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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  NEVER DO AGAIN!! - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By WILSION - July 14 - 2:00 am

  This car proves Lexus cut corners, I have been in service 4 times for simple stuff that continues to go wrong, no power, I should have bought a G35 and now to trade I will loose $8500 in 2 months time..... very unhappy

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  Driven to perfection - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By Byu1 - June 25 - 9:50 pm

  The GS300 has plenty of great features, but the user interface to those features is horrific. If pushing 4 buttons and messing with the touch screen is your idea of how to mange the heater, then you will love this vehicle. I do not want a vehicle which is constantly drawing my eyes from the road, and causing distraction.

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  Follow Up Of November Purchase of RX350 - 2011 Lexus RX 350
  By maggiemae1 - May 30 - 5:20 pm

  Since my initial review, the following has happened to my RX350. Passenger side window did not work and had to have the entire motor and electrical replaced. My bumper has popped off the body of the car not once, but twice. I have to have a new bumper ordered, painted and installed on a car with less than 10,000 miles. The caps on the windshield wipers have had to be replaced. I cant believe Lexus put its badge on this dog. Unfortunately I own this vehicle.

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  GX 460, please do not buy - 2011 Lexus GX 460
  By iowa80 - May 21 - 3:19 pm

  I had old model, GX470 for 8 years and I purchased new GX460 expecting better. But it was my big mistake. New GX460 is larger, heavier SUV, but Lexus engineers put smaller engine. It is so underpowered and I have hard time to go up hills to my home and afraid to pass any car in the freeway. My son has refused to drive this SUV because too dangerous to pass any car in highways and handling is so poor in the California mountain highways. I am ready to return this SUV if Lexus take it back. I know why Lexus sales are going down. Their design skills are so poor in many items and need vast improvement.

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  Poor Gas Mileage - 2007 Lexus RX 400H
  By David - May 20 - 5:50 am

  We purchased this vehicle solely for the gas mileage that was claimed on the sticker and what the dealer said it would actually get. We were very disappointed when it got 35-40% less then what they claimed. Around the city the best we were able to achieve was 19.6 mpg when the sticker and dealer claimed it would get 31 mpg or better. We even had a factory rep from Lexus drive the car and he could not get it over 20 mpg. This car is terrible! Lexus would not stand behind it and told us that there was nothing they would do. We lost 13k selling it back to the dealer.

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  Big Disappointment! - 2004 Lexus RX 330
  By MountainDriver - April 25 - 10:00 am

  The Edmunds review couldnt be more wrong about the performance of the drive train and the "seamless shifting". 1) There is an annoying "clunk" when the car shifts gears (Dealer says Lexus is aware of this "condition" and that it is "normal" in the RX330). 2) Under mountain driving conditions, the car shifts in and out of passing gear (unless you downshift to 3rd). Lexus has a "fix" which is to "reburn the transmission".I cant tell that it made any difference whatsoever. 3) Finally, under mountain driving conditions, the RX330 seems less powerful than my 2001 RX300. This car is a big disappointment!

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  how many 02 sensors can one car need replacing - 2000 Lexus RX 300
  By chrissylynn53 - April 24 - 7:30 am

  I have had the alternator go out. and countless sensors it goes in the shop about 1 time a year for at least 500 in repairs. I will never buy a lexus again biggest piece of crap. I will buy a ford for my next car. I broke down 100 miles from home and had to hitch hike. scary. I [non-permissible content removed] hate this car

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  Nice car, but disappointment - 2007 Lexus LS 460
  By carlover - April 21 - 4:20 am

  Ive owned S500s, 7-series, A8s, and an LS 430. After my latest car (04 S500), I decided to give Lexus another try with their new LS 460L. After owning the car for a few months now, Ive come to realize why it is so much cheaper than its claimed competition (S550, A8L, 750Li.) The performance, attention to detail, driving technology advancement, luxury, and style is sub par when compared with the German makes. After switching between my wifes 745Li and this car, I definitely notice the small touches with the BMW that add up to huge diff. (i.e., driver oriented controls, smoother/wider power band, brakes that automatically dry themselves, power closing drs, etc.).

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  GARBAGE vehicle - 2015 Lexus RX 350
  By dpp12345 - March 10 - 11:19 pm

  Navigation system did not show road speed limit, lexus customer service do not stand behind product, very poor customer service.and also in navigation system only work with voice activated, in order to search point of destination you must have to pull over car , then you can search, so i am caring after market navigation system with me, What a rip off $2000. I am going back to Acura MDX. which is not only cheaper but best reliable, comfortable. easy to handle.

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  Soooo Disappointed! - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By ockeetm - March 9 - 8:23 pm

  This was the wrong choice for me. Driving the RX 330 for approximately two weeks I am so very frustrated. It is so uncomfortable for anyone over 55 to drive. I am 57, the seat cushions are too short - gives no support under my knees. I have to move my seat back to stretch my legs out to be comfortable and not be on top of the gas pedal the whole time, restraining my foot from laying too heavily on the gas doing so. Then I have to drive with my arms outstretched in an awkward uncomfortable manner because the steering wheel does not telescope out far enough. Told my hubby to hurry and get rid of it. I will opt for an 04 LS 430 instead now and the 10 RX 350 in four years at a used car price.