Toyota's upscale brand Lexus has been responsible for setting many benchmarks in the industry. By many measures, Lexus vehicles are supremely reliable and defect-free compared to their competition.

The flagship LS extends the availability of AWD from the range-topping hybrid LS600hL to the mainstream LS460 and LS460L models.

Next up for Lexus will be a new flagship performance car, and a new RX crossovier SUV.

• What's new for Lexus
• Lexus for 2009
• Read more on Lexus
• Official Site

Performance

For many, the way a car performs is a key criterion for which car to purchase. Our Velocity Index helps determine which vehicles are the best all-around performers taking in to consideration a balance of factors such as acceleration and handling.

For more information, view our new car performance guide.

What would we drive?

Based on our Velocity Index analysis, the 2009 Lexus IS (IS 250) seems to provide a good trade-off between price and vehicle performance.

Fuel Economy

Fuel economy has long been a key decision factor when buying a new vehicle. While the EPA estimates may accurately predict your mileage with a given vehicle, they are useful for broad comparisons of vehicles. Note that many trucks and large SUVS are too heavy to be required to specify their fuel economy.

For more information, view our new car fuel economy guide.

What's popular

Here are the five cars that draw the most attention from our readers.

• 2009 Lexus IS
• 2009 Lexus GX
• 2009 Lexus RX
• 2009 Lexus GS
• 2009 Lexus LS