1997 - 2001 Lexus ES 300 Pre-Owned Review

Under the skin the ES 300 was, and still is an upgraded Toyota Camry. But that's not a bad thing, of course, as the

The '97 through '01 Lexus shares the same smooth running 3.0-liter V6 its venerable Toyota Camry cousin. (Photo: Lexus)

venerable midsize sedan is regularly at the top of the sales charts year after year, due mostly to its refinement and dependability. The '97 through '01 Lexus shares the same smooth running 3.0-liter V6 its Toyota cousin, improved from 188 horsepower in the old 1996 model to 200 in the improved version, while maintaining a respectable fuel economy rating of 12.4 L/100 km (19 mpg) in the city and 9.0 L/100 km (26 mpg) on the highway.

Lexus upped the ante again in 1999 to 210 horsepower, plus modified the 4-speed automatic transmission's gear ratios while adding shift logic for improved performance. While just over 8 seconds from standstill to 100 km/h at its 1997 inception, the ES 300 could attain the same velocity in the mid 7-second

While just over 8 seconds from standstill to 100 km/h at its 1997 inception, the ES 300 could attain the same velocity in the mid 7-second range after its engine upgrade. (Photo: Lexus)

range after its engine upgrade, which is quite respectable even among today's 6-cylinder luxury sedans. What's more, the upgraded engine experienced no negative effects in fuel consumption.

Lexus chose not to update the suspension throughout the model's lifespan, other than minor adjustments to improve ride quality and handling. Side to side transitions will bring attention to the car's soft ride bias, although it shows nothing to be embarrassed about when the four-lane narrows to two and starts to wind. In its first year, the ES managed 0.81 Gs on the 300-foot skidpad, which is quite respectable.