What is a luxury car to you? You might immediately think that luxury is what BMW or Mercedes-Benz sells, which is good. But sometimes, luxury doesn’t always have to be married with sportiness. There are some people out there who want a quality-crafted car without a sport suspension or scalpel-like steering, and they’re not all retired.

The ES 350 is a good example of luxury without sportiness. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)

That’s what Lexus sells. They offer well-crafted vehicles with luxurious cockpits, high levels of creature comforts and comfortable rides. The ES 350 is a good example of luxury without sportiness.

It starts out with a nicely finished interior, complete with genuine wood trim as well as quality rubbers and plastics. The front seats have soft leather coverings but offer a supportive firmness. The optional seat ventilation also keeps you cool without giving you goose bumps, and after a three-hour drive, I climbed out of the car without any soreness and stiffness, ready for action.

The supple suspension is also quite pleasant over long-distance cruising. It has just the right amount of compliance, and it isn’t floaty like an old Buick or marshmellowy like an old Hyundai. You barely feel bumps and cracks, but you don’t get nausea either. It’s just right. And at triple-digit speeds, the car never feels strained; you feel as though you’re driving much more slowly than you really are.

The low roofline cuts into headroom, though; I had to recline the seatback a little more than I normally prefer. The centre stack gets good marks for its easy-to-use controls, more intuitive than in Acura or Audi products. The back seat is very comfortable for two adults, less so for three because of the sculpted cushion, firm fold-down armrest and lack of headroom.

Power comes from a 24-valve, 3.5-litre V6 that develops 272 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque. It’s the same engine as in various Toyota and Lexus models, so why does it require premium unleaded, when Toyotas with the same V6 can run on regular?

A nicely-finished interior, complete with genuine wood trim as well as quality rubbers and plastics. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)

Anyway, 0 to 100 km/h takes 7.1 seconds, which is plenty fast. With so much power through the front wheels, you’d expect major torque steer, but it’s not the case; yes, the steering wheel does tug a little at wide-open throttle launches, but it’s well under control by the traction control system.

The supple suspension is quite pleasant over long-distance cruising. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)

The 6-speed automatic manages gear changes so smoothly that, unless you’re really paying attention, you won’t notice them. In the ES 350, you get no violent reactions, no harshness, just a buttery-smooth power delivery.

Fuel consumption is worth talking about. We’re averaging 8.4 L/100 km, although we mostly racked up highway mileage. Still, that’s very good for a big V6 engine in a 3,600-lb sedan.

The major problem with the ES is that it’s a little dull; it’s not engaging to drive, the steering isn’t sharp, and while you’re behind the wheel, it sings you a lullaby and rocks you to sleep. If you want an involving car, look elsewhere.

The car’s styling is also arguable. The ES’s sloping hoodline and high trunklid make it look streamlined and aerodynamic, some details have a generic look to them; the front grille seems taken off a Chinese imitation of a Lexus and not a Lexus itself. The ES also shares design cues with the Toyota Camry on which it’s based, which also diminishes its prestige factor.

Still, there is something that pleases me in the ES 350. Honestly, I don’t know if I’d grow tired of it after a few years of ownership, but during the course of the test, I felt relaxed; it’s a dipped-in-syrup sedan that calms you down, and in these hellish times of Twitter and iPads and turbocharged kids, the ES’s serenity is most welcome.

Base price for a Lexus ES 350 is $41,950, while our tester includes the Premium Package with Navigation, which adds—sit down, please—$7,200 on the invoice.

Power comes from a 24-valve, 3.5-litre V6 that develops 272 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)

Competition includes the $40,795 Buick LaCrosse CXS, the $39,450 Nissan Maxima as well as the all-wheel drive Volkswagen Passat CC V6 that costs $45,875.

Base price for a Lexus ES 350 is $41,950. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com)

The Lexus ES 350 is smooth as silk; it never encourages you to drive faster, it never offends and never displays any sort of character. For those who hate luxury cars with stiff suspensions and displays of aggressiveness, this Lexus is a soothing alternative.