Lexus leads in quality, customer service, tradition, luxury.

Lexus is currently follower in setting new trends in design (but they weren't a follower in design in 90s and early 00s. Lexus designs were beautiful and way ahead of BMW/Audi/MB in terms of design. Then they got too comfortable until they were removed from the #1 sales rank.

Still love this brand though.

 

I had to vote follower because I address this question from a certain angle. In the past, as many have pointed out, Lexus has lead the way and continues to do so. For me at the top of the list is customer service, which I had the pleasure of experiencing today. I went by to show my buddy (master tech/product specialist) our new Ford Explorer Sport (after all, he is the one who told me that Ford was no longer a joke), to set up a door ding appt and to get my PermaPlate products refreshed. Yes, I am fortunate because I have come to know many of the people that work there. Anyways, I was instantly greeted in the service bay by 2 different people, offered water right away, and was ready to leave in 5 minutes. The parts lady even asked if I brought my daughter. The finance lady walked out to hand me my PermaPlate box since my daughter was in the car on a hot day. This stuff leaves a lasting impression. Anyhow, back to the poll question.

Follower, because of the fact that they are merely now expanding/changing the model line up, trims, engine choices, and the F/F sport. As it is, for every Lexus model, the German competitors (BMW, Mercedes, Audi) have a direct comparator, and more options beneath or above said Lexus model. Lexus cannot yet say the same. But those limitations, as some would say, have not seemed to hurt Lexus. Their timing is perfect, the world is waiting. When I go to the 3 German company websites, I see all sorts of models, too numerous in my opinion. Then I also see their respective performance lines. While I am infatuated with the F/F sport line, I am quite aware that it is following in the footsteps (currently) of the 3 brands above (M, AMG, S). But once the R/D gets in full swing, I am sure LExus will be leading this race.

 

The MB design is simple, elegant, taut & sleek. I am looking forward to Lexus doing something like this





This is the most brutal punch by Motor Trend though....comparing the ES350 against a Buick and a Hyundai
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/.../photo_01.html

 

There is nothing Elegant in E class at all... it has weird lines and proportions... with new facelift it looks like someone joined two different cars together.


Now their actually new cars are excellent and fluid... like S class and C class (fully optioned), but E class is definetly not fluid...

 

Agreed. In fact I find the E Class interior to be rather offensive both in design and quality

 

A couple of years ago Car & Driver did a comparo with the ES350, Genesis (no Azera yet) and Lacrosse. The ES350 came in 2nd behind the Genesis followed by Lacrosse and Taurus.

 

The E-class is just unacceptable. It's honestly one of the worst proportioned vehicle I see on the road.

 

In regards to reliability, Lexus leads in a class by itself:

 

Those lines had me laughing quite loudly!

 

The detailing in the bodywork of even a Lexus ES blows away the E-class.

 

yet somehow, perhaps because most euro luxury cars are diesels, emphasis seems to have switched from handling and 'aggressiveness' to refinement and technology. lexus has been taken on at their original game, as they decided to take on the german brands (esp. bmw) at their game! a bmw 5 series or mb e class these days is darned near silent when on the move... something the stressed up and comer appreciates lexus chose to ADD noise to the cabin in the GS under acceleration.

tradition? mercedes benz is over 100 years old.

agree with all that

uh, what about a porsche macan?

rc looks very promising.

not really surprising - 3 fwd more 'premium' vehicles than full on luxury. lexus obviously cut corners on the ES and the review says the ES is louder than gens past, and i see, sadly, it came in last in the comparo. having said that, of those 3 i'd rather have the ES!

but look how close in specs they are:

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...son/specs.html

 

i went with "both" on the poll... Some great posts BTW... leader in the early years and follower in the later years.... But in all honesty i think other brands are following Lexus in design and technology so they can "play catch Up".. The Equus and Genesis for example since everyone compares the two IMO followed Lexus... They wanted a winning design in both aesthetics and technology and Lexus had already achieved that...

 

Well, I am not blind. I like it better than the ES bloated style.

 

to each his own. I am loving the simplicity in design of the new MB offerings, and the way they drive.

 

Design comments aside, I'm quite surprised at your quality comments. Reviewers have universally praised the quality of the E-class interior.