Poll: Favorite Lexus of the 2000s
As we prepare for the new year, let’s take a moment to look back on the decade that was by voting on the top Lexus of the 2000s:
For me, this was a hard choice between the third generation LS & first generation GS hybrid, but after much deliberation, the GSh won out:
On its own, the GS would probably place second behind the LS 430, but the addition of the hybrid powertrain in 2007 made all the difference. The GSh’s ability to jump from smooth & quiet cruiser to back-road hooligan can not be overstated, and there’s no better example of hybrid technology. A hard decision for sure, but the GS 450h is my favorite Lexus of the last ten years.
How about you?
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Sorry for erasing the first 20 votes—technical difficulties. Please vote again if you can.
I agree, but of course I’m biased since I own a GS450h!
was between RX450h and LX. voted for LX
1st Gen IS, and IS Sport Cross are missing.
IS Sportcross gets my vote.
Cause they’re too old and too boring
The 2001 IS300 opened TONS of doors for Lexus and started to lead them into the direction that they finally needed to start to think about future generations. Though probably not the best car, I feel it’s the most important car of this decade.
@robb:
it actually debuted before this decade, so….
@Brendan: I did forget about the IS Sportcross, but the 1st gen IS debuted in 1999 so it missed the deadline.
I’m afraid to add any more options though, as the last time I messed with the poll it deleted all the votes.
The IS’s first model year was 2001; what’s the debut got to do with anything? Not a big deal, but surely a car that was manufactured for sale from 2001-2005 would be considered for a 2000-2009 poll.
We should be able to pick as many as we want, not just one
Way too many, i love the IS f, the LS hybrid, the current gen LX and the 2nd gen RX hybrid.
NO LFA?
The SC is an interesting car. I’ve always loved it, and while there are times when I began to become very annoyed with its quirkiness, I always found myself standing up for the SC in favor of its uniqueness. My preference between the pre-facelift and facelift was never final; despite the Corolla steering wheel, which is modeled after many other sports cars, I always loved the apparent acres of leather slathered around the cabin; Terminator 3; the interior doorhandles looked awkwardly attractive; the Lexus logos behind the front headrests were nicely included.
The SC is probably Lexus’ most reliable and dependable car, and it is the best example of the perfect blend of traditional Lexus principles and modern Lexus appeal… of the 2000s. aha
The second-row cupholders in my LX used to pop out all the times, but now, it’s jammed tight
I had to vote for the LS hybrid, mainly because of the way it has inspired an industry.
was hard, between my IS or ISF…i chose ISF
I’ve owned an IS300 since summer 2002…..that car alone truly has helped LEXUS become a player with the younger generation of customers that our parents introduced us to.
My vote goes to the IS300 as well and I’m shocked its not on the poll!!!
Sorry everyone, the reason the first gen IS was not included in the poll is because it was introduced in Europe in 1999 and I had a clear cut-off date of Y2K.
I would add it to the poll but I’m afraid of messing up the current results—rest assured, I’ll be using different poll software next time.
Pretty cool that every single model has received at least one vote!
perhaps, but it did not arrive in the US till summer 2000
I still have to agree that the IS300 started the rise of a true Lexus Sports Car (based on a Toyota Altezza) and definitely impacted the creation of the 2nd gen and its appeal to gen x/y and the tuner world
@krew: WHO VOTED FOR THE HS?! SOMEONE FROM LEXUS/TOYOTA?! And I think the 4th generation ES is pretty good - traditional ES formula; however, too bad it was plagued with involuntary steering, involuntary acceleration, and a few other problems plus one major recall ...oh and diesel knocking noises from the addition of direct-injection despite having much less power than the IS 350.
wait… maybe no multi-port injection; just indirect injection with diesel knocking noise included. WTH?!
i have to say, the IS is the most beautiful car Lexus makes right now. but i went for the ISF because it’s more pumped up.
@LFAaddict: I agree. I think the 2nd-generation IS is the only Lexus vehicle with a truely timeless design.
The IS300 was released in Europe as early as 1999? i didn’t know that. IS300 was in North America for the 2001 model year (I would’ve put IS300 on the poll since it went through model year 2005, half-way in between the 2000-2009 range).
