MSRP:$46,640

The 2011 Lexus IS 350C Convertible is a luxury retractable hardtop convertible that seats four.  For those who remember the days when luxury convertibles had large rear seats, things have changed a bit over the years.  While the 350C has a decent rear seat, it it still essentially a two seater with a rear seat that is more suited for children and small people.

The 350C has a 3.5 liter V6 engine with 306 horsepower.  It has 17-inch wheels, rear-wheel drive, and a 6-speed automatic transmission.  It is rated at 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.  It goes from zero to sixty in 5.9 seconds.

It comes with keyless ignition, keyless entry, 10-way power front seats with 2-way lumbar adjustment, a tilt-telescope steering wheel, auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated mirrors, 2-zone climate control, foglights, and leather upholstery.  The audio system has 8 speakers, AM/FM/HD radio, CD/MP3 player, satellite radio, an audio jack, and a USB/iPod interface.  Many upgrades are available, such as a navigation system and an upgraded stereo.

The 350C also has a lot of safety devices.  Besides the standards of stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, and side front airbags, it also has driver’s knee airbags, side-curtain airbags the length of the cabin, which is uncommon in a convertible, brake-assist, the Lexus Safety Connect telematics system, and pop-up rollover bars.  There are no safety tests available, but Lexus’ internal standards exceed those of the testing agencies.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The 350C strikes a near-perfect balance between sport and luxury.  The interior materials are of the highest quality, and the front seats are extremely comfortable and roomy.  The rear seats are small, and legroom is an issue for most adults.  Obviously, with the top down, headroom is not an issue.  The dash is a bit futuristic, but quite tasteful.

As always with convertibles, trunk space is at a minimum.  With the top up, there are 10.8 cubic feet of cargo space.  With the hardtop retracted, though, there are only 2.4 cubic feet.  This will accommodate one golf bag or two overnight bags.

As it is with almost any Lexus, the steering and suspension are tweaked toward passenger comfort.  Even though it is a convertible, it is made more for cruising than excitement.  Under those parameters, it is a great car.  The steering is accurate if not responsive, and the suspension doesn’t allow for a lot of sporty driving, but gives a great ride.  There isn’t a lot of road feel, and most average surface imperfections aren’t all that noticeable.

Also, if you choose to keep the top up, the cabin is surprisingly quiet, with no road noise or wind noise.  In addition, the engine is enough to accelerate decently and give effortless performance while cruising at highway speeds in a fairly straight line.  All in all, if you keep this car going straight, it is a very fine vehicle.

The verdict: highly recommended for conservative drivers who like to feel a little bit of wind on their faces.

MSRP:$33,295

The Lexus IS 250 is the entry-level model of the IS series.  It is a compact luxury sedan that looks a little bit sporty on the outside, but is a luxury car on the inside and under the hood.  It has a 2.5 liter V6 engine that produces 204 horsepower.  It has 17-inch wheels, all-wheel drive, and a 6-speed automatic transmission.  It is rated at 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, and takes approximately 7.5 seconds to go from zero to sixty.

The IS 250 comes with keyless ignition, keyless entry, a tilt-telescope steering wheel, heated 8-way power driver seats with lumbar support, a sunroof, heated mirrors, foglights, leather upholstery, 2-zone climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and the Safety Connects telematics system.  The autio system has Bluetooth, 13 speakers, AM/FM/HD radio, CD/MP3 player, satellite radio, an audio jack, and a US/iPod port.  As always with a Lexus, there are a lot of upgrade packages available.

The IS 250 also has stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes with brake-assist, side front airbags, and side curtain airbags.  In government tests, the IS 250 got four stars in all tests except for a perfect five stars in driver’s side side-impact.  It got perfect scores of “good” in all tests done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

If the quality of the interior is the determining factor in whether or not you like a car, you won’t be disappointed with the IS 250.  The cabin is a blend of wood, leather, soft-touch materials, and subtle colors.  Cabin space, though, leaves a bit to be desired.  The front space is OK, but the rear seats are for children or small people only.  If you are tall and you sit in the back seat, expect leg cramps.

The drive is mediocre at best.  The engine isn’t very powerful, and the suspension and steering are tweaked toward a luxury ride.  The steering is not very responsive and there is a lot of body roll for a smaller car.  The other side of the coin is that the ride is one of the best in its segment.  Also, the cabin is extremely quiet.

All in all, the negatives outweigh the positives here.  On the positive side, you get a nice interior design, a luxury ride, and decent mileage.  On the negative side, you get a tepid engine, mushy steering, excess body roll, and cramped back seats.  This car really isn’t worthy of the Lexus nameplate.

