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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  Beware of this car - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By jp_60173 - September 11 - 10:00 am

  The ES330 has a plush ride, is very quiet and has a nice looking interior. However, the transmission shifts very roughly. Also, many exhibit a hesitation that makes the car feel like an old car with a dirty carburetor that bogs down when trying to accelerate. It does not happen to every car but tends to get worse with time if your car is one of the unlucky ones. The service people at two dealerships admitted to the problem but said there is no fix and that this has been a issue since the 2002 models. They believe it may be a computer software problem. Lexus does not admit they have a problem and offer no fix. Ultimately, I got rid of my ES330 after 4 months. Stay away from Lexus.

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  RX 350 stinks - 2007 Lexus RX 350
  By CeCe - September 1 - 8:46 am

  I had an RX300 and LOVED it! Traded it for a new (at the time 2007) rx350 and its been a lemon from the start. Passenger seat broke twice..dealer wont fix again. Transmission slips (dealer said the car is "thinking" what gear it should be in) Tires wont align properly - 4 sets of tires in 2 years (Dealer said must be my driving), replaced battery, brakes (after 40k miles - seriously??. I NEVER had to do this on my RX300 nor the Volvo or BMW we have!! Electrical system is wacky - sometimes radio wont turn off unless you smack it. Most recently - back seatbelt wouldnt release my SMALL CHILD and had to call 911 for them to cut her out. I may have gotten a lemon - its true - but just be warned.

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  Our worst new car - 2004 Lexus LS 430
  By thedriscolls - August 11 - 5:43 pm

  This car has been a problem since we first bought it. Every temperature change causes the low tire presure light to come on and can only be reset by Lexus. The transmission was replaced by a recall notice as well as the fuel pump! Last month the switches in the drivers doors stopped working, it took Lexus 4 business days to replace it. By the way Lexus still does not have a software fix for the low tire presure light, so come fall we have to return to Lexus to reset it. Our next car is going to be a Toyota Avalon.

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  Not Up to Lexus Standards - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By TJ - August 2 - 1:36 am

  Continued problems with intermediate braking and steering. The dealership and factory have said pulsating braking and difficult steering are acceptable due to nature of electric regenerative engine. Driving performance of car not up to Lexus standards. Would not recommend purchasing expensive hybrid that does not deliver performance or mileage as advertised.

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  new car owner - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By Irene Rice - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Too plain,,,Uncomfortable on a long drive. Not attractive from the side view. Not terribly fun o drive.

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  If only it was great - 2016 Lexus RX 350
  By H. T. Joseph - May 18 - 3:12 am

  The car is quiet and smooth. Seats are comfortable. Storage space is adequate; not great, but okay. The exterior of the car is , in a word, ugly. Its hard to understand how Lexus could bring such an unattractive car to the market (although the NX is bad too). Even though I "need" a new RX sized vehicle now, I will wait for the 2017 model of the RX in hopes for some makeover or modification of the exterior. Im driving a 2010 RX450h now, my 6th Lexus, and I dont want to buy anything other than a Lexus. But I will if they dont "fix" the appearance.

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  Nav System + Cup Holder + Heated Seats - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By barry - May 5 - 5:46 pm

  NAV System volume is too low even on loudest setting. Dealer agrees but doesnt know how to fix it. The left side cup holder is useless. It is positioned too close to the drivers door so you cannot grab a cup unless you grab from the top. The heated seats do not get very warm. The 2007 electric heated seats were far superior to the hot air heated seats of the 2010. Overall, not very satisfied yet.

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  Safety Problems - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By Shankadelic - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Great car, but the headlights are very, very unsafe, lacking any light dispersion. But for the light issue, and, as a result, my wifes unwillingness to drive at night, its a good car. We had a few problems with the computer when we started, and there was a recall for a manifold problems.

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  The cars just OK Not Great - 2004 Lexus ES 330
  By Susan Ankrom - April 3 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is nice to look at for a four door, but is missing out on several qualities that would make it better. THe navigational system is not user friendly, and the hesitation when engaging the passing gear is something that makes me have no confidence that the car will get me out of a tight spot in traffic. I will go back to an Acura which is a very responsive car. The way the CDs need to be loaded into the console leave no room for anything. There is absolutely NO room in the car to put anything...ie: the ashtray is useless...too small. NO real cup holders.THis model desperately needs thumb controls for the stereo on the steering wheel.

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  A Toyota 4 Runner disguised as a Lexus - 2011 Lexus GX 460
  By gardenia1 - March 2 - 7:21 pm

  I sold my 2010 Range Rover because of reliability issues and leased a 2011 Lexus GX 460 because everyone said it was one of the most reliable car brands. This may be true but this SUV feels very top heavy and the rear end has swung out on tight turns at higher speeds. This is a very uncomfortable feeling for an SUV that I assumed put safety first. The interior is not as luxurious as you might expect from Lexus and definitely not as nice as the 2003-2009 generation of this model (my friend has an 08). The styling is bland as bland can be...it closely resembles the 2011 Toyota 4 Runner both inside and out. Radio and phone controls clumsy and confusing, interior looks and feels cheap.