2008 Lexus SC

Lexus, Toyota’s upscale sub-brand, is among the few luxury automakers that successfully merges technologically-advanced designs with consistently great reliability. Interiors are quiet and finished with finely-crafted materials. The engines are generally smooth and powerful. Many of its cars and SUVs are available with more fuel-efficient hybrid powertrains. Lexus continues to sell sedans, with its ES, IS, and top-shelf LS models. Most of its SUVs have done well in our testing, including the NX, RX, and TX. The brand’s first all-electric vehicle, the RZ, is a luxury version of the Toyota bZ4X EV. Lexus also sells two-door coupes and convertibles, the RC and LC. Multiple Lexus models have earned Consumer Reports’ recommendation for used cars.

While the configuration of the Lexus SC430 may lead you to believe it is intended to be a sports car, it isn't. A personal luxury car with a retractable hard top, the Lexus SC430 offers the attributes of a plush coupe with the potential for open-air cruising in one of the most sumptuous and refined interiors on the market. The SC430 is very well finished, with extremely soft carpets and supple leather seats. Motorized panels covering the navigation screen and radio create a nearly continuous sweep of nice-looking wood across the dash. The 4.3-liter V8 engine is smooth and refined, but the SC430 is not particularly quick. However, it does return decent overall fuel economy at 21 mpg on premium, and the six-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly.