Six Lexus cars that changed the game for the luxury brand

When it comes to Japanese luxury brands, Lexus has crafted a legacy that’s hard to ignore.

The Toyota-owned prestige car-maker has developed and engineered several very special vehicles over the years, the Lexus LFA V10 supercar chief among them.

But the brand's strike rate is far from perfect, having churned out a few munters in its time.

2025 marks 35 years since the first Lexus went on sale in Australia and from pioneering hybrids to delivering a spine-tingling V10 symphony, these six Lexus models highlight the highs, lows, and transformative milestones of this Japanese luxury brand.

The car that started it all. The Lexus LS 400 didn’t just launch Lexus, it showed just what the Japanese were capable of achieving in the luxury car genre.

With a whisper-quiet cabin, mellifluous V8 engine and a host of high-tech features (for its time), this sedan forced German competitors to take notice. Its affordability – compared to its European rivals – was a cherry on top, making it a global game-changer in luxury.

Nothing says 'Lexus can do more than just luxury' like the LFA.

This limited-production supercar scythed onto the scene with a 4.8-litre V10 engine that revs so fast, analogue gauges couldn’t keep up – and so a special digital instrument cluster was developed.

A masterpiece in engineering, the incredible supercar punched out a jaw-dropping 412kW and 480Nm from its naturally-aspirated 10-cylinder engine – and the F1 scream that accompanied it was spine-tingling.

Boasting carbon fiber construction, the hand-built vehicle became an instant icon and its initial price of $700,000 might've sounded a bit lofty, pristine versions of the car have doubled in price.

With only 500 units ever produced, the LFA remains one of the most coveted cars in Lexus history.

The RZ 450e marks Lexus’ foray into an electric future. As their first dedicated EV (the UX 300e was based on a combustion engine SUV), it showcases sleek design cues and a glimpse of what’s to come.

While its range and features may be modest and it is a largely forgettable EV in a market brimming with innovation, it’s a bold step into electrification for a brand weened on hybrids.

Good things come in small packages? If this vehicle is any guide, they really do! The 2025 Lexus LBX Morizo RR is not only Lexus' first subcompact hatch, it's also the brand's first tyre-shredding hot hatch.

The turbocharged pocket rocket is unlike anything the brand has released before and its connection to Akio Toyoda, aka “Morizo,” Lexus’ petrol-head CEO, adds a personal touch to this unique creation.

With a manual transmission option, all-wheel drive and a health 206kW/390Nm, it’s a thrilling addition to the Lexus line-up that broadens its high-performance and younger-customer appeal in one fell swoop.

As the brand’s first petrol-electric hybrid SUV, the RX 400h proved hybrids could be powerful, luxurious, and practical. First released in the mid-2000s, it laid the foundation for the brand's dominance of hybrid SUVs and showcased Lexus’ leadership in eco-conscious innovation – something the Germans took much longer to adopt.

Not every Lexus can be a winner, and this one is a dud at best and a stinker at worst.

Dubbed the 'worst car ever' by Top Gear's most famous hosts, Jeremy Clarkson and James May, the SC 430 is a lesson in mis-steps.

With its odd styling and less-than-stellar performance – especially in a dynamics sense – it’s a reminder that even the best brands have off days.

It could be argued that its existence contributed to the evolution of Lexus design and engineering philosophies but ultimately it's just a poorly conceived product.

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