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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  Lexus ES 330 - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By dennis osullivan - May 17 - 10:20 am

  2nd Lexus Ive owned, (other 98 ES 300) much more powerful, sleek design, more comfortable, easier to operate, roomier, great sound system, easy to use controls, better control on the road. was a great Christmas gift.

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  Excellent Vehicle - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By jtork2 - May 17 - 7:58 am

  I was lucky enough to purchase my 2002 Lexus IS300 as my first car with my own money my junior year in high school. Car had 120k miles on it and Im now in college and Ive put almost 23k more on it because I just cant resist driving it. Smooth ride, smooth shifting, comfortable seating, love the alcantara! Drilled aluminum pedals are a nice touch. I actually get about 25 mpg when i drive long highway distances at 75 mph, but average right at about 23 mpg on a normal fill-up. Few complaints about this car. I have only had to take it in to the shop for regular maintenance (oil changes, new tires, etc..) Could not recommend this car enough.

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  Great car - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Ewoud Hulsewe - May 16 - 5:03 pm

  Very nice car, looks great with the "G" spider wheels. It rides very smooth and very quiet. The "G" spiders pick up a little added road nois but worth every penny. You have to watch your speed as before you know it youre passing everyone up. I love all the little features.

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  Great Car With Some Minor Exceptions - 2010 Lexus GX 460
  By Scott - May 16 - 12:40 pm

  After reading the other reviews there isnt much to contribute other than I really am enjoying this car. The only objection I have with it is that it doesnt come with the body side molding on the non- Premium edition. I think it looks rather plain with out it, but I am currently researching how to get it. The other minor objection I have is the amount of plastic used in the cockpit.....TOO MUCH. It still has a very warm and inviting feeling, the instruments are well displayed and everything works great. The plastic used in the armrest makes me think it will break soon. Hopefully it will be covered under warranty if it does.

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  Ride - 2010 Lexus RX 450h
  By disgusted - May 15 - 10:00 am

  Hard, stiff, jolting ride. Very uncomfortable if there are any imperfections in the road surface. Lexus destroyed the beautiful 400h to create this mobile design error. Typical stupidity was to put the only front 12 v outlet in a cavern under 3 boxes. Duh! Why not a second convenient one? The only thing luxurious about the 450h is the price. It is our 3rd and LAST Lexus unless they replace our suspension system. It is sad to see great soft riding comfortable SUVs (RX series 1999- 2009) be trashed so badly in 2010. After 6 months the car has 3000 miles on it because our Honda truck is far more comfortable. The Lexus is history next year!

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  Reliability Rating? - 1999 Lexus ES 300
  By Esdrvr - May 14 - 10:03 pm

  Disappointing reliability. I had to replace the transmission (failed solenoid pump) at 150k mi. You have the option of "rebuilding" or "replacing". Lexus wanted $3400 for this, I rebuilt it for a hefty $2600. The "new" 99 tranny is twice as expensive to fix as a 99 Camry due computer chips in the transmission. All 4 struts needed replacing at 150k mi as well. The "check engine" light has proven quite annoying as it appears a few times/yr due to a fuel system anomaly. This automatically disables the Traction control system and a dummy light appears for it as well. 21-23 mpg as I would guess this is standard for a 3 ltr V6. Poor turn radius. Disappointing reliability overall.

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  excellent ! - 2002 Lexus GS 300
  By Amit M - May 14 - 9:00 pm

  bought a 98 with 65K miles on it. Just drives like new. I am amazed at how smoothly the gear shifts and adapts to your driving style.

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  LOVE THIS CAR! - 2008 Lexus ES 350
  By Kristin Martin - May 13 - 10:46 am

  Excellent choice for every kind of Buyer. Love this car

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  great car - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By kaye don - May 13 - 8:16 am

  Traded bmw 528 for lexus. Very happy to date. Car handles quite well and is very responsive. Drive train seems to be matched extremely well. Compared to bmw steering not quite as good, but then I dont speed on alpine roads.

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  New to me - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By steve - May 12 - 2:13 am

  Ive had the car for a week, but Im very impressed. This is my wifes car, previous car was a 97 MB E320, I drive a BMW 330Ci so Im more performance oriented. This is a quality car, with all the bells and whistles you could ever want. Acceleration is very good, 6.7 0-60, super quiet, excellent transmission, etc. The electronics are fantastic. Plan to spend time with the manuals. The plastics are top quality. Got 31 mpg on the road back from the dealership, expect 24-26 combined driving. The styling is better in person than the pics. Id say if you want a lux car, loaded with techno, then this car offers the greatest bang for the buck.