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:

• 

  AWESOME RIDE - 2010 Lexus ES 350
  By rjc3360 - November 14 - 4:06 am

  I just purchased the 2010 es as a surprise 50th birthday present for my wife and she loves it. She had a 2007 es and like a dummy I traded it in for a Challenger srt 8 in may of 09 and that was a big mistake. But I did give her my 2008 ls 460 when I did that but she really liked the es so I surprised her with another one. The car is great and we are very pleased and I will not purchase another brand of car anymore! I added the premium wheels, side door molding and window tint and I got every option I could get one its loaded and it looks awesome. I cant say enough about this car we love it.

• 

  Best Ive ever owned - 2003 Lexus GX 470
  By tjackson - November 14 - 2:00 am

  Ive never owned a Lexus, and was not sure at first about the GX. The GX is the fun to drive and I would now say it is the best Ive ever owned. The Levinson with DVD navigation system gives directions and the sound is better than I ever thought possible in a SUV. The rear entertainment DVD player is great with kids. This GX is a joy to drive, long trips go by almost to fast...something I thought I would never say.

• 

  Home Car - 1998 Lexus LS 400
  By Jonestown Johnny - November 14 - 2:00 am

  Quite,reliable,and fun to drive. Will drive from Memphis to Atlanta on one tank of gas and have some to spare. Has plenty of trunk space and is easy to drive. In this car, you have no fear. It is safe and spunky!

• 

  My fantasy fulfilled - 2006 Lexus SC 430
  By mac richardson - November 14 - 12:10 am

  This car has always been a dream car for me, never thought i would own one. We purchased two Lexuses at the same time, my SC 430 and my partners GS 450 Hybrid. We chose Lexus again because of design/build quality but also equally because of customer service. The fit and finish of both vehicles is outstanding, and the driving performance is awesome. I wanted a luxury convertible, but my requirement was HARD TOP. That leaves me with either the Lexus or the Mercedes. I chose Lexus.

• 

  WOW! - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By jbdusf - November 13 - 5:23 pm

  I was looking to buy a new car and was thinking Nissan Maximas, BMW 325i, Infiniti G35. I actually stopped at a dealership looking to see if they had any of the above models. They didnt, however I saw a silver Lexus IS 300. I knew this was the car for me! I am in Real Estate so I needed a 4 door sedan. I had a 2001 Toyota Celica. This was the best of both worlds. Luxurious sedan as well as high performance sports car. The steering wheel shift buttons are awesome! 0-60 in 6.7 seconds which is on par with a Porsche Boxster! It handles like a dream! The ONLY complaint is that the gas mileage is poor for the size car it is. Overall, it is a great car and I highly recommend it!!

• 

  Transmission went at 78000 - 2000 Lexus RX 300
  By inetd - November 11 - 9:16 pm

  Transmission went at 78000. Warranty is 70k/7yrs, and Lexus sticks to those numbers. This is a low-end basic Toyota transmission that Lexus loaded up with weight and gadgets. We know lots of people that have had 2x transmissions by 100k miles, some with 3x transmissions. Its the cars weak point for sure. Engine has had class action lawsuit for sludge/failure. Dealers still deny theres a problem - theyre told to be quiet about it. Transmission class action is next. 2WD reliability is poor, 4WD reliability is abysmal

• 

  Used to Own 2 MDXs Before - 2017 Lexus RX 350
  By cooljohn - November 10 - 12:54 am

  I used to own both 2011 & 2014 MDXs but switched recently to 2017 RX 350 (Luxury Package). MDX has good acceleration/passing and excellent cornering. Other than those, RH 350 is better in every aspect. 2014 MDX had serious quality control problems like constant rattling from the under, scary noise when accelerating, steering getting stuck/making scary noise when switching transmission from rear to drive, almost impossible to drive on foggy/wet days due to defective mirror defrost function, backup camera almost impossible to use on wet days because of the stupid location of camera, and on and on. I took it to a dealer but all they said was there was nothing wrong with the car!! I got sickened with their response and decided to switch to RX 350 and I think I made a good decision so far. I have yet to drive more but so far Im very satisfied with RX 350 in every aspect.

• 

  Slow in show - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By johoba - November 9 - 10:00 am

  I bought this baby and loved it. Now Im think on trading it in for Acura MX. I found the acceleration slowing down. Its getting sluggish and the pedal is getting stiffer.

• 

  RX300AWD - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By Bundle - November 9 - 9:13 am

  Great vehicle for running about. Turning circle too wide. Fuel mileage is rather low for a rather weak V6. Great workmanship and detail. For tall people, inside can be cramped.

• 

  Great Vehicle for a Great Price! - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By Satisfied - November 7 - 9:13 am

  The vehicle was purchased in 2003 with 89k miles. It now has 150k miles and still runs like a champ. Keeping the regular maintenance, I expect another 150k miles. Hope to give the car to my one year old daughter when shes of age. Its extremely reliable in going up and down Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes in Washington. The AWD allows for great traction even in the most extreme cases, superb handling in inclement weather. The car has needed a new starter, battery, and minor. Belts and plugs were changed at suggested intervals. No major repairs or maintenance. I would recommend maintaining the car yourself, the dealership is just too expensive and not necessary.