Lexus has become a brand name that thumbs its nose at the luxury competition. Other automakers are wondering how Lexus is able to offer so many luxury features at the prices that the vehicles come in and they certainly are losing sleep over this issue. When you think of the Lexus ES, there are many things that it is not. This car is not a BMW 5 Series, it is not a Cadillac CTS, but it is a comfortable ride with plenty of great features for those who want luxury at an affordable price; which the BMW and Caddy cannot boast.
Since I mentioned price a couple times already let’s get that out of the way first. The base price for the Lexus ES 350 show up close to $39,000. The hybrid ES 300h will cost you nearly $42,000 to start with and the ES price range finished up just below the $50,000 mark. Not only is this a bargain for a luxury car of this size, but the price range is so small it’s easy to figure out how to swing the payments for adding a more features to the car above the base offering.
When you stand next to the Lexus ES you can’t help but stare, find a line and follow it and just enjoy the sheer sophistication that is present on this car. The styling is low and long giving the car a beautiful stroke across the lines and the spindle grill up front actually gives character and aggression to the car. This bold look makes the ES one of the favorites in this category and a car that carries an attitude of distinction amongst its peers. The ES rides on a set of standard 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels which are gorgeous to look at, but these can certainly be upgraded on a variety of trim levels to the set of wheels you want. Everywhere you look on this car you will find a reason to be impressed, nothing has been left out to give you visual pleasure at every angle.
The interior of the ES shows off with materials that have been upgraded from the previous year and give you an alluring and inviting entry into the cabin. There is a centrally mounted screen above the center air vents in all of the ES models which is operated by a mouse controlled touch screen. The space inside this car is amazing for every passenger who will have plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy the two-toned finish of the interior and the beautiful trim that is laid out for even more visual appeal.
I mentioned features and here they are. The standard features for the ES 350 include push button starting, dual zone automatic climate controls, a moonroof, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a HomeLink garage door opener, the Lexus Display Audio with offers a three way split seven-inch screen, a Remote Touch controller, Bluetooth connectivity, a rearview camera, ten airbags, emergency service and Automatic Collision Notification. With these features aboard you can ride in comfort and know your safety is the top priority. The only thing missing from this base model is the inclusion of leather seats , but the cloth ones offers are extremely comfortable.
For the options list the Lexus ES offers a navigation system, leather and aniline leather seats, heated and ventilated seats, a panorama glass roof, a power rear sunshade, a Mark Levinson premium sound system, radar cruise control, lane departure warning, parking assistance and blind spot monitoring just to name a few. The Lexus ES can easily be upgraded to fit your needs, giving you a car that is the height of luxury at a price you can afford.
All these features aren’t going to do any good if you don’t have a great engine to carry the load. For the Lexus ES there are two powertrains available that give the car a smooth operation and plenty of power. The base engine for the ES 350 is the 3.5-liter V6 engine which offers 268 horsepower and 248 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission to bring in a fuel mileage of 21 city/31 hwy mpg. One of the major differences with both engines for the ES is the fact they can run on regular 87 octane gasoline while most luxury cars require premium gasoline to operate efficiently.
If you want to have better fuel mileage from your ES the right choice will be the ES 300h. This powertrain is a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine plus a hybrid electric motor and nickel metal hydride battery module. The gasoline engine provides 156 horsepower and 156 lb.-ft. of torque. This entire system does bring in a total of 200 horsepower to give you a boost in power. This engine is attached to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) to give you enough power for your driving and much better fuel economy. The fuel mileage for this powertrain is 40 city/39 hwy to give you plenty of driving enjoyment between fill ups.
What’s new for the ES? This new model offers an upgraded front end, a more dramatic looking grill, standard LED headlights, more standard features than ever before and an upgraded driver’s assistance suite with collision warning, lane departure warning, radar based cruise control and intelligent high beam headlights. The Lexus ES is an appealing luxury sedan that not only pampers and pleases you but also keeps with the Toyota tradition of offering fantastic resale value. The only drawback is when you choose the hybrid model you do lose a bit of trunk space for the battery pack.
The Lexus ES is not the car that is meant to tear up the track or hold a corner so hard you can push the accelerator to the floor. Instead the ES is a sensible and sophisticated car for those who are looking for a more refined driving experience in a quiet setting. The cabin makes it easy to get away from road noise and just lose yourself while the suspension and steering are light and elegant enough to give you the smooth and supple ride you want from a car that is the luxury value.
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