2019 Lexus ES 350 improves, falls short on luxury
Now beginning its seventh generation, the Lexus ES 350 is the upscale Toyota nameplate’s midsize luxury sedan. For 2019, it’s available in four trims, including the new F Sport. As its designation implies, it has a sporty look and feel.
Nearly every major manufacturer has a midsize luxury sedan. Lexus received top honors in Consumer Reports’ yearly most reliable brand survey for 2018. But the previous generation of the ES 350 had its time and other manufacturers, including Hyundai, Genesis and Kia, now all offer legitimate competition. Audi and BMW also have a longstanding rivalry with Lexus.
The new ES 350 (ES stands for elegant sedan) has the same fuelinjected 3.5-liter V6 engine as its predecessor. But it’s now more powerful and versatile. It produces 302 horsepower (34 more horsepower) and has an eight-speed automatic transmission replacing a six-speed.
The transmission is smooth and switching between driving modes alters the shifting program, steering assist and throttle responses. The F Sport also boosts the drive modes to five — Standard Eco, Normal, Sport S and Sport S+ and Custom.
A more elegant freeway ride and a peppier overall performance are the results. Acceleration from zero to 60 miles per hour is achieved in 6.6 seconds, a half-second faster than the 2018 model. Fuel mileage estimates
are 22 miles per gallon in city driving, 31 miles per gallon on the freeway.
With its tweaked suspension and dynamics, the ES 350 also has overall better road dynamics with greater agility. It’s immediately noticeable in the slightly lower, wider and longer sedan.
The updates throughout the lineup also mean the lower level trims are satisfactory for budget-conscious buyers seeking an entry-level luxury sedan.
But the F Sport trim is the way to go. It expands the Premium package and features 19-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, upgraded grille and chassis dampers. Interior upgrades include active noise control, sport-designed front seats and aluminum trim sections. An analog clock is embedded in the upper left-hand corner of the infotainment center. There’s improved noise control as well as upgraded gauges and a heated leather steering wheel.
There is also leather seating, heated and ventilated front seats and ambient lighting. The Navigation/Audio package adds $3,000 to the MSRP of $44,035. But it’s a worthy consideration, particularly for audiophiles.