Lexus

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2020 Lexus RC F Review: Strong luxury sedan, rivals stronger

Introduced in 2015, the Lexus RC F is the third vehicle in the Toyota luxury brand’s performance-oriented lineup. Like its sedan, SUV and speed-geared siblings, it has plenty to offer. The Lexus RC F has aggressive styling, 19-inch wheels, quad exhaust tips and a carbon-fiber roof panel. The engine is a naturally aspirated 472-horsepower 5.0-liter V8. It has Brembo brakes, improved and more aggressive suspension tuning and is rear-wheel drive. Key Takeaways 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 with 472 horsepower, an eight-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive. 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds. $64,900 base price; more than $15,000 in options and taxes pushes the total past $80,000. 16 mpg city and 24 highway. Driving: Driving the Lexus RC F is a treat.

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2020 Lexus RX 450hL Review: Handsome, plush, pricey

With several exterior design changes including a polarizing paint color choice, the 2020 Lexus RX 450hL stands out on the omnipresent highway sea of sport utility vehicles. It’s a smooth cruiser with some drawbacks. A six or seven-passenger midsize hybrid, the RX 450hL comes with three rows of seating and all-wheel drive. It’s operated by a 3.5-liter V6 that coordinates with two front-mounted electric motor-generators. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) propels the front wheels; a third electric motor powers the rear wheels. Total horsepower is 308 and the 0-60 mph standard is accomplished in 6.8 seconds. Key Takeaways Hybrid powertrain: 3.5-liter V6 with two front electric motor-generators and a CVT; a third electric motor powers the rear wheels. 308

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2020 Lexus LS 500 Review: Luxury sedans still matter

The transportation saturation of SUVs and pickup trucks is ever-increasing. But the 2020 Lexus LS 500, the showcase vehicle in Toyota’s upscale division, is a fine reason why consumers should still consider sedans. Completely redesigned two years ago with a fifth generation, the 2020 LS 500 retains the full-size luxury sedan’s finer attributes. It combines an uber-quiet, comfortable ride, an interior designer’s finest skill and top-line technology. Key Takeaways 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 416 horsepower and a 10-speed automatic transmission. 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. $75,450 base price; the top price is $108,490. 19 mpg city and 30 highway. $17,100 Executive Package: power front seat belts and reclining and heated rear seats. Downsides: The Lexus LS 500 has few downsides

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2020 Lexus LX 570 Review: Pricey rugged luxury

A luxury sport utility vehicle with strong attributes for off-road use is a niche offering in the vastly varied automotive marketplace. It’s a head-shaking quality of the 2020 Lexus LX 570. The wisdom of excursions on rugged terrain in a top-line luxury vehicle may be questionable. But as one friend who’s refreshingly dispassionate about automobiles often says: “If no one bought ’em, they wouldn’t make ’em.” Key Takeaways Powertrain: 5.7-liter V8 with 383 horsepower, an eight-speed automatic and standard four-wheel drive. $100,540 manufacturer’s suggested retail price, in a single trim. 12 mpg city and 16 highway. Towing: a 7,000-pound trailer. Seating: five in the two-row version, eight in the three-row, with 10 airbags. Comfort: With its interior plushness, the LX

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The Weekly Driver letters: Used trucks, Lexus, Sonata PHEV

The Weekly Driver is a companion website to the weekly Autopia column I contribute to the San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times. Some of my automotive content also appears on RVtravel.com and in Gulfshore Business in Florida. It’s also distributed by Motor Matters, a syndicate in Delaware. With that variety of outlets, sometimes I receive letters from readers. It’s great. With permission from the letter writers, I’m posting a recent batch of comments. Some editing for style, clarity and brevity has occurred. Thank you for reading my content and for taking the time to email. Stay in touch. Cheers, James Raia (The Weekly Driver.) LEXUS SUV FAN WITH REASON Stephen Comstock, Eau Claire, Michigan, writes: I have just read

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Genesis upends Lexus as most dependable carmaker, says J.D. Power

