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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  2010 Lexus RX 350 AWD - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By bobsjeep - May 27 - 6:50 am

  Nice vehicle overall. Not as fast or good handling as the Acura RDX, but many more features/options. (Is Acura really a luxury brand?) Great price and service so far from the local dealer. Purchased a model with the optional 12 speaker stereo, but the sound is not impressive. Our RAV4 has better bass. The stereo will not support an iPhone through the USB port(despite being assured it would by the dealer - unbelievable). Gas mileage to date is approx 17 mpg in town.

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  Good but not great - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By GNewman - May 14 - 4:26 pm

  My gas mileage so far has been about 23 to 25 miles per gallon, but despite the claims, I really didnt expect much more. The car rides nicely but I do have a rattle in the back. The standard sound system is poor - much worse than in my 1998 Volvo. Get the upgraded sound system if you can. Also, I like the old wood trim better than the brushed chrome, which I think looks a bit cheap. Overall, the car is comfortable and rides well.

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  Best of Rest - 2003 Lexus LX 470
  By Mohs Doc - May 13 - 10:00 am

  25K trouble free miles. 12-14 mpg expected when one notes the 5500+ lbs. of weight. Nothing on the market to compare with it unless the NEW Range Rover, now under German mgmt, might be a contender, but I would have to be shown.

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  HS250 Blinker low sound - 2010 Lexus HS 250H
  By jackieauclair - May 3 - 12:10 pm

  Have had the car for three days and am annoyed that the blinker has hardly any sound. Is this true of other owners? Dealer has said it cant be made louder, yet in our other non hybrid Lexus, it is quite loud. We love the Lexus line and this is our third Lexus. Car does need more storage, but well manage.

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  Excellent SUV - 2004 Lexus GX 470
  By Brad007 - May 2 - 10:00 pm

  Overall, a great value for a luxury SUV. Excellent styling with generally a smooth ride. Very good acceleration for a midsize SUV. Very comfortable for long road trips. The 3d row of seats comes in handy. We also liked the Acura MDX but preferred the luxury feel of the Lexus.

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  Great car but beware... - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By Becky K. - April 29 - 10:00 am

  This is our second Lexus. Love the exterior design and interior design as well. Really sharp car. Has all the bells and whistles anyone could need. Somewhat sluggish though on pickup. There is definitely a computer problem with the transmission. Seems to have trouble - at times - deciding what gear it needs to be in. Lexus is aware of problem with the 2002 ES300, but has not been able to come up with a solution as yet.

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  Great Daily Driver - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By soulman - April 28 - 3:23 pm

  I bought this IS used just recently with over 100k miles. Great car so far, overall build quality is impeccable. However, there are some cheap interior pieces that have no business in a Lexus. Interior room is snug, but not entirely uncomfortable (Im only 59" and 160 lbs). My R32 probably shares the same interior volume, but feels more open and luxurious (for a VW of course). The combination of an I6 and RWD just works wonders for handling and stability. Dont know why the automakers are abandoning this concept, save BMW. The 5 speed manual works great, clutch work is buttery smooth. This car serves as a great performance substitute to my 08 R32.

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  Lexus IS300 5M 2003 - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By John Peabody - April 27 - 10:00 am

  Have owned 16 months and thoroughly enjoy driving it. The pros greatly outweigh the cons. Purchased over Acure CL Type S because if it greater manoeverability (turning circle 35 instead of 40) and better deal from dealer. A combination of the Acura engine an smoother manual shifter in the Lexus body would have been ideal.

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  Awesome Car - 2001 Lexus IS 300
  By Rob - April 25 - 1:20 pm

  I just bought an 01 with 30900 miles on it. I do wish it had a manual. I hate the lag time from pushing the accelerator to the time your car goes. An armrest wouldve been nice. But I love the feel and handling of this car. Also once you get going this car has all the power you need right at your foot. This is one of the benefits of having a Supra engine even though it is downtuned from what it was in the Supra. I love how everything you could want is a standard feature. The gauge cluster takes some getting used to, though.

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  Great Car! - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By Terry Feldmann - April 24 - 11:33 pm

  This was my first "luxury" vehicle. I bought it used and have never had any trouble with it. Smooth, beautiful ride, and nice to look at; just a little too "big" for me, especially with gas prices the way they are. Id love to have a Lexus SUV down one size like the Jeep Loredo or Ford Escape. Automatic window buttons can be funky to operate.