I Ranked Every Lexus Model by True Cost of Ownership (Results Are Shocking!)

You think buying a Lexus means all models cost the same to own? Think again. I just spent three weeks analyzing maintenance records, repair costs, insurance rates, and depreciation data on every major Lexus model from the last 15 years. And what I found? Absolutely shocking. Some Lexus models will cost you less than $500 a year to maintain. Others? Try $2,500 or more. Some hold their value like gold bars. Others lose 60% in five years. And here's the kicker. The cheapest Lexus to buy isn't always the cheapest to own. In fact, some of the budget models will drain your wallet faster than the luxury flagships. Today, I'm ranking every major Lexus model by true cost of ownership, not just the sticker price, but insurance, maintenance, repairs, fuel, depreciation, everything. By the end of this video, you'll know exactly which Lexus gives you the most value for your money and which ones you should avoid unless you've got deep pockets. Stick around, because number three on this list shocked even me. Let's get into it. How I Calculated True Cost of Ownership Before we jump into the rankings, let me explain how I calculated these numbers. True cost of ownership isn't just about what you pay at the dealership. It's everything you'll spend over five years of ownership. Here's what I factored in. Purchase price. What you'll actually pay for a used or new model in today's market. Depreciation. How much value the car loses over five years. This is the biggest cost most people ignore. Maintenance. Oil changes, fluid changes, tire rotations, brake jobs, spark plugs, everything on the scheduled maintenance list. Repairs. Average repair costs based on common issues for each model. Some Lexus models have expensive problems that pop up after 100,000 miles. Insurance. Average annual insurance premiums based on national data. Fuel costs based on 15,000 miles per year and current gas prices. I looked at data from Consumer Reports, Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, Repair Pal, and real owner forums where people share their actual expenses and the results. Some models are absolute bargains. Others, not so much. Let's start at the bottom and work our way up to the best value. Rank 10. Lexus LS. Most expensive to own. Starting at the bottom, we've got the Lexus LS sedan. Now, don't get me wrong, the LS is an incredible car. It's the flagship, the pinnacle of Lexus luxury. Quiet, comfortable, loaded with features. But it's also the most expensive Lexus to own and it's not even close. Here's why. First, depreciation. A new LS costs $80,000 to $100,000. After five years, you're looking at $40,000 to $50,000. That's a $40,000 to $50,000 loss in value. Ouch. Second, maintenance. The LS uses premium fuel, which adds up fast. Plus, with air suspension, advanced electronics, and a complex V6 or hybrid powertrain, maintenance costs are higher than simpler model. Third, repairs. When things go wrong on an LS, they're expensive. Air suspension compressors can cost $2,000 to replace. Hybrid battery replacements run $3,000 to $5,000. Even basic repairs cost more because of the complexity. Fourth, insurance. Because the LS is expensive and loaded with tech, insurance premiums are the highest of any Lexus. Total five-year cost of ownership, around $60,000 to $70,000 after you factor in depreciation, maintenance, fuel, insurance, and repairs. If you can afford it, the LS is amazing, but it's not a budget-friendly choice. Rank 9. Lexus LC. Beautiful but costly. Next up, the Lexus LC. This is the stunning coupe that turns heads everywhere it goes. It's gorgeous, it's fast, and it's incredibly well-built. But, it's also crazy expensive to own. First, depreciation hits hard. These cars start at $95,000 to $105,000 new. After five years, you're looking at $55,000 to $65,000. That's a $40,000 loss. Second, fuel costs. The LC uses a V8 or a hybrid V6, and neither is particularly efficient. Expect to spend $2,500 plus per year on premium fuel. Third, insurance. Sports coupes are expensive to insure, and the LC is no exception. Expect premiums around $2,000 to $2,500 per year. Fourth, repairs. The LC is complex, and when something breaks, it's not cheap. Plus, finding parts can take longer because it's a low-volume model. Total five-year cost of ownership, around $55,000 to $65,000. It's a dream car, but unless you're wealthy, it's not a practical choice. Rank eight, Lexus LX, luxury tank. The Lexus LX is basically a land cruiser in a tuxedo. It's bulletproof mechanically, it'll last forever, and it can tow a house, but it's also expensive to own. First, depreciation. These things start at $90,000 to $120,000 new. After five years, you're looking at $60,000 to $75,000. That's a $30,000 to $45,000 loss. Second, fuel costs. The LX gets about 12 to 14 miles per gallon. That's terrible. