Lexus is the luxury car division of Toyota that has earned a well-deserved reputation across the globe. And if there’s a Japanese marque that combines exaggerated styling and superb craftsmanship, it has to be Lexus. The brand is responsible for producing a comprehensive range of refined, prestige, and luxury vehicles – the perfect alternatives to German premium sedans and SUVs.

Updated September 2023: Every true gearhead knows what makes Lexus cars special. This Japanese luxury car manufacturer has built up a reliability track record few other brands can match. We've updated this list to showcase the ten best Lexus models to date that made that happen.

While Lexus built its reputation on its full-size flagship luxury sedan, the Lexus LS 400, the Japanese automaker has grown, thanks to highly successful SUV models in its lineup, including the original Lexus RX. The brand is now marketed in over 90 countries and territories across the globe. Lexus has ranked in the top 10 largest Japanese brands in the global market value.

We used cross-referenced vehicle reviews, reliability, expert opinions, and consumer feedback from the manufacturer's websites, JD Power, Kelley Blue Book (KBB), Edmunds, Repairpal, CarEdge, and Consumer Reports (CR) to give you the 10 best Lexus models ever made.

10 2023 Lexus RX 500h F-Sport Performance

J.D. Power Quality And Reliability Rating: 85/100

The 2023 Lexus RX 500h F-Sport Performance is the hybrid-powered, range-topping performance trim of America's best-selling luxury vehicle, the Lexus RX. Powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter I4 engine that is augmented by two electric motors, this midsize Lexus SUV boasts a combined system output of 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of twist. This is the fastest, most powerful RX ever made, able to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. Despite this power output, the Lexus RX 500h F-Sport Performance still returns a very decent 27 MPG.

2023 Lexus RX Reliability

J.D. Power consumer reviews gave the 2023 Lexus RX a "great" quality and reliability score of 85/100. Additionally, Lexus RX hybrid models only have a 20.47% chance of requiring a major repair within the first 10 years – much lower than the luxury SUV average of 39.56%.

• Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $551 (RepairPal)
• Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $7,634 (CarEdge)
• Total Recalls: 0 for hybrid, 1 for gas variant
• Worst Lexus RX Year To Buy Used: 1999 Lexus RX (7 recalls, 224 NHTSA complaints, problems with exterior lighting, brakes, and rear windshield glazing)

9 2021-2022 Lexus LC 500

J.D. Power Quality And Reliability Rating: 86/100

The Lexus LC 500 is a grand touring luxury car that offers coupe and convertible layouts. Using a 5.0-liter V8 that delivers 471 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque, this powerful yet elegant Lexus flagship touring car can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in roughly 4.5 seconds. Introduced for the 2018 model year, the Lexus LC 500 competes against the Mercedes-AMG E53 Coupe, BMW 8 Series, and Jaguar F-Type.

For 2021 and 2022, the Lexus LC lineup (including the hybrid LC 500h) received a great 86/100 quality and reliability score from J.D. Power as well as an excellent 4.9/5 consumer review rating from KBB.

2021 Lexus LC 500 Specs

8 2020 Lexus GX

KBB Best Resale Value Awardee

The GX is a 3-row Lexus SUV powered by a 4.6-liter V8 power plant (301 hp, 329 lb-ft) and underpinned by a body-on-frame platform based on the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. For 2020, the Lexus GX received Crawl Control, a new grille and headlight design, a Multi-Terrain selector, and a standardized Lexus Safety System Plus across all trims. The Lexus GX is a great family SUV, but it also has very respectable off-road capabilities.

2020 Lexus GX Reliability

The 2020 Lexus GX lineup received a "great" 87/100 quality and reliability rating from JD Power and a 5/5 reliability verdict from CR. As of mid-2023, this 2020 Lexus SUV still lists for $48,000 – $53,175 on the used car market – not very far from its original MSRP of $53,000.

• Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $551 (RepairPal)
• Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $7,652 (CarEdge)
• Total Recalls: 0
• Worst Lexus GX Year To Buy Used: 2010 Lexus GX (5 recalls, 37 NHTSA complaints, problems with airbags and electronic stability control)

7 2021-2022 Lexus RC

J.D. Power Quality And Reliability Rating: 88/100

The Lexus RC is a 2-door luxury sports coupe that offers 3 gasoline power plant options: a 2.0-liter turbo I4 with 240 hp, a 3.5-liter naturally-aspirated V6 that pumps out 311 hp, and a roaring 5.0-liter V8 that cranks out 472 hp. The 2021 Lexus RC competes against the Audi A5, the BMW 4 Series, the Infiniti Q60, and the Jaguar F-Type.

For 2021 and 2022, the Lexus RC line received a great quality and reliability score of 88/100. Furthermore, KBB consumer reviews also resulted in an excellent 4.9/5 overall score.

2021 Lexus RC Specs

6 2015 Lexus GS 450h F-Sport

J.D. Power Quality And Reliability Rating: 89/100

Although the Lexus GS has been discontinued since the end of 2020, it still plies American roads and will be remembered as the sportier luxury midsize sedan alternative to the Lexus ES. The 2015 Lexus GS 450h F-Sport is a particularly impressive trim, as it combines hybrid sensibility with the F-Sport package's performance and aesthetics. Using a 3.5-liter Atkinson cycle V6 and a permanent magnet electric motor, the GS 450h can achieve a 338-hp maximum system output and a 5.6-second time on the 0-60 mph sprint. However, this same hybrid system also returns an excellent 31-MPG fuel economy rating, similar to that of a fuel-sipping compact car.

