Top 10 Lexus Sedans of All-time

Lexus has been around now for over 35 years and during that time, the manufacturer has produced some truly exceptional sedans. Back when people actually still bought four-door cars, Lexus offered some of the most luxurious, sportiest, or just all-around good cars of their time. Below we have gathered a list of our ten favorite Lexus sedans to have ever been produced.

By Mike Schlee

(10) 1993 Lexus ES 300

Did you know the ES once came with a manual transmission? Yup, that ES, the car with a reputation for being a favorite amongst a demographic of a certain advanced age. But, when the ES first launched, things were different. The front-wheel drive, V6 powered sedan could be had with a five-speed manual transmission. The early second generation cars with the larger 3.0-liter V6 engines were the best.

(9) 2007 Lexus IS 350

The second generation Lexus IS had a lot to live up to. The first generation proved Lexus could make a fun compact sport sedan, so how was the successor going to fare? Well, it wasn't quite the success of the first car, but with a V6 engine making over 300 hp powering the rear-wheels, the new IS 350 was every bit the performer of its key rivals.

(8) 1998 Lexus LS 400

The 1998 face-lifted LS is on this list for one reason only - looks. It was a great car in its own-right, but it hadn't really altered much since the game-changing 1990 model. What we really like on the 1998 model was the perfection of the conservative, mature, presence-filled styling. It was the Japanese-Mercedes-Benz of the era without a doubt.

(7) 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance

It is a formula Lexus had used before and we can never argue with the premise. Take the brand's smallest sedan and install the largest engine available. It's a technique that spawned the entire American muscle car era and with modern Japanese luxury sedans, it still works. Not the best V8-powered Lexus sedan ever created, but in the modern era, getting a naturally aspirated V8 in anything is quite difficult so kudos to Lexus for the IS 500.

(6) 2016 Lexus GS F

The Lexus GS had come with V8 options for quite some time, but never a full-out performance version to battle the Mercedes-Benz E-Class AMG or BMW M5. For the 2016 model year that changed with the introduction of the GS F. With a 5.0-liter V8 making 467 hp, the GS F came with all the right goods like Brembo brakes, torque-vectoring, and a LSD in the rear-end.

(5) 2008 Lexus LS 600h L

For the 2008 model year, Lexus decided it was time to take on the super premium full-size luxury sedans. The brand's weapon of choice was the LS 600h L. Since Lexus lacked a V12 engine in North America, the manufacturer went with what the brand knows; hybrids. Using the 5.0-liter V8 prominently featured in this list, the extended length sedan added electrification to make a total of 439 hp which may have still fallen short of some competitors, but the fuel-economy was unmatched.

(4) 2008 Lexus IS F

Much like the GS F, the IS F was created to take on BMW's M cars and Mercedes-Benz's AMG models. With widebody sheet metal and a unique offset stacked exhaust tip layout, the IS F was easy to distinguish from regular IS models. With a 416 hp 5.0-liter V8 engine, the IS F had all the other go-fast bits like Brembo brakes, sport-tuned suspension, limited-slip differential, and more.

(3) 1998 Lexus GS 400

The original V8-powered Lexus GS model, the 1998 version is an icon. With unique styling, it was instantly recognizable on the road and the 4.0-liter V8 engine made smooth power with a nice soundtrack. Maybe we're bias, but Japanese car fans of the 1990s, or anyone who played the Gran Turismo 2, will get the appeal of this car.

(2) 2001 Lexus IS 300

While on the topic of originals, the 2001 Lexus IS 300 showed that the brand could make more than just ultra-posh cruisers. The IS was every bit as engaging to drive as its German rivals and set an entire design trend with those taillights. Oh, and that 3.0-liter inline-six was smooth, rev-happy, and sounded great.

(1) 1990 Lexus LS 400

There's no arguing what number 1 on this list is. The original Lexus LS put the brand on the map. More importantly it redefined what a large luxury sedan is, while holding a value edge against competitors, and had unmatched reliability.

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