MSRP $33,170
As Tested $43,989
272-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6
21 city / 30 highway
More info: www.lexus.com
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When we picked up a dinner date in the new Lexus ES 350, she looked the car over and quipped, "I thought you said you were driving a Lexus?" She meant it as a compliment -- i.e. most Lexus models look a little dull and this one is anything but boring. Last year's ES 330 still had that glorified Camry feel, but the new model siphons some DNA from its much bolder IS cousin, especially on the hood and grill. The '07 ES is a much sexier package. It remains to be seen if the strategy will backfire -- as it did with the BMW 7 series -- and alienate some long-time Lexus buyers.
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When is an entry-level luxury sedan not an entry-level luxury sedan? When it costs almost $44 grand. Our tester had some awesome options, but they inflated the price into 5 series Beemer land. Even so, the panorama glass roof made cruising on a sunny day feel like driving in a glorious glass bubble. And while we dug the magnificent Mark Levinson 14-speaker sound system, we had trouble getting our iPod into the Logic Control Deck. After consulting the 425-page manual and the 285-page nav system manual, we discovered it was merely a slot for a cassette tape. A cassette deck? Why not add a turntable for your vinyl as well?
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When you look at the numbers, the new ES tells a very compelling story. The '06 model featured a 3.3-liter V6 that churned out 218 horses and hit 60 in a sluggish 7.2 seconds. The new ES sports a 3.5-liter, 272-horse V6 that clicks 60 in 6.8 seconds. Even more impressive, the new ES gets slightly better mileage. The downsides are suspension and handling -- both of which we found a bit too mushy.
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Just sexy enough to get her attention -- and keep it.
-- John D. Thomas |
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