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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  GX470 - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By was - December 1 - 2:00 am

  Does not have many options. You dont need many. A pleasure top drive and Lexus dealerships deliver outstanding service thus far. Highly recommend.

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  Lexus SC 430 - 2005 Lexus SC 430
  By Greg - November 24 - 1:33 am

  Ive enjoyed the SC 430 - good power, handling and comfort in a very solid platform. Quality is first rate, and customer support is the best there is. Although small, the availability of 2 seats for small children is a plus.

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  Disappointed that we arent even getting 20mpg - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By Love Lexus - November 21 - 11:43 pm

  Im not sure yet on how this Lexus will do with reliability but I do love Lexus. I never write these things but I am very disappointed that we arent even getting 20mpg. The dealership told me this vehicle was never designed to get good mpg, just cleaner emissions and slightly more horsepower over the 330. I would still buy an rx or gx but not the hybrid. I paid extra thinking I would save on gas and am very disappointed.

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  Shaimayns opinion - 2006 Lexus SC 430
  By shaimayn - November 21 - 8:46 pm

  Ive driven many luxury cars, and this by far is my favorite because it is an affordable sports car with a sophisticated, rich look about it. It drives amazing, with absolutely no road noise, which a lot of the other sports cars had. This is my second SC 430, and thus far have had no issues with anything.

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  Amazing Luxo-Sports Sedan - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Dave - November 21 - 2:00 pm

  Amazing looking car with sporty optional wheels and luxurious interior. Smooth and refine yet sporty to drive. Touchscreen system beats iDrive in the bimmer and is more reliable. It is faster than the BMW 530xi which felt heavy and slow and too pricey for its standard equipment. I love the bluetooth, smart access keyless entry system, etc.

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  Lexus discomfort - 2012 Lexus RX 350
  By keendriver - November 18 - 3:10 pm

  Having just completed an 1800 miles road trip I have to report that both I and my wife found that the seats were not ergonomically supportive. On drives of only 150 miles we found that we both suffered from lower back pain, especially in the passenger seat. The lumber support is quite inadequate. I never suffered these pains when I drove my BMW X5 as much as 400 miles in one day.Other criticisms of the car are - view of the clock is blocked by ones right arm: the outside temperature numbers show very small: there is no storage for glasses: the trunk area has poor additional cubby spaces: the reversing camera is poor - my KIA Sorento was much more accurate. I would not buy another one.

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  Worth the price - 2006 Lexus GX 470
  By Neil Cassidy - November 13 - 2:20 am

  A real surprise. The GX470 is a well built, very comfortable SUV -- I looked at the Range Rover and the BMW X5 and am glad I decided on the Lexus. Everything in the car works -- not a single issue in the first 2000 miles. True, its not a sport sedan -- and it drives like an SUV, not a car. But it has plenty of power and handles well. Id recommend the GX 470 to anyone looking to replace their mid size SUV.

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  4dr AWD SUV (3.3L 6cyl 5A) - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By zyca - November 11 - 10:00 am

  Thats true! The interior is REAL GOOD! It is so comfortable. But not enough power.

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  RX330 Test Drive - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Paul Colburn - November 11 - 10:00 am

  Very noisy engine - first thing i noticed - currently have a LX470 going off lease. Looks to me like reactive marketing to BMW market penetration (although I hav enot drive x5 as a comparison)

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  Acura RDX, a better Value - 2016 Lexus NX 200t
  By anfesa@gmail.com - November 11 - 1:01 am

  I purchased a 2016 Acura RDX exactly 2 month before getting into this new lease. Driving impressions are still fresh from the Acura before starting driving the Lexus last Sunday, so the sensations are very noticeable: softer suspension in the Lexus, which is not necessarily better, too much body roll. Also, the steering in the Acura is sharper and more direct. We did not want to get another RDX, even though the experience has been outstanding. No high tech was needed, so we chose the base model. Kudos to the Acura, the basic equipment is superior: I lost 1. the memory seat, 2. the heated seats, 3. the moon roof, 4. several cubic feet of cargo storage, 5. a smoother engine, 6. silky smooth acceleration, 7. simplicity in the instrumentation (Lexus is distracting, Acuras are practical and to the point). What did I gain? Nothing really, besides the fact that I am not parking 2 identical cars in our driveway. The payments were better though on the Lexus. One thing to consider: My right knee leans against the center console. Even though there is some padding, after a while it hurts from constant pressure. I love cars, never had driven a Lexus, I was curious to experience the good word about the service at the dealers, big mistake: Worst experience ever in 20 years buying, trading, selling cars. Choose your dealer well, avoid Pembroke Pines if you live in South Florida. In summary, overrated brand, well built, high quality materials, beautiful center console & display. Lexus is aware that it must differentiate well its cars from the parent company Toyota, and this NX is nothing more than a nicely equipped RAV4, nothing wrong with that, but the competition wins. Get the RDX.