razor sharp and laser precise. The suspension has hardly any role either. The Sport Mode doesnt make the car any faster, but rather sharpens throttle response and weights up the steering for a sporty feel, useful for freeway or canyon use. Power issues aside, the CT never feels like a detached, isolation-pod hybrid whose only purpose is to suck the joy out of its owners in exchange for better savings at the pump. The CT200h is a solid car for anyone looking for solid entry-lux transport in the city. It lacks the pizzazz of its German brethren but is more practical and logical for long term ownership. As an added plus MPG does actually hover around its EPA ratings, and ginger driving will yield near a consistent 48 MPG (Ive never gone below 44 MPG myself).

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  Great car, missed important protection - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Kaye - January 21 - 9:23 am

  Car has a great drive and is fun to be in..

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  mixed bag - 2002 Lexus LX 470
  By lexinfo - January 17 - 11:16 pm

  Climate control and audio system are excellent. Driver seat feels hard and tends to push driver forward awkwardly. Stubborn starting problems. The starter feels too weak for the engine, and it is normal to have to try 2 or 3 times to get a start that keeps running. It is in the garage now and wont start, so when I have time I am planning to have it towed to the dealer in hopes that a new battery will solve the problem.

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  The Lexus Myth - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By phil - January 13 - 2:10 pm

  The impulse acquisition of this Lexus from a good TV ad on the GPS (the Lexus came with it) was a poor decision on my part. I stepped down from Mecedes Benz and/ Seville quality. My "Lexus owning business associates" encouraged me to switch brands. "There dependable and never in the shop!" In the first year they replaced the front brake rotors two times. I kept remarking about the engine/transmission match up and the "hesitation on acceleration/pausing, but was assured that I had a great imagination. It was recalled by a Lexus letter at a later date. The backs of the leather front seats would depart when the electric seat adjustment were initiated.I am happy back in a Mercedes Benz.

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  Poor brake design - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By Bud Hudson - January 13 - 10:00 am

  The only complaint abaout this car is the very poor brake design of the front brakes. The pads needed to be replaced and the disc turned, the dealer informed me that this will need to be done again after each 20K. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE FOR THIS CAR.

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  happy but not over the top - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By tom - January 11 - 4:10 am

  i have none of the quality issues and exterior is great looking but coming from 2007 its definitely more trucklike which i dont mind because i need the extra space.. a/c power plugs are ridiculously located.. i assume some japanese engineer is deeply shamed over this.. fuel economy is not what they say.. seats are fine.. i cant figure why people are complaining.. dealership is great, usb for the ipod great..i am totally fine with the car

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  Never satisfied - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By never happy - January 8 - 12:20 am

  Bought well maintained LS430 with 66,000 miles 9/2009. Smooth, powerful responsive engine and transmission with good control via transmission alternative choices. Nice style, good mileage for size and power. Nice suspension, glad I did not choose harder Euro suspension. Steering too light, too much power assist for my taste.Excellent climate control ( no NAV) layout and function. Standard sound OK but nothing great. Seats look nice but lack lateral and thigh support. Passenger seat too short. NO SECONDARY SUN VISOR? Are you kidding Lexus? Gas pedal and brake too far to left, getting foot in middle of brake takes odd motion. Nice car but wish I had looked more at MB and DTS.

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  lexus gx470 - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By murray - January 2 - 4:13 pm

  overall it is a good car and fun to drive with ample power with good finish quality.

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  So much fun - 2004 Lexus SC 430
  By BAdams - December 31 - 2:00 am

  Ive not regretted one penny spent for this wonderful little automobile. Its so much fun. I just hate its a year old. Seems just like yesterday when I bought it.