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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  Good but not "Great!" - 2006 Lexus GS 300
  By ws - June 8 - 1:33 am

  This is 4th Lexus Ive owned and has surprised both on the upside and downside. Mileage was a pleasant surprise. Im not a lead foot but do push the car hard. I thought the mpg on the Nav display was bogus when it consistently showed 30+ on road trips...but it was nuts-on when it came time to top the tank. Fit and finish were excellent and Ive had zero unscheduled trips to the dealership in 60K+ miles. That said, interior road noise is far too high for a car of this caliber. The run-flats are a joke - a point echoed by other reviewers. The drop down tray to hide infrequently used buttons is a good idea, but placement is problematic. Ive nailed my knee more than once.

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  Not Quite Lexus Quality - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Ron - May 31 - 11:03 am

  The wind noise is a deal killer. It drives me crazy. The ticking of the motor on cold start is like driving a diesel. Many noises made by this car are not Lexus quality. The interior lighting is very moody and dark. There is no switch for the backseat reading light in a Lexus? There are numerous squeaks and creaks from the windshield and dashboard. My ES 300 was better.

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  Performance a bit disappointing - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By Andrewky - May 29 - 2:00 am

  This car has the mushiest transmission shift I have ever experienced. The car lags annoyingly when attempting to accelerate for passing at highway speeds, and never seems to select the appropriate gear for optimum performance. The fit, finish and luxury of the car are beyond reproach. Unfortunately, driving pleasure is marred by the transmission characteristics for which Lexus has no cure. Ive had two Mercedes sedans recently and the ES300 just doesnt measure up to the performance standards set by the Benzs.

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  Great - 2006 Lexus GX 470
  By Francis - May 26 - 1:16 am

  I purchased a 2006 GX 470 with the navigation/Mark Levinson package in Nautical Blue Metallic with dark gray interior on 3/25/06. The vehicle itself is beautiful inside and outside. The interior is a little dated however still very classy and functional. Fit and finish is impeccable and to Lexus standards. The ride is very smooth and stunningly quiet! The Mark Levinson system is excellent. The navigation system is a little too fussy: you have switch from region to region if you are going to do any traveling between states and require assistance. The V8 is silky smooth and more then adequate to power the vehicle. Overall the GX 470 is a great SUV that I would highly recommend to anyone.

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  good looking car - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By cholodeperu - May 25 - 9:03 am

  Bought the car brand new back in January 04. Got it in black and when I first saw it, I loved it. Now the paint is kind of dull and some scratches are starting to show. I say my favorite color now is the white one, the charcoal and red color is nice too. The car is fast every now and then and very uncomfortable in long trips. The mpg is not so bad if the gas prices stay low. If the car came with 18" or 19" wheels it would be a 10 in looks.

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  Great SUV - 2003 Lexus RX 300
  By SHOTSY - May 24 - 2:00 am

  Ive had it for 1 1/2 years and have loved every minute of it. This is the 2nd SUV Ive owned and the other one didnt come close to this one. So far Ive I had great gas mileage for an SUV (22.5)-thats almost as good as my last CAR! It is worth the price.

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  Second times the charm! - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By Froman - May 22 - 10:36 pm

  After testdriving the IS a year ago I was talked into purchasing an SUV, big mistake and have regretted it ever since. Fed up with the SUV after only a year I listened to my gut and made a bee line for the IS and have fallen in love with the car!

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  Best car for the amount of money - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By ClemCheng - May 22 - 8:20 pm

  It is a wonderful car for the money. Not as athletic as the Acura TL-S, but it is definitely a comfortable cruiser. Need to test out and drive the car you want on highway first before buying. Heard a lot of complaints about wobbling and dash board squeaking from postings on various sites. In fact, the test model I drove squeaked.

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  Problem with loose right front bumper - 2010 Lexus RX 350
  By Cal - May 21 - 11:03 am

  After a few weeks, I noticed that part of the right front bumper was sticking out and up. I found out that it was loose. The left side is OK. I took it back to Crown Lexus of Ontario, CA whose service rep said that they know about the problem. I was given a similar vehicle and I noticed that it has the same problem. When I picked my RX350 up, it had the same problem. They told me to drive it until Lexus can find a better solution to just installing a "bracket". I am still waiting for them to fix the problem. Check your 2010 RX350. It proabably has the same problem.

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  Lexus LX470 - 2004 Lexus LX 470
  By mariediana - May 13 - 10:00 am

  I have only one negative comment - and that is the way the rear gate opens. It opens like a door instad of like a gate. When putting groceries in the back, I like to have the gate serve as a cover for me in the rain while I load groceries. Im not a fan of the way this back gate is designed.