Anyways, I considered IS300 but I loved the LS430 once I saw it, so I picked LS430. Although I probably will never buy one since they’re all used now. I love the new LS but not as much as LS430.
Someone here said the IS300 was boring…
Not sure if I’d call the old IS300 boring. If anything the RX should be considered boring.
No GS400 ?
The GS400 was the sport sedan that put lexus ahead of BMW and Merc with its 300hp V8. It outbalanced the competition and was cheaper and better built with more luxury and the car still looks great till this day.
its 1997
@Stan:
Sorry Stan got a little ahead of myself lol.
@Stan:
Also the GS400 was released in 1998 no 1997.
For me it’s the LX all the way. Go anywhere and get there in style.
@Lexusluver: I own an LX. I love it. I think it’s great! But Why didn’t I vote for it? It’s because I always feel like there’s something missing, and I’m not being picky. It was my money I spent!
@WorldofLuxury: you have a 570?
@Stan: ‘03 470. Pisses me off that the 570 is so much cheaper - sorta the good thing about a bad economy. aha
I drive a 2005 IS300 and would’ve voted for that. If Lexus offered me a brand new IS250 in a straight swap I’d refuse, the IS300 is far more enjoyable to drive, the IS250 loan car I’ve driven in the past is an amazingly comfortable drive but just doesn’t inspire thrills. (We don’t get the IS350 so I have no idea if that fixes the boring engine…)
Anyway, I voted IS-F, because it puts my boy racer fantasies and love of Lexus into a sexy package. Never seen one in the flesh and doubt I’ll ever get to drive one, though…
I just sat in one yesterday. For the first time. Beautiful white one. It was really nice and sporty inside..
I say the gen 4 (02-06) ES….only because i own one.
in reality, id say its the gen 2 GS…ive always loved those.
Was torn between the LS460 & current GS, but leaned toward the LS.
HS deservedly gets the fewest votes, the green bar doesn’t even appear for it
Worst Lexus of the 2000’s?
- HS250h.
I too agree that the Gen 2 IS is a timeless design, but for me the current GS has an elegance & purity of design that is more appealing than the smaller IS. The pre-facelift 2006 GS (which I own) is second only to the 1992 SC400 as the best looking Lexus (interior & exterior design) in my book.
Blah. I’m really starting to like the looks of the HS. It’s still far from perfect, but the in dark exterior colors, in particular, the car looks like pure luxury with a touch of aggressiveness and eco-boxiness. On the inside, the car doesn’t look that as gray and gloomy as the press pictures suggest. I like the leather on the gauge housing cover, and the seats actually look like it’s rich in sumptuous leather except the seat back cover. Dual tone interiors make the doors and seats look great, and I love the wood or dark, glossy accents surrounding the window switches - they look solid and like tier 1 luxury, match the appearance of the window switches very well, and make the LX doors look cheap and ugly.
The floating center console is alright, but the supporting thing that looks like the bow of a ship looks like the designers ran out of ideas. The transition of that “bow” to the lower part of the center console looks horrible, and the plastic ruins everything unless black/tan was the choice for the interior.
I think Lexus did a great job at making an entry-level luxury hybrid. However, the Remote Touch desperately needs a “Back” button.
I’ve owned an 2000 Toyota Altezza(Lexus is300). IS300 is far superior to almost all other sports sedans.
IS300 gets my vote
... And Climate & Audio buttons.
The 1000rwhp one we have here in aus would beg to differ
Actually to be pedantic it first appeared in 1998, but the IS300 was a couple of years later, and the US of A didn’t get the IS till 2001, but the AUDM got them in 1999, JDM in 1998 (technically the altezza but lets not get into that debate here!)
My favourite Lexus is split, the GS hybrid is the best I’ve driven when bench-tested against BMW, Mercedes and Audi on the track last year, felt slower due to smooth gear shift but was actually faster by 10% over nearest BMW rival.
My other favourite is the LFA, which I haven’t yet driven but did have the chance to sit as passenger in on the test track. This is a very different car to the range, yet still very Lexus. You cannot compare the performance to any of the general supercar brands, only a few come close to it, but the most defining item is the sound which I’ve never experienced with any other supercar yet…