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2010 Lexus ES 350 Review

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Michel Deslauriers
Smooth as silk
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)
Michel Deslauriers
Michel Deslauriers
Automotive expert
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