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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  Not Quite A Mercedes. - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By Allan - September 25 - 11:50 am

  After careful consideration between another Mercedes S-Class, an Infiniti Q45, and the LS 430, I chose Lexus. Never having owned one, and with all the hype about the brands quality and service record, I found it to be the best choice. I was very pleased with my initial period of ownership. The performance was great for the MPG I averaged around town (compared to my 03 S500). The trade-off in power didnt disappoint. The cost of maintenance was also dramatically lower than the Benz. The vehicle has been mechanically sound so far and I credit that to Toyotas years of powertrain technology innovations. The only part that is lacking on this car is, in my opinion, a sub-par interior build quality.

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  8 years and still running smooth.. - 2000 Lexus ES 300
  By nickosmith - September 23 - 2:06 pm

  best car i have owned. i think maintenance of it definitely pays off. what can i say, did all the basic stuff and the car is turning heads.

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  Shoulda kept the Cadillac - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By BigBen - September 19 - 3:13 am

  I just traded my 2006 Cadillac DTS for a Lexus RX 350. The Lexus is everything I expected, but I miss the Cad. Almost everything is done well and works as designed. Unfortunately, for a Luxury car, it just doesnt ride like a luxury car. The Cad was much better in ride, handling, power, and mileage. I wish now I had bought the Lincoln MKX .

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  Squeaks and rattles - 2009 Lexus LS 460
  By SteveF - September 19 - 1:46 am

  Great car except for the squeaks and rattles in both the drivers and front passenger doors and in the drivers seat. Had it back to the dealer 4 times in 5 months - I finally gave up and sold the car back to the dealer and took a loss. Is this really the pursuit of perfection? Goodbye Lexus - you built a true lemon. Never had these problems with my S-class or 7 series cars.

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  Rear Door Rattles - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By 4ali - September 18 - 2:00 am

  This is a powerful vehicle but is not at all quick off the starting line. The adaptive variable suspension works well and responds to the drivers mood. The ride quality is truly "creamy". Braking distances are very competitive. If you can afford the Mark Levinson sound system, you wont regret it.

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  GS300 in Georgia - 2000 Lexus GS 300
  By Paige - September 12 - 10:00 am

  The GS300 caught my attention due to Lexus reputation for perfection plus this car has a sporty element to the styling and handling. My only major dislike about the car is the method the climate control system uses in the winter to establish the cabin temperature that results in blowing cold air on the driver. This is by design and unfixable by the dealer. It makes driving in the 30 degree temps sometimes frustrating if you do not like cold air in the winter even in the manual mode setting.

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  Favorite Car Ever - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By jroosh - September 7 - 10:00 am

  I really like this car, my second Lexus. It is fun to drive and trouble- free, and you dont see very many on the road. Loaded for the money. Everything a 3-series is without the constant trips to the service department. Great dealerships.

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  No. Va. RX 330 - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Don in Va. - September 1 - 10:00 am

  The car is quiet, fast, and comfortable for an SUV. I have yet to find anything to complain about in the RX 330s bodywork, interior or engine. I do, however, have a complaint about the transmission. At very low speeds (common when commuting in the Washington DC area), the transmission seems to slip into a sort of nuetral. It does this with a pronounced clunk, and re-engages with another clunk. Three trips back to the dealer have not produced their acceptance that this is a problem. Hopefully they will acknowledge that this is not characteristic of a luxury SUV, nor is it symblomatic of Lexus reputation for quality and customer service.

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  Great vehicle - 2000 Lexus ES 300
  By MRamsey - August 30 - 7:13 pm

  We bought a 2000 model that had only 55000 miles and looked new. It has been a great vehicle, great ride, great handling, and I feel safe sending my 21 year old daughter to school in it.

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  SC 430 - 2005 Lexus SC 430
  By jesslvaudio - August 27 - 11:43 pm

  What can be said, other than the fact that I test drove the rest, and bought the best. Lexus quality cannot be surpassed.