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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  Watch Out: Poor Transmission - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By DSS - November 29 - 10:00 am

  The 5speed automatic suffers from hestitation and lack of smoothness and feel when shifting from 1st to 2nd, and 2-3rd. The hesitation and then surge of power is not only unpleasant, but can be unsafe. Lexus has been aware of this problem on ES300 and ES330 for 3years and has no fix. Warning: check discussion groups online for information before buying!

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  Great Vehicle - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By Lori OBX - November 27 - 11:26 pm

  Very comfortable and luxurious. Gas mileage is good. Engine has great pickup. 4WD handles well.

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  Love the new 350 - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Jason - November 27 - 10:36 pm

  Ive had my car for a week and am enjoying it more and more. Learning all the technology is a steep curve for a genetic anti-technoid. I like the comfort, the body style and the Royal Red Metalic paint! It turns heads everywhere. I especially enjoy the multi adjustable seats and the quietness inside the car at speed. Im coming off a 7 year old Viper so it may not be as noticable to you. I averaged about 27.5 miles per gallon in mixed driving and expect that will improve with a bit of mileage.

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  Two Children or less - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By Christie - November 27 - 2:53 am

  It is a wonderful vehicle to own. The only negative comment that I have is that it is not very roomy in the back seat. We have three children and two of them are in carseats. They do not have any extra room. The third back seat does not have any leg room at all.

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  Love This Car-Done With Big SUVs - 2011 Lexus CT 200H
  By bondguy1 - November 25 - 10:28 am

  I was coming out of a Buick Enclave lease getting 17 MPG--so, going into the Lexus CT200h basically almost tripled my gas mileage. I am still on my first tank of gas and am averaging about 47 MPG (heard that gets better once its broken in). This car is not the cushy Lexus style ride youd get if you were in an ES350 or LS460...you feel the road and you sit real low to the road---but hey, its more like a sportscar feeling without the sportscar speed. Handling is awesome..hang turns like you are driving on rails. Love this car even if it wasnt a hybrid but the fact that it is just makes it that much better. Again, love driving this car.

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  RX400h - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Ken - November 24 - 12:26 am

  Just received our RX400h - delighted with the improvements over the 2004 330x we had - much better acceleration, much tighter transmission. Electric takes a little getting used - especially when backing out of a parking spot as pedestrians are alarmed. Electric brakes are a little touchy. We are getting an overall 24.3 mpg on regular 60/40 city/highway and have 650 miles on the car. Gas engine seems to run much more than we expected and electic supplements gas when above 50 mph more than we were led to expect. Overall we are delighted with this vehicle. Exceptional quality inside and out.

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  Excellent Car! - 2010 Lexus HS 250H
  By Rich - November 23 - 2:00 pm

  Ive had my HS250h for almost a month and just love this car. Reviews likening it to a "Prius with a trunk", suggesting youd be better of with a Camry or other negative comparisons just demonstrate ignorance. They clearly havent driven the HS, the Prius, the Camry, or any of the above. The ride, comfort, fit and finish, technology and overall driving experience are outstanding. I went with the full tech package and have found many of these features to be incredibly helpful and contribute to an overall sense of safety when driving. They are not just bells and whistles! Cabin noise is very low, and I am getting the advertised 35-36 MPG around town and closer to 38 on the road.

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  Better than expected - 2005 Lexus GX 470
  By ABO - November 23 - 1:13 pm

  Picked up a Sport w/ Rear Entertainment system. Love the performance of the V8. Drives excellent. Still learning about the details of the options but already the rearview camera is more useful than expected. Purchased for my wife; after one day it is clear I will never get to drive it again. This is the first Lexus for us and the quality of the vehicle and the sales staff was surprising when compared to US brands.

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  Best GPS system anywhere! - 2004 Lexus LX 470
  By HappyLexusOwner - November 22 - 10:00 am

  I love my Lexus 470! The car handles well, looks great, and has gotten me through some wicked snow storms and rain squalls. The interior is roomy and the sound system rocks.

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  Great Car - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By meing - November 22 - 10:00 am

  First SUV, never going back to cars.