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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  Owned 2 And Love Both Of Them!!! - 2003 Lexus RX 300
  By Fred Yanner - January 15 - 12:03 pm

  This is our second RX300. AWD The first was a 2000 with 52,000 miles when we bought it. It now has 227,500 and Runs & looks just like when I bought it. I found a one owner 2003, RX-300 AWD 91,100 miles on it with navigation plus other updates. Lots of nice upgrades from 2000 to 2003. Both Fantastic cars. I cannot say enough good things about the Lexus RX-300. If you want a car that will take you where you want to go, again & again & again with pure luxury car comfort, plenty of cargo space and 4WD like a snow plow this is the car you want. Knock on wood but we have had little minor problems almost not worth mentioning. #1, A window control switch acting up, #2, A windo oh wait I already mentioned it. We are now selling our first Lexus but I have not listed it in over a month. I am having a hard time letting go of a vehicle that has been so good to us. Your first big tune up is do at 125,000 miles. Timing belt, Spark Plugs, Water Pump, Maybe valve adjustment. Average cost. $2000.00, then you should be good to go for 100,000 more miles. Fortunately the first owner on our 2003 did it early. Thank You!!

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  add those turbos - 2003 Lexus IS 300
  By Aaron J. Lexus - January 14 - 2:00 am

  The 5-speed is definitely the way to go. Add aftermarket air induction, a turbo, and a back-cat exhaust. This alone will up the performance value to a 10. I want to directly port a 50- shot or 100-shot bottle of NOS on mine for some real big horse power gains. Some aftermarket turbos, although reaching about $6,000, offer a boost of up to 500 horse power! Improved handling and a slammed stance can be found in an AEM suspension system. I would think that this car would have a little more room in the cabin since it is a sedan. And Ive always liked 2 door coupes so much more. Its still really phat for being a Lexus.

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  Four Months Review - 2003 Lexus ES 300
  By Dr. Stan Edelman - January 14 - 2:00 am

  Gorgeous car inside and outside. Extremely quiet ride. Pick up could be better. Front window fogs up easily, while back window defogger is poor. Brakes are excellent. Fuel mileage so far is only fair, averaging 15-16 mpg. Heated seats are excellent. Driveability is excellent. Next year they should increase the power of this wondeful car.

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  The best car I have ever owned - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By Lexus es 330 - January 12 - 12:16 pm

  I have to rely on my car everything, and this is my 5th year owning a Lexus, I am amazed that this car has never left me stranded on the road. I work the midnight shift, and it is important for me to have a car I can depend on. The Lexus performance is excellent. I am so happy with my car that I tell everyone to buy a Lexus, even if it is pre-owned. I only take it for an oil change and keep on rolling. Keep up the good work Lexus.

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  best car so far - 2005 Lexus RX 330
  By L. Van Zee - January 11 - 5:20 pm

  A nice midsized SUV with good mileage and ease of care. Maintenance is cheap in comparison to other SUVs in its class. That was one of the reasons I choose the car

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  Lexus is the best - 2000 Lexus LS 400
  By Clint - January 10 - 11:03 am

  I bought this car for my wife. However, I love driving it when I can. I owned Volvos and Mercedes before, and there is no comparison. The Lexus is far superior to both, especially in the dependability area. We will drive this car for 10 years. No problems at all. We bought it with 40K, it now has 95K. Great car.

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  Truly Happy - 2006 Lexus ES 330
  By richard - January 10 - 4:40 am

  From the moment I purchased my ES 330 I loved the plush feel, silent ride and smoothness, I found myself wanting to share the experience with everyone. Subsequently, I brought my wife to the dealership and promptly acquired an RX 330 for her. The ES and RX are the wisest and best investments I have ever made regarding vehicles

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  Why buy German! - 2006 Lexus LS 430
  By Big Mike - January 9 - 11:23 am

  Sedan driver all of my life and this is by far the best I have owned. My Mercedes did not stack up against this vehicle and Cadillac is way behind. Not the fastest vehicle in this class but plenty fast enough to get your pulse going and very easy to modify for speed.

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  Our RX - 2006 Lexus RX 400H
  By For Every - January 8 - 9:09 pm

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  Superb SUV - 2013 Lexus GX 460
  By dan_wa_state - January 6 - 10:50 pm

  This is a great, comfortable and fun to drive SUV. The interior is beautiful and functional. Great quality. Engine has lots of power to accelerate and pass cars on the highway. Its stable in sport mode on twisty country roads. It feels like youre riding on air, even on poor roads, and it offers rock solid handling. You can easily fit 3 large folks into the car for long trips, and probably 2 more for shorter rides. The extra row of seats in the back are OK for kids (and i assume mother in law types), and I keep them folded and use the space for cargo gear. but thats about it. I havent used it much off-road, but for what I needed it handled very well and got me in and out very nicely.