With all of the different brands on the market today, it’s hard to keep each one categorized in your mind. After all, an Audi is just a “Volkswagen with leather,” right? And an Acura is just a “fancy Honda.” You would technically be correct on both of those accounts, although there’s much more to Acura and Audi than fancy leather seats. On that note, who owns Lexus?

Who owns Lexus?

To make the answer as simple as possible: Lexus is Toyota’s luxury line of cars and SUVs. The Lexus brand was started in 1989, just a few years after Acura got its start in the U.S. The product line was kicked off by the LS 400 and the EX 250, two nameplates that are still on the roster today.

Which models does Lexus currently produce?

The Lexus model lineup consists of cars and SUVs all named with two or three-letter designations. The lineup of cars consists of the IS, the ES, the GS, and the full-size, flagship LS sedan. The SUV lineup consists of the UX, NX, RX, GX, and the full-size LX. There are also a couple of performance coupe models named the RC and the LC. And for those looking for the best gas mileage, Lexus also makes hybrid versions of the UX, NX, RX, ES, and LC, with a forthcoming LS hybrid coming out next year.

Where are the models in the Lexus lineup manufactured?

Unlike Acura, where most of its cars are manufactured stateside, the cars and SUVs that Lexus builds are mostly built in Japan, primarily in the Chubu and Kyushu regions. In fact, the RX is manufactured in Kitakyushu, Japan, while the RX, NX, and UX are all manufactured in Miyawaka. The more mainstream LS, GS, IS, and GX is all manufactured in Tahara, Japan.

For the ES, LX, LC, and the legendary LF-A, you would have to go to Toyota City, but if you would rather stay stateside, then you can watch the ES being built in Georgetown, Kentucky. Fortunately, for any consumers that want their cars to stay true to their roots, most of the vehicles manufactured by Lexus come straight from Japan.

Are Lexus vehicles a lot more expensive to own than Toyotas?

According to Repair Pal, it costs around $551 per year for the average repair cost on a Lexus vehicle. On the other hand, it costs around $441 for the average Toyota, so owning a Lexus isn’t that much more expensive than owning a Toyota in general. However, the average entry cost is a different story. The Lexus lineup starts in the $39,000 range for the entry-level IS sedan and the prices can shoot up to well over $100,000 if you opt for the LS sedan, LX SUV, or the LC coupe.

However, the Toyota lineup starts below the $20,000 mark and can get up to around $100,000 if you choose a Land Cruiser. But if you really want a Lexus at Toyota prices, then we suggest checking out the used market as many of the popular Lexus models like the IS, ES, and even LS sedan can be found for Camry prices on a regular basis.