Reliability is one of the most significant factors to consider when looking to buy a new car. After all, you wouldn't want to get a vehicle that would have you paying regular visits to the automobile repair shop (unless that's where you work, of course).
Reliability is more than just fewer visits to the mechanic, though. You would expect a reliable car to serve you efficiently and for a reasonably long period.
On the topic of automobile reliability, one name stands out consistently from the rest, Lexus. Lexus has been at the forefront of reliability, competing with the very best manufacturers over the years. This fact is even more evident as Lexus is one of the few luxury car brands whose vehicles have stood the test of time.
The Origin Of Lexus
The famous car manufacturer, Toyota, has been known for building solid, efficient, and reliable vehicles. So, when it launched the Lexus brand in 1989, there was very little doubt about the quality it would bring to the market. The Lexus was created as a luxury vehicle division to compete with Mercedes-Benz in America, and over the years, it hasn't failed to do so. Although Lexus might have had a lesser impact in regions like the United Kingdom, there's no doubt that it has a steadfast following.
The first Lexus was the flagship LS 400, and it set a new standard for luxury cars globally. Other models like the Lexus ES and IS soon followed. And it was only a matter of time before Lexus introduced utility vehicles like the Lexus LX and Lexus GX.
The company hasn't stopped there, though. Lexus is also famous for its hybrid models, such as the Lexus RX Hybrid and the Lexus NX Hybrid. These models combine a typical petrol engine with an electric motor to provide better fuel mileage and less carbon dioxide emission. The Lexus RX Hybrid, for example, returns a combined estimate of 31 MPG.
How Reliable Are Lexus Cars?
A dependability award is given to an automotive brand that wins a dependability study. This study comprises a survey of the various features of a vehicle. Lexus has won and featured in many dependability awards and continues to do so consistently.
The luxury brand has claimed the J.D. Power's annual U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study's top spot for eight years in a row. With such dominance, you can't help but agree that Lexus's supremacy in these rankings is no fluke. But that's not all.
In the 2019 edition of the J.D. Power's annual U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, reports from owners of three-year-old Lexus cars (including SUVs) showed that they'd experienced 106 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) over 12 months. The results showcased the brand winning with an outstanding 143 points over Fiat, the least performing vehicle, with 249 reported problems per 100 vehicles (PP100).
In the same study, the Lexus ES was ranked the most reliable car under the compact premium section, and the Lexus SUV, GX, topped the rankings in the midsize premium SUV category.
Despite its impressive eight-year run, up until 2019, the brand was overtaken by Genesis in 2020 after recording a score of 89 PP100. Lexus still managed to take second place that year, recording a score of 100 PP100, a year-on-year improvement of 6 PP100.
The luxury brand would not relinquish its prized position so easily, though. Lexus reclaimed the top spot in this year's study after recording a score of 81 PP100 (you don't want to know how far Genesis fell). This makes it the ninth time in 10 years that the brand would rank highest.
These reports stake a claim for Lexus as a master of automobile reliability, but how does the brand manage to pull it off?
The Small Details That Culminate In The Reliability Giant That Is Lexus
Lexus delivers consistently on dependability for various reasons. In an interview with Driving.ca, Steven MacNeil, the General Manager of Lexus manufacturing at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC), explains the importance Lexus puts on reliability, as he refers to a Japanese term known as "monozukuri." Although monozukuri can be challenging to translate, taken literally, it means "the making of things." In Japanese, it suggests a level of care and purposefulness infused into various processes.
The General Manager compares it to the perceived value by the customer and how they relate directly to the end-product, in this case, the Lexus brand, and Lexus experience.
Though MacNeil's views are centered primarily on Lexus production in Canada, the principle explains how Lexus delivers consistently while making steady. There's no doubt that many of these principles are applied in Lexus manufacturing facilities across the globe.
The interview also mentions the brand's exceptional training culture, where new staff members are required to undergo high levels of training to become efficient in providing certain specifications. New members receive fundamental skill modules, including hose routing, painting, tightening, or connectors, to practice and gain proficiency. After which, they join teams and mature their training skills under the supervision of a team leader.
In the interview with Driving.ca, MacNeil also highlights the role of thorough and repetitive testing. He points out Lexus's commitment to ensuring consistency and thoroughness in testing parts and finished vehicles to meet quality requirements.
Achieving the feat that it has in reliability is a testament to Lexus's excellent attention to detail. The brand believes in a healthy dose of competition and is quick to effect changes based on customer feedback. No wonder they are loved by customers. Lexus can only be described as a brand that is reliable in its reliability.