![]() |
All photos courtesy of Lexus USA. |
By Ben Aghajanian, UpShift
Contributing Editor
The Lexus brand was officially launched
at the 1989 Detroit Auto Show, with the world premier of the LS 400,
a full-size luxury sedan designed to go head-to-head with the
Germans. The ES 250, a smaller, front-wheel-drive, near-luxury sedan
based on the Camry, was launched alongside the LS 400.
Over the
years, the ES remained on the Camry wheelbase, until the 2013 model
year, when it was moved to the Avalon's. Along with the RX crossover
SUV, the ES has traditionally been one of Lexus' top sellers, as one
of the brand's most affordable models.
As I wrote several months ago, Lexus
has been trying to shed a degree of their “predictable luxury”
image. The F Sport and F Performance line are the results of those
efforts, and with models like the IS 350 F Sport, tested here,
I would argue they've done quite well. Where does the ES fit in?
The ES 350 is absolutely your father's
Lexus. Moving to the longer wheelbase Avalon as a base has helped the
ES' mission of carrying 4 or 5 passengers in comfort, providing a
larger back seat.
*Since the ES was traditionally based
on the Camry, and I have only sat in, and not tested an Avalon, I
will draw a number of comparisons to the Camry I drove.
One of the things about the Camry that
disappointed me was the general quality of the interior materials and
the seats. It was a nearly 36K car that felt less than that. Our ES
350 tester stickered for 42K, and felt every bit worth the premium.
Of course, there will be some differentiation in material quality and
choices from Toyota to Lexus, but this gap feels wider than it has
been in the past, where older Camrys felt better in comparison.
The ES 350 is powered by Toyota/Lexus'
volume V6, a 3.5L unit with dual overhead cams and VVT, but no direct
injection. With 268hp and 248lb-ft of torque, it's coupled to a
6-speed automatic, with a manual gate and three drive modes, Eco,
Normal, and Sport. Sport raises the shift points without being
crass—you can continue to drive the car sedately in Sport mode
without hanging onto the lower gears.
Again, this fits well with the
mission of the car—smooth and comfortable. However, should you
choose to hustle the Lexus, it has plenty of power for highway
merging and passing, and the automatic shifts well. It's the sort of
car you wouldn't mind hopping in for a 9 hour drive. Wind noise is
distant.
As I alluded to above, material quality
in the ES is impressive. The leather seats, both heated and cooled,
are soft yet reasonably supportive. The door trim is finished with
soft leather, as is the steering wheel. Fit and finish is quite good.
Controls are immediately familiar to a Toyota driver, although the ES
features the same haptic-mouse for the infotainment as the IS did. I
became more comfortable using it with time, and it's more intuitive
than the touchscreens of some competitors. Bluetooth integration
works well.
Like the IS 350, the ES's ride/handling
balance impresses, though for different reasons here. In the IS 350,
I thought the car rode well in spite
of its low-profile tires, very good body control, and handling
prowess. In the ES, the ride was smooth without feeling sloppy while
cornering. Steering is light and there isn't much feel, but it fits
the mission of the car.
The
ES 350 is a good example of a car that fulfills its intended purpose—delivering a smooth, roomy and powerful sedan at a price
point above the volume market, but undercutting the mainline luxury
sedan market. Given Lexus' track record of quality and durability, we
aren't surprised at its sustained sales success.
Lexus provided the vehicle, insurance, and one tank of gas for
this review. Paul Lombardo at Metro Lexus provided a vehicle for a
follow-up test drive. Metro Lexus can be reached at 216-916-6000.