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:

• 

  Thumbs Up to IS 300 - 2005 Lexus IS 300
  By Richard Frazer - June 30 - 1:30 am

  My use of this car is for daily commuting. It is fun to drive , has sporty handling and performance(5 speed manual transmission), has classy features and is built with quality materials and workmanship. For my purposes it is just the right size but this would not be practical for those with larger needs. Its positive attributes overshadow the plain styling. The mileage is acceptable (25- 27 mpg mountain driving conditions) but could be improved, maybe to around 30- 35 while maintaining the performance.

• 

  Lexus quality, not so great gas mileage - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By r1509 - June 27 - 6:13 pm

  I have had this vehicle for about 4 weeks. I have put about 4200 miles, mostly highway, on the 400h and this is my experience: The 400h is a pleasure to drive. Lots of power when you need it, and rock stable on the road at speeds (by me) up to 105 mph. All systems (air, power, etc.) are flawless. Now the not so good news. The highway mileage is about 26 mpg, excellent for an suv of this weight. In town, where I expected it to shine, Ive been getting 22-24 mpg, and that is with careful monitoring of the fuel consumption, and attention to light acceleration. I have talked to other drivers who have the same 400h experience. I have to admit that I am disappointed. Perhaps it will improve.

• 

  Get Real-Greatest Hype Ever - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Steve - June 25 - 8:36 pm

  DO NOT PURCHASE THIS HYPE Vehicle! Seats are hard, rear end cramps on longer trips, Blind spot looking back over left shoulder. No coin slots, no place to house phone, bluetooth uses speakers which sound like a tin can, no access to radio control to improve sound. 20MPG, Factory rep and dealer said OK and meets factory specs?? You cant see a child in front of this vehicle or anything else lower than the hood, no sensor system in front. The LS 430 is a luxury vehicle, this is not. The Toyota Sienna has electric fold down rear seats this one does not. Space in rear way too small.Instrumentation is very poorly designed. Over priced 4 what you get. Gets stench from Air Conditioner.

• 

  Overpriced vehicle - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Mark - June 23 - 9:16 am

  Poor tires, poor transmission, poor gas mileage, no performance for the money,car has no traction in snow and we had to change the tires almost immediately because they could not handle wet conditions in New England. The new tires have excellent traction but are considerably more noisy. A little stiffer ride but worth the change.

• 

  Solid, powerful and reliable - 2007 Lexus GX 470
  By active_dad - June 22 - 7:40 pm

  We owned a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee for 6 years before this, which was a solid and powerful SUV, but this GX is several rungs up the quality ladder. Ample, smooth power, VERY comfortable and quiet even at freeway speeds. Rock solid in the snow and rain and very reliable. 3rd row seats are handy, and easy to fold up or down. Anyone who says its difficult is mechanically inept. Literally takes < 1 min. Not the best mileage at 14-15 mi. combined avg per gallon, but it is a fairly large SUV with a V8, so actually not too bad. Handles great for its size, and the driving modes and right height adjustments really help for specific driving and road types.

• 

  2006 ES 330 - 2006 Lexus ES 330
  By BERNIE - June 10 - 1:13 am

  I have owned the ES330 for 2 months. I think it is going to be the finest auto I have ever owned. It did take two trips back to the dealer to get the steering right. Two front tires were replaced & a full alignment. Finally, it steers like a new car. I have driven the car only 1400 miles so far, but Im looking forward to our first long trip...A chance to get used to all the nice features & enjoy the comfort. I love it.

• 

  longevity - 1997 Lexus LS 400
  By smitty123 - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I have just seen my odometer pass the 150K mark and I have had no problems to date. My goal is to make it to 250K miles before I even think of getting a another car. I bought the car as a certified used car and it was the best move I could make. I got the car in jan. 1998 and cant figure out why the orignal owner turned it in. My only wish is that the cell phone included in the car could be switched out for a new model.

• 

  Day 2 Review - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Steve - June 5 - 4:00 am

  Downsized from LX470 due to longer commute to new job. Ive driven many of these as loaners when the the LX was getting scheduled maintenance. RX handling is light, tossable, but the ride quiet with smooth. A little more outside noise vs. LX. Acceleration is brisk and so much easier on the gas too.

• 

  A Graceful Hippopotamus - 2008 Lexus LX 570
  By DBK - June 5 - 2:50 am

  This car was bought for my wife; I drive a Porsche Cayenne. I think it is wise to point out a few differences in the vehicles. 1. This Lexus is really big and bulky. It does everything you want, but there is no escaping the fact that this is a large truck based SUV. The acceleration and handling is not as good as our other vehicle. The interior is quiet, but not as quiet as a nice sedan. I read one review that described it as a graceful hippopotamus and I think that sums it up perfectly. If you are looking for a capable, big, strong SUV, then this is the one for you. If you are looking for performance and agility, then I think the Porsche Cayenne beats it hands down.

• 

  Slick Design - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By GGP - May 26 - 2:00 am

  The Lexus IS300 is such a fun car to drive, the handling is awesome and the car looks great! A lot of people complain about the 215hp but I have no problems merging and zipping around. Did I mention that this car looks great?