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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  Small nitpicks in a near-perfect car - 2008 Lexus ES 350
  By channing - February 15 - 2:40 am

  Bought it over the Lunar New Year, got everything except Ultra Luxury package. Drives like it should. Have yet to take twisties but the car should be able to hold its own despite not being a sports sedan. Otherwise, wonderfully smooth and quiet--and fast! A few chinks in its armor of perfection: despite the stylish profile, the roofline is low as a result. I am just under 61" and I cannot sport an explosively spiky hairstyle in this car (I love contradictions). The glove compartment is unlit, which can be an annoyance at night.

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  Died at 82,000 - 2002 Lexus RX 300
  By S. Miller - February 14 - 6:40 pm

  Bought the RX 300 certified pre-owned with 42,000 miles. Loved the vehicle until it died at 82,000 miles. Temp gauge showed cold, but engine overheated and locked up on I-80 in Gary, IN. It was 2 weeks past the warranty. After a $200 tow charge, we were told the engine needed replaced for $10,500. Lexus gave us the engine, but it still cost $3,000 in labor. Lexus offered no explanation as to cause, and declined further help. The dealership was wonderful, however. We have also had chronic problems with dash lights. We thought Lexus was bulletproof. We wont buy another one.

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  miami,Fl - 2005 Lexus ES 330
  By CKM - February 7 - 10:00 am

  excellent car, needs more head room for a grown man. Wonderful on long open road trips.

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  Looking for more in a Lexus - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Diane Bennett - February 5 - 5:30 pm

  First Lexus. Great exterior look with sun and moon roof. Poor exterior paint quality and interior quality not what I expected for a Lexus. Tires did not last as expected. Overall, few problems just a little disappointing. Nav of little use- maps not up to date and system not user friendly.

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  Another Fine Lexus Youve Got Me In! - 2009 Lexus LX 570
  By David Mac - February 5 - 5:03 am

  This is my 7th Lexus and my second LX (1st was 1998). This vehicle is SO much more than the previous model - and not only in price! I have physical limitations and this vehicle makes entry, exit and driving easy, easy, easy. Yes, the gas mileage is poor, but you just have to know that up front and move on. We also have an 07 GX which I would say is the better vehicle for the price. But I have trouble getting in and out of it. Still a great car. My LX has ALL the options. Some seem absurd (i.e., unnecessary), but we are learning to use them all. I love the no key function (again, an ease of entry issue), AND especially the air cooled seats. Anyone will enjoy this if you can get over price.

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  2002 SC430 - 2002 Lexus SC 430
  By K Cooper - February 5 - 5:03 am

  Acceleration is moderate at first, then strengthens considerably. The ride is very comfortable and the car responds quickly and surely to sudden changes in direction. The hard top convertible is a real plus. Quiet as a coupe when up and very easy to get up or down. Quality is expectional. No repairs needed thru the first 35,000 miles. Maintenance costs are very high if serviced by the dealer. The summer run-flat tires that came with the car were useless in winter, wore out in about 25K miles and were expensive to replace at $300 per tire.

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  ES 350 - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Stan - February 2 - 8:33 am

  A smooth, comfortable ride, without sacrificing too much in the way of handling. Coming from a BMW convertible, I miss the sharp cornering, but I love the smooth quiet ride. Much better on the freeway. The premium stereo is all anyone needs. Plays mp3 disks, so with 6 disks, you can load about 1000 songs at one time. Nav system works like a charm.

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  SC 430 - 2006 Lexus SC 430
  By dkempf - February 2 - 7:40 am

  Visibilty of the nose and rear end drops off when parking. There is a lack of any bumpers on doors to avoid dings. The paint quality on the exterior is not as good as it should be. I am MOST disappointed in the exterior paint. After purchase I had some zinc oxide rub off on the interior arm rests. Lexus was completely at a loss as to what to do. I am sure other people buying a Lexus convertible will also use sunscreen and have a similar problem. It is very quiet and does not beat you up when the top is down.

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  Only 500miles comments - 2016 Lexus NX 200t
  By Jerry - February 2 - 12:30 am

  Only 500miles, hard to say but so far I have comments below: engine power enough if drive in city or on freeway; a little noisy if compared my Lexus es350; front driver seat is comfortable; exterior good looking. Overall I will give 4+ stars.

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  RX400h a mixed bag - 2007 Lexus RX 400H
  By Robert - February 1 - 2:03 am

  The navigation system is impossibly complicated - and Im a PhD Professional Engineer! It is simply illogical. The cargo space is disappointingly shallow. The screen is unreadable in bright daylight. But the performance is good and very reliable. However, as a Mercedes S-Class person, Lexus is outclassed!