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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  Great SUV - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By paul1707 - November 1 - 5:50 am

  Just purchased this weekend. Great SUV! Very pleased with Honda Accords for the last 8 years but wanted to sit up higher but didnt want to bulk or fuel consumption of a full size SUV. Considered the Pilot but was too big for our needs. The RX 330 is has a very comfortable ride and Lexus dealership was excellent. Very happy with the performance so far and the Lexus reputation for excellent products and service. Lexus seems to have achieved a very balanced vehicle with safety features, fuel economy, and practicality

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  Great Nav System, Xenon Headlights - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By ColoRetiree - October 30 - 7:23 pm

  Picked it up a month ago. Love the Nav system - very user friendly. The mouse and menu are great to control climate, radio, etc. Drove on a dark winding road in the mountains and the swiveling xenon headlights are fantastic. As other folks have pointed out, the chemical odor is nearly overwhelming when you first pick it up. Parked it in the garage with windows open for a week.

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  Happy Wife, Happy Life - 2016 Lexus NX 200t
  By Sal D. - October 28 - 9:51 pm

  First of all, I dont get it when people whine about the car AFTER they buy it. Thats what due diligence is for. Want leather - get the upgrade; concerned about cargo space - open the liftgate and scope it out; want a little snazz - get the F Sport like we did with red and black interior and trade off on the material. That said, theres really nothing not to like about the car. I dont pay much attention to race track details like acceleration time zero to sixty, just how the car moves and handles in normal driving conditions, and theres enough power and nimbleness to get you through 99% of what youll experience on the road every day. Love the seat memory system and the power liftgate. No complaints anywhere else. Weve had the car for over three months now, and best of all, wife loves it, which makes my day.

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  Nothing to complain about - 1998 Lexus GS 300
  By Druss - October 28 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car for a little over a year and have had no serious problems although I put about 40k miles on it so far. Reliability is excellent. I cant really think of anything I would have improved. The editors review says this car is for those who cant decide between sport or luxury. Well I want both. And I got it. I just finished test driving a 2001 BMW 525i tonight. It sure felt stiff and slow. The interior wasnt as comfortable.

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  Love the 5 speed - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Matt 2 - October 28 - 2:00 am

  This has been a great car. I bought it for my 30th Bday present to myself. Handles great, looks great and is bullet proof.

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  Smooth and Silky - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By Ed Kwas - October 28 - 2:00 am

  This car is quiet,reliable, performs well and gets excellent gas mileage. A pleasure to drive. What else could you want?

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  Best thing out there now - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By leonard sahn - October 26 - 5:00 am

  I Upgraded from Rx 330. This car-based SUV is quieter and feels more solid than the last one.(The hybrid weighs much more due to the batteries, yet handles better.) Interior is unbelievably comfortable, with perfect seat height and angle for those with back problems. Entry and exit are perfectly thought out. Mark Levinson sound system and Navigation with rear back up camera add greatly to the enjoyment and utility. Actual overall gas mileage is about 25-26 mpg-- not bad for a 4500+ lb vehicle. Hybrid engine is silent at start up and at idle, yet extremely powerful with a great " snarl" at rapid acceleration. Best car Ive had so far ( and Ive had them ALL). And it feels good to use less gas

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  Great Vehicle for Every One - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By George - October 25 - 8:20 am

  I bought it new in 2002 for my wife and shes loved it more than any other vehicle. Its easy to drive, very quiet, and comfortable to ride in; even long drives. Lexus did a great job on the fit and finish - it still looks almost new. Weve owned it for 7 years and it still has the original battery and wipers on it. Weve changed the tires only once. I would recommend it to anyone; except families of five or more - a bit small.

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  GS300 MY VIEW - 1998 Lexus GS 300
  By DUCMIX - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE THE CAR AND IT`S FEATURES BUT THE CAR NEEDS MORE POWER. (TWIN TURBO) HAS THE SMOOTH SHIFTING TRANS BEST IN THE MARKET. THE RIDE IS WONDERFUL BUT ROLLS ON TURNS. MY NEXT CAR WILL BE THE GS ONCE AGIAN .

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  mYrEVIEW - 2000 Lexus LX 470
  By Ronald - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I feel its sporty when needed, u could turn it into even more luxurious or even more sporty by adjusting a switch controling the shocks. Beutiful must have.