Almost every Lexus has its twin under the Toyota brand. It is quite freaky that these cars are very similar, but Lexus owners are proud of their cars and contemptuous of their Toyota alternatives.
Although, the roots of both these brands are from the same country — Japan. So, let’s pay a closer look at these two brands and find the differences between them.
Key Takeaways
- Lexus is a luxury division of Toyota, offering higher-end models with more advanced features, higher-quality materials, and a more refined driving experience than Toyota.
- Lexus cars come with higher price tags than their Toyota counterparts; Toyota cars tend to be more affordable and are known for their reliability and practicality.
- Lexus focuses on delivering a premium experience for customers, while Toyota aims to provide reliable, efficient vehicles accessible to a wider range of consumers.
Lexus vs Toyota
Lexus is a high-end vehicle brand by Toyota offering luxury vehicles with high standard technology and advanced features for best experiences. Toyota is a mainstream brand offering a wide range of normal vehicles ranging from budget friendly and expensive with high reliability and quality.

Similar Roots
Toyota is the largest Japanese automobile brand, producing world-famous cars of the same name. Lexus is a division of the Japanese concern Toyota that produces premium cars for a specific segment of the global market.
On the one hand, Lexus is the same as Toyota: this is a subsidiary of the brand and was created to promote Japanese cars in the North American market.
All Lexus cars have their prototypes with the Toyota nameplate. Sometimes, you can purchase a brand-new Toyota Prius or a used Lexus CT200h for the same price.
In such a case, we recommend checking the Lexus VIN history to ensure the car is in good condition.
However, brands have significant differences that characterize the features of the cars produced under these names.
Meaningful Differences
Lexus is an elite premium-class car. It differs from Toyota in superior comfort. Besides, it is fully equipped with the latest electronics and other useful stuffing.
The interior of Toyota is most made of inexpensive materials, while Lexus is exclusive with the use of natural wood and other expensive components. These cars are designed to emphasize the belonging of their owner to the elite, to make him stand out from the crowd.
Alternatively, Toyota is focused on the middle class of motorists. The target audience of the Lexus brand is prosperous, wealthy people.
The price of any Lexus model 2020 is much higher than a comparable Toyota car. For instance:
- Toyota Prius ($24,200) and Lexus CT200h ($41,750);
- Toyota Land Cruiser ($85,000) and Lexus GX460 ($91,000);
- Toyota Camry ($24,425) and Lexus ES350 ($39,900).
What Unites the Models of These Two Brands?
- Safety. The cars are equipped with airbags and safety systems that allow drivers and passengers not to get injured even during a serious accident.
- Comfortableness. Comfortable seats, climate control, and audio systems are only part of what the manufacturer equips its vehicles with.
- Aerodynamics. Regardless of the brand, the car has a streamlined body that minimizes airflow resistance.
- Elegance. The concerned designers carefully consider each car element, striving to make it more attractive for buyers.
Given that both brands are the same manufacturer, it is incorrect to say that some models have higher or lower quality. The Japanese are very sensitive to the quality of all their cars.
Therefore, regardless of the country of assembly, the buyer purchases vehicles of truly Japanese quality. Good luck!