Lexus, which is the luxury sister company of Toyota, has as great of a reputation as Toyota does. Lexus, like Toyota, makes some of the most reliable cars on the market, but with a more luxurious feel. That said, if you’re shopping for a Lexus, it might be better to buy it used instead.

No automaker is perfect

While it’s true that Toyota and Lexus have great reputations when it comes to the safety and reliability of their cars, this isn’t necessarily set in stone. At the end of the day, human beings work in both companies, and human beings can and will make mistakes. This has happened to Toyota before, and it’s happened to Lexus, too.

Ultimately, this means that, just like with any other car brand, Lexus’ reputation may not be true for the car that you end up buying and driving. You can end up with a lemon, or you may not. This is why, for the money conscious shopper, it’s generally better to buy a used car than a brand-new car. 

Not only are used cars usually cheaper, but they’re also generally proven to be reliable. This means that a solid used car will take the guesswork out of car shopping, as you’ll have a pretty good idea about the car’s reliability before you set foot into the vehicle.

Unsurprisingly, this logic applies to Lexus’ cars, and it’s also why used Lexus’ are very good options for shoppers. 

The best used Lexus sedans

Consumer Reports created a list of the best used cars for under $20,000, and Lexus was one of the few luxury brands that had multiple entries on that list. In terms of sedans, Consumer Reports recommended three different Lexus cars, each from different model years.

The first used Lexus that Consumer Reports recommended was the 2011 LS. It’s a bit old, but given that it’s a luxury car, it actually had some sophisticated features for its time, such as an optional radar-based cruise control system. This model year of the LS starts at about $14,000, while a brand-new LS starts at $75,000. 

The second used Lexus on the list was the 2013 GS. Consumer Reports said that, for this model year, Lexus redesigned the GS which made it “a true sports sedan.” On top of being sporty, it also had the typically luxurious interior that customers expect from a Lexus. A used GS from this model year starts at about $15,000, while a brand-new one starts at $51,000.

The third great used Lexus was the 2015 ES. This is the less luxurious sedan, but compared to a Camry or a Corolla, it’s a very luxurious car. Compared to the GS or the LS, the 2015 ES didn’t come with too many features. But, a used 2015 ES only costs $17,000, which is far less than a brand-new ES’ price tag of $40,000.

The great used Lexus SUV

Lexus had one more car on Consumer Reports’ list, and that was the 2013 RX, which was the only luxury midsize SUV on the list. The RX from this model year wasn’t very spectacular, and Consumer Reports even called its infotainment system “convoluted.”

That said, the 2013 RX made up for it by being a very comfortable SUV to drive around in. Consumer Reports said that it had a “well-finished” interior that had spacious and comfortable seating for its passengers. Furthermore, Consumer Reports praised its ride comfort as well as its noise levels.

Plus, at a price tag that starts at about $16,000, a used 2013 RX is significantly more affordable than a brand-new one, which costs about $44,000.