Lexus

When Toyota launched a luxury brand most of us had a quiet laugh. Any Italian – and quite a few Brits, eh Jaguar? – will tell you it takes more than just building superbly engineered, class-beatingly refined, smoothly powered, ergonomically perfect… hang on a minute. This is going to work, isn’t it?

  • Lexus CT200h

    CT 200h

    £22,740 - £29,890

    A hybrid alternative to the Audi A3, the Lexus offers pure electric running. Shame that chassis is spine-crackingly hard. And not that involving.

  • Lexus GS

    GS

    £32,995 - £50,995

    The new Lexus GS is a standout car and now closer than ever to the class leaders - making the lack of a diesel absolutely puzzling.

  • Lexus IS250

    IS 250/220d

    £23,995 - £44,605

    The genius of this 3-Series rival is the use of rear-wheel drive. It's not only a proper BMW-botherer, it's got a chassis that makes a Mondeo feel like a Suzuki Jimny.

  • Lexus IS-F

    IS F

    The words 'mad' and 'Lexus' usually sit together as comfortably as 'Kilroy-Silk' and 'tolerant world view'. The IS-F changes all that.

  • Lexus LS 460

    LS 460

    £60,419 - £76,333

    True class speaks for itself, but this is a limo that's lost its voice. You can't arrive at the premiere and have to explain to the crowd why it is actually a very good car.

  • Lexus LS600h

    LS 600h

    £89,265 - £98,715

    Five-litre V8, four-wheel-drive, 155mph, huge. Easy target. Hang on, though, it’s a hybrid. With an electric motor. Both black AND white? How to baffle the Daily Mail.

  • Lexus RX

    RX

    £33,409 - £43,794

    You're more likely to take your washing machine for a walk in the park than drive this SUV across a muddy field. So what? Both machines do what they do very well.

  • Lexus RX450h

    RX 450h

    £43,665 - £60,190

    You can argue over just how meritorious a hybrid urban SUV actually is, but the RX450h is more about how damn expensive the car is in the first place