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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  Love Hate Relationship - 2008 Lexus RX 400H
  By G Henry - November 6 - 5:46 am

  I have had my RXh for 4 months and I love it, and I hate it. It is comfortable, safe, easy to drive, quiet, stunning Levinson audio system and more but mine has problems with the regeneration. My regeneration worked perfect until the battery pack showed fully charged. Ever since then the regen works about 60% of the time. Two dealers have looked at it and found nothing. Now I have video proof I will take in this week to see how they will ignore my issue. If you get 19-22 mpg in the city your regen is also not working well. When it is working and you drive responsibly you will get 27 in the city. The RXh is wonderful and smooth and safe, but I bought a hybrid and expect it to work.

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  Versatile, Comfortable, Impressive - 2008 Lexus GX 470
  By RNarenDMD - October 31 - 11:43 am

  I picked up my GX in 3/08. I wanted to wait awhile before posting a review to allow for some perspective. The craftsmanship and build quality is fantastic. Power train the smoothest Ive experienced (previous BMW owner). The car has been 100% trouble free so far (14K miles). No squeaks or rattles to speak of. Superb driving position and seats. Having just moved into a new house with a new baby, this car has been very useful for carrying boxes, etc. Rock solid in snow as well. Wish gas mileage was better though; Ive been averaging 17.5 mpg on premium. I would recommend this car as long as you dont mind the mileage.

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  Not worthy for the money you paid! - 2008 Lexus RX 400H
  By Jacobs - October 30 - 12:56 am

  Driving this car is fun and comfort. Operating the functions are most difficult certain times. No voice activated dialing. Cannot dial phone numbers on the move. No override function.

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  RX rattles - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By khoffman - October 27 - 11:53 pm

  My RX has rattled since day one. I have had it in several times for rattles in the back seat, the door and the glove box. I love the way it drives and rides. The quality of the basic stereo is only fair. The CD player is poorer than the radio. I have had two parts replaced on my back hatch door. My dealer has given me great service and Lexus has fixed everything, but I have had my car worked on too many times!

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  My ES 350 - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By William - October 22 - 4:20 pm

  Ive been driving Lexus since 1999 and I think now Im hooked. I love the car! For the price I rate this car better than the test drive my wife and I had in the 5 series BMW. The car is just all upgrades to say the least. You need the Navigation system even if you know your town like the back of your hand. My overall driving experience is at an all time high. Luxury I finally feel value in paying for. If youre thinking about anything else in the price range, forget it! I even like my ES 350 over the GS 300 because its just so grown up. The only thing I would do different is get it loaded and not just with Navigation, but after the test drive I couldnt wait! Neither should you and your family!

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  A Disappointing RX 330 - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Paul in Dallas - October 19 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle as some unusual annoyances for such a luxury brand as Lexus. 1. the central console area very strange. I cannot even find a good place to put my cell phone. 2. The brake pedal makes this bouncing sound, if you release it too quickly. 3. the sun visor is not tight enough when it is dropped down on the driver side window. It would swing over and hit my head sometimes. 4. The biggest annoyance so far is the moonroof. It will make a constant low volume squeaking/twisting noise while the vehicle is moving. The only way muffle the noise is to shut the moonroof interior panel.

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  Fantastic car, but ... - 2007 Lexus RX 350
  By JimB - October 18 - 8:13 am

  Just purchased this car as a replacement for our Honda Odyssey, which we thought was way too large for our family of 4. Fantastic build quality, fantastic engine, nice and high quality interior. The price for the nav is high, but it includes a lot of other goodies such as the HID lights, which are worth the extra expense. The price can exceed $45K quickly, but the RX 350 is one of the better deals out there. Great car for general use, but probably too small for an extended cross-country trip - the trunk and general passenger area are just too small.

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  Could be Better - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Dan from NY - October 18 - 3:06 am

  This is a reliable, quiet vehicle that get fairly good mpg for an suv, but it is not a drivers car. Driver ergonomics and handling characteristics are disappointing. The drivers seat is not deep enough and does not have good thigh support; the pedals could be more vertical - I get tired after extended driving. The steering is too light and is easily influenced by every undulation on the road. The transmission refuses to downshift, especially when youre at 2200-2400 rpm and need to pass or merge. The engine revs up, but the tranny refuses to kick in - Ive had to manually downshift to 3rd gear many times - wost tranny Ive had. The verdict: I think Lexus designed this for my wife.

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  New to Lexus - 2006 Lexus ES 330
  By New Owner - October 9 - 3:43 am

  This is the first Lexus I have owned. Overall I am very happy with the car. The ride is smooth and quiet, even at 80 MPH. The cooled seats are a great feature. The only fit and finish issues I have are that the driver console (window buttons) keeps lifting off. I have been to the dealer twice and its still not right. The sun roof also has a dull rattle when its either very hot or very cold out. Other issues with the car are that the transmission lurches when taking off from an incomplete stop. The headroom is also tight. While I like the car I dont know if I would buy another. It doesnt quite live up to all of the hype over owning a Lexus. Maybe some of the higher end models do.

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  Know I can Depend on It - 2005 Lexus IS 300
  By Sherron - October 8 - 4:13 pm

  The interior styling and exterior styling could be better. However, it has plenty of power, top speed, and is a blast to drive. Most importantly, I have not had to even think about going into my pocket to pay for some type of mechanical problem. It is one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned along with my former 1987 Mazda RX-7. I wish it were a little bigger but overall for the money it is the best quality vehicle in its class. With its power and torque it will do anything I ask in Los Angeles driving.