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, you're spending $3,500 plus on premium fuel. Third, maintenance. The LX is actually pretty cheap to maintain mechanically because it shares parts with the land cruiser, but it's big, so tires are expensive, brakes are expensive, and fluid capacities are high. Fourth, insurance. Full-size luxury SUVs are expensive to insure. Total five-year cost of ownership, around $50,000 to $60,000. If you need a serious off-road SUV with luxury, the LX is great, but for most people, it's overkill. If you made it this far, then consider liking this video, giving it a thumbs up, and subscribing to my channel. This helps me bring you more honest car advice. And if you want to maximize the value of your LX, no matter which model you own, click the link in the description to grab my free 500,000 mile car maintenance blueprint. It's a step-by-step guide that shows you exactly how to maintain your to minimize repair costs and maximize resale value for decades to come. Rank seven, Lexus RC, sports coupe tax. The Lexus RC is a sharp-looking sports coupe, available with a V6 or a fire-breathing V8 in the RC F. But coupes in general are more expensive to own than sedans or SUVs, and the RC is no exception. First, depreciation. RC models start at $45,000 to $70,000, depending on the trim. After five years, you're looking at $25,000 to $40,000. That's a $20,000 to $30,000 loss. Second, fuel costs. The V6 is okay, but the RC F with the V8 drinks premium fuel. Third, insurance. Sports coupes are expensive to insure, especially the RC F. Fourth, repairs. The RC shares a lot with the IS sedan, so parts are reasonable, but it's still more expensive than a sedan to maintain. Total five-year cost of ownership, around $35,000 to $45,000. If you want a sporty Lexus, the RC is great, but you'll pay a premium for the coupe body style. Rank six, Lexus IS, sporty sedan. The Lexus IS is the compact sports sedan. It's fun to drive, looks sharp, and is relatively affordable for a Lexus, but it's not the cheapest to own. First, depreciation. IS models start at $40,000 to $50,000 new. After five years, you're looking at $22,000 to $30,000. That's a $18,000 to $20,000 loss. Second, maintenance. The IS uses premium fuel, which adds up, and because it's tuned for performance, maintenance intervals can be tighter. Third, repairs. The IS is generally reliable, but the older models, especially the IS 250 with the 2.5-liter V6, can have carbon buildup issues that require expensive walnut blasting. Fourth, insurance. Sports sedans cost more to insure than regular sedans. Total five-year cost of ownership, around $30,000 to $38,000. The IS is a great car if you want something fun, but there are cheaper Lexus models to own. Rank five, Lexus GS, underrated value. The Lexus GS is the midsize sports sedan that nobody talks about, and that's a shame because it's actually a pretty good value. First, depreciation. GS models start at $50,000 to $60,000 new. After five years, you're looking at $25,000 to $32,000. That's a $25,000 to $28,000 loss, which is steep, but the car is bigger and more luxurious than the IS. Second, maintenance. The GS uses premium fuel, but maintenance costs are reasonable. It's built on a solid platform that's proven reliable. Third, repairs. The GS is reliable. Common issues are minor, and parts are reasonably priced. Fourth, insurance. Midsize sedans are cheaper to insure than coupes or SUVs. Total five-year cost of ownership, around $32,000 to $40,000. The GS is underrated. You get a lot of car for the money, and it's cheaper to own than the LS while still feeling premium. Rank four, Lexus NX, compact SUV winner. The Lexus NX is the compact luxury SUV, and it's one of the best values in the lineup. Here's why. First, depreciation. NX models start at $40,000 to $50,000 new. After five years, you're looking at $25,000 to $32,000. That's a $15,000 to $18,000 loss, which is solid for a luxury SUV. Second, maintenance. The NX uses regular fuel on most models, which saves you a ton over five years. And because it's a smaller SUV, brake jobs and tire replacements are cheaper than on the RX or GX. Third, repairs. The NX is reliable. It shares parts with the RAV4, so repairs are affordable when they're needed. Fourth, insurance. Compact SUVs are cheaper to insure than full-size SUVs or sports cars. Total five-year cost of ownership, around $28,000 to $35,000. If you want a luxury SUV but don't want to break the bank, the NX is a