RIDE ALONG

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Lexus’ popular ES luxury sedan has proven to be a huge success for Toyota’s upmarket division.

March sales of the all-new 2013 version nearly doubled year-ago sales of the previous iteration. It’s Lexus’ secondbiggest selling vehicle, surpassed only by the Lexus RX crossover utility vehicle.

Over the years aspirational shoppers have found the ES delivers all the elements that define entry-level luxury: A quiet and comfortable cabin, a serene highway ride, high-grade materials, plenty of amenities, conservative-yet-handsome styling.

One thing missing from the earlier cars: It just wasn’t that much fun to drive. While that didn’t seem to bother the ES’ numerous buyers, Lexus nonetheless decided to alter its recipe and whisk in a bit more spice for 2013.

So the suspension tuning is a touch tauter, the steering the slightest bit firmer. While the steering is still largely devoid of feedback from the road surface, it is decently responsive. And while the car does corner a little flatter than before, the ES still is no sport sedan and doesn’t pretend to be.

While all earlier ESes shared their platform with the Toyota Camry, the sixth generation borrows its underpinnings from the larger Toyota Avalon. That allows a noticeable increase in rear-seat room in keeping with the car’s executive pretensions.

Also new for 2013 is the choice of a gaselectric hybrid/continuously variable automatic transmission drive-train — which our test vehicle had — in lieu of the standard V-6 gasoline engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Both versions are front-wheel drive.

In the ES, the hybrid system operates in a mostly seamless manner. Transitions from battery to gas power are barely felt. And the car is quicker than might be expected, considering the main power source is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Thank the near-instant torque of the electric motor for that. Overall, the ES accelerates and cruises with a pleasing smoothness in character with the car’s luxury status.

Not to be overlooked is the excellent fuel mileage, EPA-rated at 40 mpg in town and 39 mpg on the open road.

The relaxing, high-tech cabin of the ES is a handsomely appointed space, meticulously crafted with (optional) leather upholstery, spears of eco-friendly bamboo, piano-black trim and satin-finish metals. Our tester was optioned to the max with a navigation/audio system and the Ultra Luxury package, along with a slew of safety enhancements including lane departure warning, blind-spot monitor and backup camera.

With the new ES, Lexus has again struck the bull’s-eye squarely in the sweet spot, all but assuring its prominence in the entry-level luxury segment.