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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  MY LEASE IS UP IM GONNA CRY - 2000 Lexus RX 300
  By PETERPAL49 - July 29 - 10:00 am

  IVE HAD MY RX FOR 3 YEARS NOW AND IT HAS BEEN BY FAR THE BEST VEHICLE IVE EVER HAD. HAD MANY COMPLIMENTS ON THE VEHICLE EVEN FROM TEENAGERS. SITTING IN THE RX IS LIKE BEING IN YOUR LIVING ROOM, GAS MILEAGE IS NOT BAD FOR ITS SIZE, AVERAGING 22MPG. EVERYTHING WORKS PERFECTLY. AND VERY QUIET AT 70MPH.

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  Lexus could really do better but didnt - 2008 Lexus ES 350
  By ChuckHall - July 28 - 4:06 pm

  If you love the feel of the road then you will love this series of Lexus because due to the stiff suspension you will feel every bump in the road. If you are broad in the beam get a different car. When I drove the car I had to shift my position numerous times to feel comfortable - the seat is not wide enough for a larger than average person. There is a wind noise on both sides of the windshield that should never be heard from a car in this price range - and owners of the same style Camry have reported the same noise as well but Toyota/Lexus report that this is normal. If you are long waisted (short legged) get a different car - it is impossible to adjust the height for comfort.

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  The Tires And Rims Are The Worst! - 2005 Lexus SC 430
  By MERIK R. AARON - July 27 - 5:10 pm

  The car is definitely fun to drive. When the top is down, it turns heads. The hard top goes up and down like a charm. The reliability of the transmission and engine is superb. But, the tires are the absolute worst! The rims are soft metal and dent, scratch, and disfigure at every curb. One pothole and your stomach ties into knots because you know that the sensor will sound and you will need to spend between $250-$425 for one, yes ONE tire. Everyone I meet loves the car and hates the tires. Sure, you can put regular tires on the car, but where do you put the spare?? My friend just turned his in because of the tires. One curb, one pothole and I reach into my wallet.

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  Feeling of Disappointment. - 2011 Lexus RX 350
  By barcelonafcfan - July 24 - 8:58 am

  Having some experience with Toyota (used to work for the company), Im pretty familiar with their technology and at the same time must say that Im disapointed. Me and my wife bouhgt the car fully loaded with the tow package and after 1300 miles the transmission went out, wow that was a shock to me. Please dont get me wrong, I still think it is a great car but for over $40K I expect a lot more. Of course it doesnt happen every day with Lexus products but when it does happen to you Im sure all of us would have doubts. The drive is OK, but if you are for more sporty style of driving go with the German car, mainly Audi Q5 which I drove and it blew me away, its handling and resposivness.

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  Best Used Car I Ever Owned - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By FEdward - July 21 - 12:13 pm

  Purchased my RX with 84K miles and a 100K warranty. Car was in spectacular condition and according to service records had been meticulously maintained. Dealership found a leaky rear axle seal under warranty, but had no other issues. The 90K maintenance was a bit pricey (timing belt, flushes, et. al.) but reasonable. A fuel modulator had to be replaced right after warranty expired for @ $700 parts & labor. Have not encountered the engine failures that others have reported. Fit, finish & features still solid at 115K and dealership has been just wonderful. Bought an 07 ES 350 two months ago and the trusty 02 RX has become our fun, weekender. This vehicle sold me on future Lexuses from now on!

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  Lexus fan for life - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By pooty711 - July 21 - 1:33 am

  Well this is my 5th lexus. I buy lexus everytime, not only because of the fact it is a reliable and comfortable car with nice styling, but we have a very nice relationship with the dealer. In fact my whole family owns cars from this dealer,15 in all over the years.

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  Thank you, Lexus! - 2008 Lexus IS F
  By Nightspore68 - July 19 - 7:36 am

  I was going to settle for a 335 coupe and out of desperation for a more exciting ride I test drove the M3, but I, too, was very disappointed with it. I actually preferred the 335. Not sure I wanted to spend 50k on a car I didnt love I consulted a friend who suggested the new Lexus. My wife had been trying to get me to look at Lexuses, but theyre not exactly renowned drivers cars. Anyway I drove the IS350 (which I liked a lot) then the IS-F. I bought the IS-F on the spot. What a great car! The torque, the engine sound, even the automatic transmission was great (in manual mode it can shift really fast). The Mark Levinson stereo is light years beyond anything Ive ever heard from Bose.

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  Great car, but not perfect - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Rod - July 16 - 9:43 pm

  Really nice car. Ride is a little too firm for me. Handling is very good. Direct injection engine is very good, but ticks at idle. Interior is tight. Center console is too tall and wide, making interior feel cramped. Misc. control door near drivers left knee is very inconvenient. Highway gas mileage is excellent - 29 to 32 MPG. Avalon is probably a better value.

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  My LUV (Luxury Utility Vehicle) - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By Susan Gassman - July 11 - 2:00 am

  Im a Realtor and when it came time to buy a car/SUV that would satisfy my strict requirements, the GX LUV was the only one I wanted. The Navigation system is sensational. This is truly a vehicle that handles like a sports car but with all the capabilities of a SUV. The only downside is the bad gas mileage!

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  my first lexus - 2002 Lexus SC 430
  By gary L - July 4 - 10:00 am

  HAD IT FOR 4K MILES. A REAL HEAD TURNER, GOT THE INDIGO BLUE W/ECRU. NAV IS OK, BUT NOT TOTALLY ACCURATE. DEALERS SERVICE PEOPLE ARE GREAT, BOUGHT OZ RACING WHEELS FOR $1,000 AT TIRE DISCOUNTERS, ECRU IS VERY TOUGH TO KEEP CLEAN!!! ALREADY GOT 3 CHIPS IN NOSE...MAN THAT FIRST ONE WAS AGGRAVATING!,LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE DEALER CAR WASHES, BUT THEY DO A CRAPPY JOB COMPARED TO ME, SO I END UP DOING IT OVER ANYWAY (SORRY) WOULD LIKE A STIFFER SUSPENSION, MORE LIKE MY X5 BMW. OVERALL, CANT KNOCK THIS GREAT CAR, EVEN THOUGH ITS NOT A MB. GOOD DEAL FOR THE BUCK WITH ALL THE OPTIONS!