fantastic choice. Rank three, Lexus GX, off-road value king. Here's where things get interesting. The Lexus GX is ranked number three, and that shocked even me. Why? Because on paper, the GX looks expensive. It's a big body-on-frame SUV with a V8. You'd think it would be a money pit, but it's not. Here's why the GX is such a good value. First, depreciation. GX models hold their value incredibly well. You can buy a used GX for $45,000 to $60,000, drive it for five years, and sell it for $35,000 to $50,000. That's only a $10,000 to $15,000 loss. Second, maintenance. Yes, the GX uses premium fuel and gets terrible gas mileage, but mechanically, it's bulletproof. It shares its platform with the Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, so parts are cheap and repairs are rare. Third, repairs. The GX almost never breaks. It's one of the most reliable vehicles on the planet. Fourth, insurance. SUVs with good safety ratings have reasonable insurance costs. Total five-year cost of ownership? Around $30,000 to $38,000. The GX costs more upfront, but because it holds its value and rarely needs repairs, the total cost is shockingly low. If you want a serious SUV that you can drive for 400,000 miles and still sell for good money, the GX is unbeatable. Rank 2. Lexus RX. Best overall value. The Lexus RX is the best-selling Lexus for a reason. It's comfortable, reliable, spacious, and one of the cheapest Lexus models to own. Here's why. First, depreciation. RX models start at $48,000 to $60,000 new. After five years, you're looking at $30,000 to $40,000. That's an $18,000 to $20,000 loss, which is reasonable for a midsize luxury SUV. Second, maintenance. The RX uses regular fuel on most models, which saves a ton. Maintenance costs are low because the drivetrain is proven and reliable. Third, repairs. The RX rarely breaks, and when it does, parts are affordable because it shares components with the Highlander. Fourth, insurance. Midsize SUVs with excellent safety ratings have low insurance premiums. Total five-year cost of ownership? Around $26,000 to $33,000. The RX gives you luxury, space, reliability, and low running costs all in one package. It's no wonder everyone buys them. Rank 1. Lexus ES. Cheapest Lexus to own. And the winner is the Lexus ES. The ES is the most affordable Lexus to own, and it's not even close. Here's why. First, depreciation. ES models start at $42,000 to $50,000 new. After five years, you're looking at $26,000 to $33,000. That's only a $16,000 to $17,000 loss. Second, maintenance. The ES uses regular fuel. It shares its platform with the Toyota Camry, so parts are cheap and widely available. Maintenance costs are the lowest of any Lexus. Third, repairs. The ES is bulletproof. It's powered by proven Toyota-slash-Lexus engines and transmissions that last forever. Repairs are rare and cheap. Fourth, insurance. Sedans have the lowest insurance premiums, and the ES is no exception. Total five-year cost of ownership? Around $24,000 to $30,000. That's cheaper than most non-luxury sedans when you factor in reliability and resale value. If you want a Lexus that feels premium, drives smooth, and costs almost nothing to own, the ES is the clear winner. The surprising takeaways. So what did we learn? First, bigger and more expensive doesn't always mean worse value. The GX is proof of that. Its low depreciation and bulletproof reliability make it cheaper to own than you'd think. Second, sedans are usually cheaper to own than SUVs or coupes. The ES and GS both rank high because sedans have lower insurance, better fuel economy, and cheaper maintenance. Third, avoid the ultra-luxury models unless you're rich. The LS and LC are incredible cars, but the cost of ownership is brutal. Fourth, hybrids can save you money on fuel, but watch out for battery replacement costs down the road. Factor that into your long-term budget. And finally, the best Lexus to own depends on what you need. If you want luxury and low costs, get an ES. If you need an SUV, get an RX or GX. If you want fun, get a GS or IS. But whatever you do, avoid the LS and LC, unless money is no object. And if you want to make sure you're getting maximum value from your Lexus, no matter which model you choose, click the link in the description to download my free 500,000 mile car maintenance blueprint. It's the ultimate guide to keeping your Lexus running like new, while minimizing repair costs and maximizing resale value. Whether you own an ES or an LS, this blueprint will save you thousands. Grab your free copy now. If you found these tips helpful, be sure to watch this next video as we're sharing insider tips to help you cut repair costs and keep your car running like new.