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 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.
 |
| 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) |