Why These Are the Only Lexus Vehicles Worth Buying in 2026

Lexus offers a range of luxury vehicles, but in 2026, only a few truly stand out for value, performance, reliability, and resale strength. Based on expert reviews, owner satisfaction, and overall automotive quality, these specific Lexus models deliver what matters most to buyers comfort, dependability, and long-term worth. Here’s why these are the only Lexus vehicles worth considering this year.

Lexus RX 350

Man, the RX is like… that friend who’s always calm even when life’s on fire. You know? I got into one last month, it smelled like… old-school Lexus leather, that weird rich-uncle perfume smell. It’s around, what, fifty-something grand? Honestly yeah, it’s a bit much, but it feels solid. Like closing the door just goes thunk in a satisfying way. But sometimes I kinda hate how quiet it is… like “hello car, can you please make some noise so I know you’re alive?”

Lexus GX 550

Okay so the new GX is wild. It looks like it could drive through a house and come out clean on the other side. I saw one in this matte beige color and, not gonna lie, I just stood there staring like an idiot. I think it’s around $65k-ish but it looks like a six-figure truck. The weird thing is it still smells like old Toyota DNA inside, which is… good? bad? I don’t even know. It’s like when your fancy cousin still eats Maggi at 1 a.m. Big rugged energy though.

Lexus IS 500

This one’s my little guilty pleasure. A proper V8 in 2026 feels like someone smuggling fireworks into New Year’s. If you’ve got, I dunno, sixty grand sitting around (which I don’t), it’s worth a thought. I had one for a weekend—it burbles, it shakes, it drinks gas like an old biker, but it also makes you feel something. Most cars don’t anymore. Inside’s kinda tight though. You feel like you’re wearing the car rather than sitting in it.

Lexus NX 350h

Ah, the NX. The car your responsible cousin buys and then makes you feel bad about your gas bill. I mean it’s fine, like totally fine. Smooth, easy, comfy. Around fifty grand or so, maybe a bit under if you haggle. But I just can’t feel anything. It’s quiet, too quiet, like a yoga retreat in traffic. My mom would love it though—and that’s not an insult, that’s just… accurate.

Lexus LX 600

This thing is ridiculous. Giant boat energy. Like, who actually needs this much SUV? Then you drive it and go, “Oh… oh okay, that’s why.” Costs what, a hundred grand? Somewhere there. But it’s like sitting inside a fortress wrapped in leather and low-key arrogance. My friend called it “a couch with wheels,” which is fair. Gas mileage? Don’t even ask, it hurts.

Lexus ES 300h

Now the ES is funny, because every time I see one, I picture a retired pharmacist still wearing his 2009 sunglasses. It’s plush though, super easy on the nerves. Around $45k I think. You could drive it all day and your heartbeat wouldn’t move. But man, it’s kinda sleepy. Like it does everything right but doesn’t know how to have fun on weekends.

Lexus RZ 450e

I tried the RZ… the electric one. It’s good but also not? The steering thing feels weird, like playing a video game that thinks it’s real life. I swear I missed buttons—everything’s screens now. It’s about 58 grand or so, and yeah it’s electric, which is neat, but where’s the character? I miss gears. I miss that low rumble. It feels too digital, like it’s judging you silently.

Lexus LC 500

Ugh, this one. Absolutely stunning. Like it shouldn’t even exist. Every time I see one I forget how to breathe for a second. Eighty, ninety grand depending on the spec—and totally worth it. The sound, man. The sound makes you forget your problems. I once heard one downshift through a tunnel and it literally felt like I fell in love. But you gotta be a little crazy to own one. I respect that.

Lexus UX 250h

This one’s tiny. Like… almost cute? I sat in one and felt like I shouldn’t sneeze too hard or I’d hit the roof. Around $37k maybe. It’s fine for city folk, people who don’t care about engines or steering feedback (which is like half of humanity now). It’s comfy though, I’ll give it that, and super easy to park. Still… I’d skip it if you actually like driving.

Lexus TX 550h+

Oh man, the TX. Big, family, hybrid thing. About $70k give or take. It’s fancy but not pretentious, you know? I sat in the second-row captain’s chair and immediately thought, “yeah, I could nap here.” It feels built for long road trips where you just… zone out. Music on, windows down, kids half-asleep. The kind of car that smells like new leather and drive-thru fries after week two.