The banner across the top of the entrance to the Los Angeles Convention Center couldn’t have been any bigger. It proclaimed the 2019 Genesis G70 as a prominent automotive publication’s Car of the Year. The occasion was the Los Angeles Auto Show last November and the banner remained hoisted for about two weeks. It was another award for the upstart manufacturer, the former luxury trim from Hyundai but now on its own. And now comes another award: J.D. Power has named the Genesis, the industry’s most dependable in the renowned analysts’ detailed Dependability Study. The study is a comprehensive overview of owners’ repair history of their three-year-old models. Now in its 31st year, the study quizzes original owners of 2017

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2020 Lexus LC 500h Review: Defines large luxury hybrid coupe

Car buyers can be particular and manufacturers are willing to oblige. With various trims and optional equipment, some vehicles are available in several-dozen configurations and with widely varying prices. Lexus knows the game as well as any carmaker, which is why it offers the 2020 LC 500h. It’s uniquely positioned in the marketplace as a large luxury coupe with sports car tendencies and impressive hybrid fuel efficiency. Key Takeaways Hybrid powertrain: 3.5-liter V6 and two electric motors combining for 354 horsepower. $97,460 launch price; $104,540 as tested. 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds. 27 mpg city and 35 highway. Cargo: Rear storage is only five cubic feet. Build quality: Craftsmanship and material quality are superior. Hybrid Powertrain Unlike its gas-only sibling,

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2020 Lexus ES 300 hybrid Review: A luxury sedan showcase

An open-road, long-haul cruise in a luxury sedan is a driving devotee’s joy. But making the trip efficiently can be perplexing. Lexus realized the dilemma a decade ago and debuted hybrid models, including the current seventh generation of its ES series. The 2020 Lexus ES 300h, largely a holdover from the 2019 model, is among only a few luxury sedans combining upscale comfort with economic travel. It’s rated at 43 miles per gallon in city driving and 44 mpg on the highway. They’re segment-best ratings. Key Takeaways 2.5-liter four-cylinder plus an electric motor making 215 horsepower, with a continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive. 43 mpg city, 44 highway. 0-60 mph in 8.1 seconds. $53,530 with all options and taxes

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2019 Lexus IS350 Review: A worthy sporty sedan failing

Comfort, superior ride quality and luxury aren’t often strong sports car characteristics. Feeling the road, shifting gears and making the best of a rugged minimalist interior provides a good chunk of the appeal. The 2019 Lexus IS350 rejects the norm. Defined as a five-passenger small sedan, the IS350 matches a quiet, relaxing and comfortable sedan with an aggressive-looking sports car. It’s ready for some country road shenanigans or long, smooth freeway hauls. Key Takeaways 3.5-liter V6 with 311 horsepower; rear-wheel drive with an eight-speed automatic, or all-wheel drive with a six-speed automatic. $52,163 as tested, with the F Sport package at $3,195, the Mark Levinson audio system at $1,600 and navigation at $2,845. 20 mpg city and 28 highway. 22,927

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2019 Lexus LS 500 Review: Commands the open road in style

Like naval fleets, automobile manufacturers have flagships. Commanding officers, weaponry or distinguished flags aren’t involved. Still, carmakers’ highest-profile vehicles are their proudest presentations. Luxury brands thrive on their top-line offerings, which for the upscale division of Toyota is the Lexus LS 500. Key Takeaways 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 416 horsepower and a 10-speed automatic. 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. $75,200 base price; the Executive Package adds $23,110 and the top price reaches $111,925. 19 mpg city and 30 highway. One trim level, rear-wheel drive standard, all-wheel drive optional and a hybrid version also available. Value: The LS 500 is satisfactory without options. Design and Powertrain Redesigned inside and outside last year, the 2019 LS 500 retains the full-size luxury sedan‘s

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2019 Lexus ES 350 Review: Luxury sedan improves but not enough

