Lexus kicks elegant sedan segment up a notch with ES350 FSport
It’s a pretty simple equation: Elegance + Sport = Lexus ES350
When you think of Lexus, the first thing that comes to mind is elegance. That is exactly what Lexus wanted you to think back in 1989 when it first produced the ES class; an entry-level sedan in a luxury market. In fact, The ES was even its best seller for many years until the RX SUV came along.
In the luxury sedan market, Lexus’ focus has been on reliability and affordability. The “Super Camry” ES350 is just that, super. Its FSport option is fun to drive while still delivering the luxury of an upscale sedan.
Toyota’s upscale brand does a lot of things right, which makes its customer base as loyal as it gets.
The basics? The 3.5-liter, 302 hp V6 engine with 267 ft.-lb. of torque is paired with an eight-speed direct shift automatic transmission. Wheelbase length comes in at 113 inches for the five-seat sedan on its unibody construction frame. Cargo capacity is average at 16.7 cu. ft., and the ES sits at just under 3,700 pounds.
The FSport suspension is one that delivers a racy ride at the flip of a switch and tunes in its MacPherson front independent and rear multilink suspension while coming in at 6.6 seconds in a zero-60 run. Our Ultrasonic Blue Mica tester was a looker for sure — the color combination was great and the car was very comfortable, even with the upgraded FSport bolstered seats.
Craftsmanship is the sole word that comes to mind when thinking about the inside of the ES. Its hand-stitching on the dash to the aluminum accents are really mind-blowing, but the user experience isn’t much to brag about. The hated touchpad is still present in the center console and really is difficult to navigate on the homescreen. Think of it as like a mouse on your computer, but instead, using your finger; not ideal, and with the screen unable to work as a touchscreen, this is subpar for sure.
The Mark Levinson PUREPLAY audio system is back with an astounding 17 speakers. It makes you feel like you are at a Fleetwood Mac concert all over again, just 40 years later. Yes, we used the handlebar type drive mode selectors above the driver’s instrument cluster to drop the ES into Sport S+ mode and threw on some “Go your own way.”
Razor-sharp LED triple beam L-shaped headlight design grants great illumination at night.
A panorama glass roof is also available.
Lexus owners know how good the service is at dealerships when taking the car in for common maintenance. They are the best in the business. Roadside assistance, on-hand specialists in technology, and even a Lexus app on your phone are just some of the additional features Lexus brings to the table.
If a sedan in the upscale market is your flavor and you like the reliability of Toyota’s Camry, It’s time to test a ES350, but make it an FSport and show off your inner sportiness for even more.