The verdict: a sheep in wolf’s clothing.

The Lexus RX 350 is a midsize luxury crossover SUV that seats five.  Lexus does a great job of being predictable.  You know that their cars are going to be like a Toyota with a little more room, more conveniences, effortless acceleration, and a softer ride profile.

The 2011 Lexus RX 350 has a 35.3 liter V6 engine that produces 275 horsepower and 257 pound-feet of torque.  It has front wheel drive, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a 6-speed automatic transmission.  It is rated at 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, and goes from zero to sixty in 7.1 seconds.

Instead of trim levels, the RX 350 has one base model and offers upgrade packages.  The base model has a power tilt-telescope steering wheel, 10-way power front seats, sliding and reclining 40/20/40 split folding second row seats, keyless ignition, keyless entry, wood interior trim, cloth upholstery, automatic headlights, foglights, and 2-zone climate control.  The audio system has 9 speakers, AM/FM/HD radio, a 6-Cd/MP3 changer, an audio jack, satellite radio, and Bluetooth.  Upgrades include the Sport, Premium, Comfort, Navigation, and Technology packages.

The RX 350 also has anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, dual driver’s knee airbags, side front airbags, and side curtain airbags.  It also has Safety Connect, which is an emergency communications system.  As often happens with Lexus, the RX 350 got perfect scores in all tests performed by the government and by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The interior is very nice.  The materials are top-notch, and the design is very attractive.  The cabin has a European feel of luxury.  There is plenty of headroom and legroom in both the front and the rear seats, and the seats themselves are very comfortable.  There is also plenty of cargo space, with 40 cubic feet behind the seats, and another 40 cubic feet available with the rear seat folded down.

The RX 350 handles well.  It is tweaked for passenger comfort, which means a looser suspension, but while it isn’t sporty by any means, the steering is still responsive and accurate.  The ride is very smooth, whether accelerating, cruising at highway speeds, or navigating surface impurities.  The engine accelerates effortlessly, and never labors, even at highway speeds.  There is almost no noise in the cabin.  One can easily detach from the road and surrounding environment.

The negatives are all trade-offs.  It is meant to be driven conservatively, and it is not meant to haul eight people.  Those are negatives to some, and just what others are looking for.

The verdict: very nice for a more settled-down person, couple, or small family.

MSRP: $79,455

There are a few full-sized luxury SUV’s that offer supreme off-road performance while being posh enough to take your daughter to the debutante ball without embarrassing her.  The LX 570 is one of them.  This is one of “those” vehicles in which one could possibly serve afternoon tea while careening through the jungle without spilling a drop.  We’re just trying to figure out who wants one.

The Lexus LX 570 is a full-size luxury SUV that seats 5 adults and 3 children.  It has a 5.7 liter V8 engine that provides 383 horsepower while producing 403 pound-feet of torque.  It has 20-inch alloy wheels, 4-wheel drive, and a 6-speed automatic transmission.  It is rated at 12 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway, and will go from zero to sixty in 7.4 seconds.  It will also tow up to 8,500 pounds.

The LX 570 is only available in one trim level, but it is quite impressively adorned.  It has heated front seats with lumbar adjustment, 10-way adjustable driver’s seat, 8-way adjustable front passenger seat, leather upholstery, a tilt-telescope steering wheel, a 60/40 power-folding, power sliding second row seat, a 50/50 power-folding third row seat, 4-zone automatic climate control, automatic adaptive xenon headlights, foglights, keyless ignition, keyless entry, a taligate, a roof rack, a sunroof, and automatic folding mirrors.

The audio system has 9 speakers, AM/FM/HD/satellite radio, CD/MP3 player, an audio jack, USB/iPod port, and Bluetooth.  There is also a navigation system with realtime traffic and weather, Lexus Enform emergency telematics, voice controls, and a rearview camera.  If this isn’t enough, an upgrade to the Luxury package will give you even more.

The LX 570 also has anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, and 10 airbags, including side front, side curtain all the way back, and driver’s knee.  There is also an optional pre-collision prevention system.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The cabin is basically a large version of a luxury sedan cabin.  The materials are of the highest quality, and the leather upholstery gives an air of opulence.  There is plenty of space and comfort in both the front and second rows.  The seats are plush and comfortable while supportive, and they adjust into many positions to make even the most restless spirit comfortable.  The third row, though, is suitable for children and very short passengers only.