Now beginning its seventh generation, the Lexus ES 350 is the upscale Toyota nameplate’s midsize luxury sedan. For 2019, it’s available in four trims, including the new F Sport. As its designation implies, it has a sporty look and feel. Nearly every major manufacturer has a midsize luxury sedan. Lexus received top honors in Consumer Reports’ yearly most reliable brand survey for 2018. But the previous generation of the ES 350 had its time and other manufacturers, including Hyundai, Genesis and Kia, now all offer legitimate competition. Audi and BMW have a long-standing rivalry with Lexus. Key Takeaways 3.5-liter V6 with 302 horsepower, 34 more than before, and an eight-speed automatic replacing a six-speed. 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds, a

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#58 Consumer Reports’ expert discusses reliability survey

Mike Quincy is an expert among car experts. For nearly 20 years, he’s purchased, driven and evaluated cars for Consumer Reports. The well-respected magazine and website has tested vehicles for decades, and it’s considered the automotive industry’s most objective resource. Mike is our guest on episode #58 of The Weekly Driver podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Mike the publication’s recently released Most Reliable and Least Reliable vehicle lists for 2018. As Mike details, Consumer Reports purchases all of its test vehicles. The publication’s annual reliability survey analyzes data in 17 areas from more than 500,000 vehicles. Areas for potential problems include interior wear-and-tear, transmission repairs and squeaky brakes. Predictable results occur in the survey, so do

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Lexus, Toyota get Consumer Reports’ reliability honors

From transmission issues to troublesome turbocharged engines to 15 other areas, Consumer Reports studies in its annual automobile reliability survey. The 2018 compilation, like in every year, has surprises. This year, Toyota and its luxury sibling Lexus, reversed positions. While tabulating the results of more than 500,000 vehicles, Lexus gets the top spot. Lexus had six models in the study, earning an average reliability score of 78. The brand’s least reliable model is the IS while its most reliable model is the GX. This year, all Lexus models with sufficient data were rated average or above. Toyota had 14 models supplying reliability data, with the Japanese automaker receiving an average reliability score of 76. Its most reliable model is the

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2018 Lexus GS 300 Review: Luxury sedan, sports car appeal

The 2018 Lexus GS 300 is among a half-dozen luxury sedans all vying for a market share in a segment packed with superior choices. Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac and Mercedes-Benz join Lexus in the mix of buyers whose decisions are often based on status, brand loyalty and overall quality. Which designation is the most important doesn’t matter. But choose the Lexus GS 300, and the top-three buying reasons all resonate. Reliable performance and a sporty design give the upscale Toyota marque more clout. Key Takeaways Renamed from the GS 200t for 2018; blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are now standard. 241 horsepower from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with an eight-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive. $50,900 MSRP, and $56,385 as

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Episode 29, Stunning new Lexus, bad tires and RV woes

The 2018 Lexus LC 500 is arguably the most attractive car made in the past several years. It turns heads in parking lots and gets stared at on the open road. Strangers point at it and give a thumb’s up. The new Lexus belongs on the list of the 100 most attractive cars ever made. It would be among the few modern-day vehicles on the subjective selections automotive publications publish about every 10 years. Bruce Aldrich, co-host of The Weekly Driver Podcast, and I shared driving duties in the new Lexus from Sacramento to the Delta hamlet of Courtland and back last week. We were on assignment at Hemly Cider, the craft cider maker. We discuss the new top-of-the-line Lexus

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2018 Lexus LC 500 Review: A beauty of a beast

A middle-aged man and his three teenage companions stopped in a coffee shop parking lot, gawked at the exterior of the 2018 Lexus LC 500 and asked if they could check out the inside. A guy in an old pick-up with a dilapidated camper shell stopped in the middle of a street near to where the Lexus was parked and started a conversation about saving his money to buy one. Some people pointed, others provided a thumb’s up or exclaimed “nice wheels, dude.” A few young drivers pulled up near me on the freeway, momentarily glared and sped off, perhaps suggesting I follow them. It was tempting, but no thanks, fellas. Key Takeaways 471 horsepower from a 5-liter V8, with

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