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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  The Worlds First Luxury Hybrid SUV - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Simon Sioni - December 31 - 9:20 am

  The RX 400h boasts all the advantages of a hybrid gas-electric vehicle: Emissions are extremely low, reducing your impact on the environment. And it burns about as much gas as a compact car, helping to reduce Americas dependence on foreign oil. But its fast. Stomp on the gas and the RX 400h jumps off the line significantly quicker than the regular RX 330. It can go head-to-head with a V8-powered Mercedes ML500. The RX 400h was not designed for serious off-road use. The regular RX 330 isnt exactly an off-road vehicle, either, but it handles gravel roads just fine.

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  They did it again - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By aitchbee - December 31 - 8:23 am

  I had the original 1990 LS 400 and this beats it handily for less money. Got one loaded and could not be happier. Very comfortable with plenty of power and great looks. This car is actually a real bargain.

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  2nd Owner, Coach Pkg, ....Nice SUV! - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By acarnutguy - December 31 - 5:06 am

  Purchased with 37k miles in June 2006. Nice, well built SUV with good room for 2 or 3, tight with 4 when traveling. Solid drive, wanders a bit on the highway at speeds. Very good cruiser at 75-80 mph. City gas mileage is 17-19 and highway at 75 is 21ish... should be better. Coach leather edition is a nice bonus! Lexus does a great job with fit, finish and wood trim.

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  The RX-300 is a beast! - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By roverfanatic7 - December 30 - 10:14 pm

  Have the 1999 Lexus RX-300 AWD with 260,000 miles running strong. The reliability and safety are ahead of its time! Maintenance is cheaper than any other luxury brand. The car took a massive hit from an escalade, but held up strong and protected us. Dont be fooled, the RX is a good 4 X 4. Held up through the tough winters in NC! Comfortable and will continue to buy Lexus/Toyota. Wouldnt be surprised if this car made it to 400,000 miles. Mechanic expects it to at least drive for a 100,000 more.

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  Great GS - 2000 Lexus GS 300
  By Vince - December 30 - 7:03 pm

  I just traded in my 2000 Volvo s80 T6 for this 2000 GS. Wow, what a great car! The car shifts gears so smooth you cant even tell when it shifts. Performance is way better than than what it says on the website. I have ran 0-60 in about 5.9-6.5. There is no way it takes 7.7 to get to 60. The regular stereo doesnt have enough bass or speakers so get the mark levinson one. The leather seats are very soft but at the same time hold you in place as you go around a curv. Reliability is excellent. When I bought this car the lexus mechanic said this is the best inline 6 engine made. All around this is a great car.

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  Happy as can be! - 2011 Lexus RX 350
  By Alex Kolesnikov - December 30 - 4:53 pm

  I recently traded my 2008 BMW X5 in for this 2011 Lexus RX350. The main reason I got rid of the BMW was because of the horrible and I mean horrible reliability, and everyone knows if you wanted a reliable luxury car you choose a Lexus. Weve had the car now for a couple days and the transition was much easier than expected. The Lexus has many more features than the old BMW and its MUCH more comfortable, the ride is smooth, the interior is well appointed and the cabin is very quiet when driving. Very happy that we chose to buy the RX350, you wont regret it.

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  Outstanding Value - 2008 Lexus LS 460
  By GK - December 30 - 3:26 pm

  No highway wind noise. It is so quiet and smooth I have found myself at triple digits more than once. Just under a 1000 miles so far and no problems. This is our third Lexus and neither of the other two required any maintenance.

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  Awesome vehicle - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Barby - December 29 - 7:56 pm

  I have so loved this car. I love running my hundreds of errands for the kids and family everyday. It has made my hectic lifestyle a completely new experience!

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  Lexus does it again - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By John - December 29 - 9:00 am

  First, I would like to say that this new gs sedan is a vast improvement over the old one. The interior looks a lot better than the previous generation gs. The mark levinson sound system is a great improvement over the 2001-2005 versions of the radio. It is a very classy looking car and gets better gas mileage than the previous gs

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  One flaw ruins the whole car - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By kwahaus - December 29 - 7:56 am

  Bought this used last year after a ton of looking. Found what I wanted and was happy with the deal. I would rate the car a 9 or better if it werent for one issue. The drivers seat is one the most uncomfortable I have ever had. Certainly not at all what one would expect. Dealer says nothing is wrong and is unwilling to consider a replacement seat even though it is still under warranty. Others who have driven the car, say the same thing. Unfortunately, this one issue will force me to sell the car. Looks like my 3rd Lexus may be my last.