The third row folds to provide 41 cubic feet of cargo space, though, and the second row folds to provide another 42 for a total of 83 cubic feet if both the second and third rows are folded.

The LX 570 has one of the best suspensions this side of a Formula One race car.  It has an automatic electronic control that adjusts the firmness and height of the ride, and is almost magical in its ability to handle impossible terrain while keeping passengers from feeling much of it.  It has both great acceleration and abundant low-end torque for towing and sticky off-road situations.  This SUV is a great off-road SUV, but even a better one on pavement.

The verdict: we don’t know who is in the market for this kind of a vehicle, but it is highly recommended for those who are.

Lexus, for those who don’t already know, is Toyota’s luxury division.  For the most part, their vehicles are a step up from their Toyota relatives, with a few more features, more expensive materials, and a ride that detaches from the road more than similar models from the parent company.  When it comes to the SUV, though, the Lexus is actually a step down from the Land Cruiser.  This begs a question: is the GX 460 still good enough in its own right to stand alone as a great luxury product?

The Lexus GX 460 Premium is a midsize, truck-based SUV.  It is the higher of two trim levels, and it seats seven passengers.  It has a 4.6 liter, V8 engine that produces 321 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque.  It has 18-inch alloy wheels, 4-wheel drive, and a 6-speed automatic transmission.  It is rated at 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.

As the higher trim level, the GX 460 Premium is “loaded” with conveniences and features.  It has a heated, leather-wrapped, wood-trimmed, power tilt-telescope steering wheel, 8-way power-adjustable front seats, driver memory settings, power lumbar adjustment, leather upholstery, a sunroof, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated side mirrors, running boards, 2-zone climate control with rear controls, heated second row seats, power folding third row seats, and adaptive xenon headlights.  The sound system has 9 speakers, MP3, 6-CD changer, satellite radio, an audio jack, a USB/iPod port, and Bluetooth.

The GX 460 comes with a lot of extras in the safety department, too. Besides the obligatory side front airbags, side curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability control, and traction control, it also has driver and front passenger knee airbags, hill start assist, hill ascent control, and roll-sensing side-curtain airbags that go all the way to the back of the seating.  There is also a collision mitigation system.

There isn’t any testing available, but Lexus is another company whose standards are higher than those of the testing agencies.  Besides, it never hurts to be the biggest vehicle in a collision, and the GX 460 is big.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The interior is very nice, but not quite as luxurious as one would expect.  It is set up for ease of use, though, and there is plenty of headroom and legroom all around.  There is a decent amount of cargo space, too, though nothing special.

The GX 460 drives mostly like a truck.  The steering, while precise, definitely won’t remind anyone of a sport car.  You will definitely get body roll when cornering and pitch when slowing down or accelerating.  The ride, though, is almost a luxury car ride.  The adaptive variable suspension can be tweaked for  off-road use, towing, hauling, or family use.

As for the negatives, the second row seat could be more comfortable, and the gas mileage could be better.

The verdict: this SUV has a lot going for it, but it is overshadowed by its own parent company.

MSRP  $71,775

Ever wonder what it’s like on the “other side of life?”  Where price tags mean nothing, and you can just shop for a car based on features and whether or not you like it?  The Lexus LS 460L provides a glimpse into that lifestyle.  The 460L was named best car of the year by Consumer Reports.  It scored 99 out of 100 in their testing.  For comparison, the lowest-rated car received a score of 17.

The Lexus LS 460L is a large, luxury sedan. It has a 4.6 liter V8 that produces 380 horsepower.  It has 18-inch wheels and an 8-speed, automatic, rear-wheel drive transmission.  It is rated at 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.

The LS 460L has a power tilt-telescope steering wheel,  a power 16-way driver seat, a power 12-way front passenger seat,  2-zone climate control, keyless entry and ignition, cruise control, leather upholstery, wood trim, a rear view camera, a power door closer, power trunk lid, and numerous optional features.

The sound system is a 10-speaker stereo system with a 6-CD changer/MP3 player, satellite radio, audio jack, iPod interface, streaming connectivity, and bluetooth.

The Lexus hasn’t seen a safety feature it doesn’t like.  It has anti-lock brakes, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, driver knee airbags, stability control, traction control, active front head restraints, and an emergency telemetrics system.  You can even get a system that uses radar to detect when you are about to collide with something and helps mobilize your car’s brakes and steering for it.    Not surprisingly, the Lexus receives maximum safety scores.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The Lexus didn’t get its high ratings for no reason.  This is a great luxury car.  It might be the best luxury car available under $100,000.  It rides like butter.  It totally insulates you from the outside world.  It has enough features inside to keep you thoroughly entertained.

