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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  Best SUV for the $ - 2006 Lexus RX 330
  By RG - January 4 - 2:06 pm

  Does not ride like an SUV, it rides like a luxury car. Very smooth and quiet, handling is responsive and the vehicle is a pleasure to drive. Very happy that we purchased the Lexus 330 AWD.

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  Nicely done - 2003 Lexus LS 430
  By TJ - January 3 - 7:26 pm

  Great cruising machine, excellent power, no noise, great seats. It separates you from the road, a plus to some but not all. An overall excellent, reliable piece of work. I would buy another one in a heartbeat.

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  Great Car - 1998 Lexus ES 300
  By Juan Escalante - January 3 - 7:53 am

  The ES300 is a great car for someone like me who wanted something more than a new compact car could provide. I got that when I purchased a 98 ES300. The car runs great to this day with 75K miles and the car is 7 years old. My friends still comment on how smooth and quiet the ride is. Only problem I have had is with a brake lamp. All else is great - strong engine and great mileage - up to 25 actual mpg on roadtrips with cruise control.

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  Fantastic Car - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By NewLexusDrvr - January 3 - 6:46 am

  A fantastic car. I cant say enough for it. Makes me happy just driving even in L.A. traffic. With this car you cant go wrong. I have had nothing but pleasure with the soft ride and the power when needed. The voice activated navigation is fantastic.

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  You Cant get any better - 2005 Lexus SC 430
  By mogulteach - January 2 - 1:40 pm

  I have had many cars in my life this is one of the best if not the one. I have enjoyed it so much it makes me feel like a kid again.

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  Overall great, needs a few improvements - 2008 Lexus LS 460
  By Lexus Lover - January 2 - 1:33 am

  First off this is my fourth Lexus. The car is great as far as comfort, handling, and performance. My major complaint is the difficulty of modifying the navigation system while the auto is in motion. I understand the safety ramifications, but when you have a passenger in the front seat this should be disarmed. I was pleasantly surprised with the gas mileage...Ive actually hit 33 miles per gallon with this car, which to me is unheard of with this large of an engine (and considering how fast I drive). The navigation system is not logical. The Acura RL I recently traded in was very intuitive, this one, the driver actually has to arrange his thoughts before hitting the "talk" switch.

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  2011 ISF - 2011 Lexus IS F
  By ddsisf - January 1 - 11:59 am

  Just got one and so far it is superb. Will recommend.

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  Great overall but really thirsty! - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By Thomas Lange - January 1 - 2:26 am

  Lexus just has a feel and style that cant be beat. The GX470 is a great overall vehicle but has terrible fuel mileage. I average around 13 MPG. The ride is exceptional on highways but a little top heavy around town and on curvy country roads. It is as quiet as you would expect a Lexus to be. Towing is amazing with the Class V hitch. The Mark Levinson sound system is absolutely incredible.

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  First One - 1997 Lexus LS 400
  By Theodore - January 1 - 2:00 am

  This car is everything I expected. It has gave me 50,000 miles of trouble free driving. I wish I could find a reason to get a new one but this one is still like new @ 60,000 miles. The Japanese are hard to beat when it comes to quality.

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  Classy Car with rattles - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By BIGGUY - January 1 - 2:00 am

  This is my 6th Lexus. . Hope its not my last.. Nice to drive but doesn t compare to my RX300 which I love to drive. Rattles galore.. frame around the navigation system loose, Noise coming from upper drivers side windshield... Hope the dealership can find it I certainly can t