2015 Lexus GS Reliability

The 2015 Lexus GS earned an 89/100 quality and reliability score from JD Power and a perfect 5/5 consumer review score from CR. Currently, the 2015 Lexus GS lists for roughly $19,500 to $23,000 on the used car market.

• Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $592 (RepairPal)
• Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $5,721 (CarEdge)
• Total Recalls: 1
• Worst GS Year To Buy Used: 2008 Lexus GS (8 recalls, 176 NHTSA complaints, problems with airbags, engine, engine cooling system, fuel system leaks, seatbelts, brakes, and accelerator pedal)

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5 2022 Lexus IS

Quality And Reliability Score: 92/100

The IS represents Lexus in the compact luxury sedan segment. For 2022, the Lexus IS gained a powerful 5.0-liter V8 option (472 hp, 395 lb-ft), which is even more powerful than the mill of its pure "F Marque" performance progenitor, the IS F. The 2022 Lexus IS sedan's entry-level 2.0-liter turbo I4 engine (241 hp, 258 lb-ft) and mid-range 3.5-liter V6 (260-311 hp, 236-277 lb-ft) are also quite decent for its size class - depending on the driver's penchant for adrenaline, of course.

2022 Lexus IS Reliability

The 2022 Lexus IS earned a "best" 92/100 quality and reliability rating from JD Power and a flawless 5/5 consumer review score from KBB. Currently, a used 2022 Lexus IS still has a fair market price range of $36,730 to $72,913.

• Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $551 (RepairPal)
• Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $5,680 (CarEdge)
• Total Recalls: 0
• Worst Lexus IS Year To Buy Used: 2006 Lexus IS (16 recalls, 470 NHTSA complaints, problems with airbags, fuel system leaks, brakes, engine valves, accelerator pedal, and wipers)

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4 2017 Lexus ES

Quality And Reliability Score: 96/100

The Lexus ES is a luxury midsize sedan that offers an excellent blend of automotive refinement, comfort, and luxury at a more affordable price point than that of the flagship Lexus LS. The 2017 Lexus ES came with 2 engine options: a 3.5-liter V6 (268 hp, 248 lb-ft) and a 2.5-liter hybrid I4 powerplant that delivers a 200-hp system output.

2017 Lexus ES Reliability

JD Power gave the 2017 Lexus ES a 96/100 quality and reliability score - the best reliability rating that any Lexus model has received for the past decade. Today, the 2017 Lexus ES still sells for $25,526 to $30,612.

• Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $570 (RepairPal)
• Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $5,662 (CarEdge)
• Total Recalls: 1
• Worst Lexus ES Year To Buy Used: 2007 Lexus ES (5 recalls, 650 NHTSA complaints, problems with airbags and accelerator pedal entrapment)

3 Lexus IS F

The First F Marque Lexus

Launched for the 2008 model year, the Lexus IS F was the first F Marque model produced by Toyota's luxury division. Predating even the iconic Lexus LFA, the Lexus IS-F used a naturally-aspirated 5.0-liter V8 engine that delivered 422 hp and 371 lb-ft of torque. Based on the Lexus IS compact sedan, the IS F was Lexus' first high-performance sedan that aimed to compete with highly popular models like the BMW M3 and the Mercedes-AMG C-Class.

Lexus had already cemented its reputation for building the most refined and comfortable luxury vehicles like the Lexus LS 400, so the IS F was the first model to break out of the brand stereotype completely.

2008 Lexus IS F Specs

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2 Lexus LFA

Although it was a commercial failure during its release, the Lexus LFA is, to this day, the Toyota group's halo car. After investing nearly $1 billion over a decade of research and development, Lexus launched the LFA in 2012 as its first and only supercar to date. Since its inception as a luxury brand, Lexus made its name by producing the finest, most comfortable, and most luxurious luxury sedans - so the LFA had many skeptics. However, Toyota wanted to prove to the world that its Lexus division was capable of producing a global icon in the supercar category - and they did just that.

With a body made out of 65% carbon fiber, a luxurious interior, and a cockpit designed for pure driving pleasure, the Lexus LFA was an engineering marvel. Moreover, with its Formula 1-based 4.8-liter V10 engine that produced 552 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, the Lexus LFA has one of the highest specific power outputs (117 hp per liter) among all naturally-aspirated cars ever produced. Finally, with Yamaha's expertise, the LFA still has one of the sweetest-sounding exhaust notes in the world today.

Only 500 units of the LFA were ever produced for the global market. With more automotive enthusiasts now coming to realize its true worth, the Lexus LFA has almost tripled in value over a decade after its release. The Lexus LFA had a starting MSRP of $375,000 in 2012, but today, it commands roughly $1 million (and even up to $2.5 million for the LFA Nürburgring Edition).

Lexus LFA Specs

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1 Lexus LS 400

In 1989, the Toyota group launched its Lexus luxury division along with the new brand's first model, the Lexus LS 400. With a development cost of over $1 billion, the LS 400 offered plenty of luxury segment firsts, including an electronic tilt and telescopic steering wheel, chromatic rearview mirrors, and power-adjustable seatbelts. As the brand's flagship car, the LS 400's all-new, 4.0-liter V8 engine (250-290 hp) was incredibly smooth and quiet, and Lexus spared no expense in making sure that the LS 400's suspension, body, and interior would have the best build quality to produce the highest level of comfort, luxuriousness, and reliability among all luxury sedans in the world.

To ruffle the feathers of the reigning German luxury car brands even more, Lexus released the LS 400 in 1990 with a $35,000 sticker price, which was a bargain compared to its competitors like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (started at over $60,000) and BMW 7 Series (started at over $55,000). Even with all the technological improvements in the automotive industry over the past 4 decades, many enthusiasts still consider the LS 400 as the best Lexus - and the best luxury production car - ever made.