The seating is among the most comfortable of any car in the world.  It drives extremely well, too.  It has the luxury handling that you would expect, but with a few sporty handling tweaks.  It is one of those rare cars where the driver can feel the road, while the passengers feel nothing but smooth.

The engine has horsepower to spare, but you don’t really feel it.  It uses that power to accelerate quickly, but so smoothly that a passenger might not even notice it.  Most of all, you know you are in a Lexus when you close the door.  The look isn’t as modern as some would prefer, but there is an understated and powerful sense of luxury in the Lexus LS 460L.  And if you have trouble parking, you can even buy the Advanced Parking Guidance System that allows the car to park itself.

The negative feedback here is negligible; customers are extremely happy and any negative feedback is too nebulous to warrant inclusion.

The verdict: if you have $72,000 laying around, go for it.

MSRP  $375,000

“Hey.  Psst.  Over here.  You wanna buy a race car?  I can get you one for only $375,000.”

Yes, the price is $375,000, and it really is a race car.  It’s the Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package.  The Lexus LFA has won its class three consecutive times at the 24-hour race at Nurburgring, and has decided to celebrate it by making 50 cars out of a 500-car run available with the racing-tuned suspension and engine.  They are hand-making these cars, and they make only one a day.  The other 450 will be their “standard model.”

The LFA has a 4.8 liter, double overhead cam, 10-cylinder engine that produces 552 horsepower.  It has a manual, 6-speed transmission and 20 inch painted alloy wheels with extremely low profile tires (305/30R20).  There is no mileage figure, but mileage isn’t why you buy a race car.  The LFA gets from zero to sixty in 3.6 seconds and has a top speed of 202 mph.

The LFA is a two-seater, but it is really meant for the driver, and everything is focused toward the driver seat.  The instruments are racing-style instruments, like a tachometer, digital speedometer, and miscellaneous information that makes sense mostly to racers.  The tilt-telescope, leather steering wheel has transmission controls on it to save motion.

The leather-upholstered bucket seats are heated, and are also power adjustable, as are the locks, mirrors, and windows.  Somehow, they manage to fit in 12 speakers, AM/FM radio, and an auxiliary input.

The exterior is a typical racing car.  It has aerodynamic shaping and a rear spoiler to keep the car on the pavement.  There is also a fixed rear wing and side fins. To keep the total weight down, the LFA is made of CFRP, which is a short way to say “somewhere between fiberglass and really hard plastic.”

The safety features include anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls, driver knee airbags, and airbags incorporated into the shoulder belt.  There is also a navigation system that has a joystick control.

There are a couple of interesting extras with the LFA, but you will probably want to live in Europe to take advantage of them.  When you buy the Nurburgring Package, it includes instruction from the chief racing instructor of the Nurburgring track, and a one year pass for the Nordschleife circuit.

So, how does it drive?  The immediate answer is “like a race car,” but only 50 of them will drive like the cars that dominate Nurburgring.  The other 450 of them will just drive like a race car would before pit crews get ahold of them and make those “adjustments” we like to hear about on race telecasts.  There are two different packages, the regular one and the Nurburgring.  Each of those has three different setups.  They are all tweaks for various aspects of high performance.

The verdict: Hey.  Psst.  Over here.  You got 375,000 laying around?  Have I got a car for you.

MSRP:  $30,900

The 2011 Lexus CT 200h Premium is the upper of two trim levels, but costs less than $2,000 more than the lower, base trim.  It has a 1.8 liter, 4-cylinder conventional engine and two electric motors.  It has 17-inch wheels, front wheel drive, and a continuously variable transmission.

It is rated at 43 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.  As in many hybrids, much of the slower city driving is done by the electric motors,  thus allowing the 200h to actually get more gas mileage in the city than on the highway.

Though the 200h is inexpensive by Lexus standards, it still has plenty of features to remind you that it is a Lexus.  There is a sunroof, heated seats, vinyl upholstery, 2-zone climate control, a power 10-way adjustable driver seat, keyless entry, a tilt-telescope steering wheel, and cruise control.

The stereo system has 6 speakers with a CD player, satellite radio, an iPod input, a USB port, and an auxiliary audio jack, and it is wired for bluetooth.  There are plenty of upgrades available, too, such as a navigation system, an upgraded stereo, and leather upholstery.

The 200h has a few more than the usual safety features.  It has anti-lock brakes with brake assist, traction control, stability control, front side airbags, rear side airbags, side curtain airbags, and front knee airbags.  Lexus also provides Safety Connect, an emergency communication system similar to OnStar, which will locate your vehicle when stolen, and call for assistance in case of a collision or any other emergency.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

This is not your affluent father’s Lexus.  The cabin is given more of a sporty, futuristic look than the luxury look you may expect from a Lexus.  The exterior is the same.  And the price tag is definitely not what you would expect from Lexus.  All in all, if the mission is to expose a new demographic of drivers to Lexus, they have succeeded mightily here.

There are two driving modes from which to choose: the Eco and the Sport.  As you can easily deduce, the Eco mode gets the highest mileage, while the Sport mode gets the best performance.  It’s really a trade-off.  The Eco mode doesn’t give you very good acceleration, but you get better mileage.  If you want to drive the 200h like a sport car, the Sport mode gives you much better performance, but it costs you in gasoline.

Really, though, it’s almost like having two cars.  You can have the dependable car that putters around town, or you can have a sportier version.  There is something for everyone here.

As for negative feedback, there isn’t much that can’t be “fixed” by changing modes.  The only other negative is that there isn’t much storage space, but that is to be expected from a compact hatchback.

The verdict: the Lexus CT 200h succeeds on every level.  It is a great buy if you want a compact hybrid.

MSRP $43,935-$45,525

If you are looking for a luxury crossover hybrid SUV, Lexus has one for you: the 2011 RX 450h. It has a 3.5L V6 hybrid engine. If you get front wheel drive, it comes with two electric motors. The 4-wheel drive has three electric motors. The 4-wheel drive configuration puts out 295 horsepower. It has 18-inch alloy wheels to handle all of this power very smoothly.

This model has a stat that is unique to hybrids: it actually gets better mileage in the city (32 mpg) than it does on the highway (28 mpg). This is because the RX 450h runs on the electric engines at lower city speeds, saving fuel where it is usually wasted the most. The electric engines are powered by deceleration, capturing the power that would normally dissipate when the brakes are applied.

The 450h seats five; it has no third row. The base model has plenty of features, starting with cloth seating, a power telescoping steering column, 10-way power front seats, 2-zone climate control, and an 9-speaker stereo system. The stereo system has satellite radio, a 6-CD changer, and an audio input jack. The base 450h also has wood trim, and back seats that slide and recline.

If you would like to upgrade, you must purchase the Premium package, which includes among its options leather seats and a sunroof. From there, you can add the other packages.

The comfort package has heated front seats and a 12-speaker audio system. The Luxury package adds 19-inch alloy wheels and various luxury interior improvements. The Navigation package has a state of the art Lexus hard drive-based navigation system, real-time traffic, voice control, and even adds a few tweaks to bluetooth.

Besides the standard safety features that most modern cars and SUV’s have, such as anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, and airbags that cover the front and sides, the Lexus includes a few features that are a bit out of the ordinary. It has front knee airbags. It also has its own service similar to GM’s OnStar called Safety Connect, and a sensor system that helps the car brake and tightens the seatbelts if it is about to have an collision.

Also, its remote touch interface is easier to use than most other cars, and frees the driver to focus on the road while driving.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

Amazingly, it is almost impossible to find anyone who says anything bad about this vehicle. Feedback is that the ride is incredible. It is very smooth, steers like butter, and creates an environment around the driver that shuts out distractions.  The mileage is more like that of a small sedan than an SUV, and the 450h reeks of luxury.

The only negatives are the expense of the add-ons, and the fact that the engine can be a little noisy on the highway.

The verdict: if the Lexus RX 450h is in your price range, you cannot possibly go wrong when you buy it.

Advertised Asking Price – $32,645

MSRP – $33,006 (depending on installed options)

This Lexus IS 250 has just 45 miles on the speedometer. This 4 door sedan has a v6 engine and 6 speed manual gearbox and the car is a rear wheel drive. The engine is a straight gasoline unit and the city MPG is rated @ 18 MPG and the highway @26 MPG. As with all Lexus vehicles this one comes with a healthy list of installed options.

Power comes from a 2.5L V6, front bucket seats, leather trim, Monotone Paint, Lexus premium audio system,  17″ alloy wheels, low profile tires. The list goes on and this car is a real drivers car being a manual!

Contact the dealer today – Lexus of Serramonte, Phone: (877)200-4494 700 Serramonte Boulevard Coma, CA 94014