The Lexus ES 350 capitalizes on comfort and with a smooth, quiet ride, luxurious interior and a spacious cabin, it’s a great option for small families or those who need a spacious sedan. The front seat passenger and driver enjoy climate-controlled adjustable seats, and back seat passengers don’t have to worry about feeling cramped as the ES has plenty of leg room. The ES 350 may not have an exciting or innovative appearance, but it is extremely functional and comfortable.
This version of the Lexus ES was introduced for the 2013 model year and it is the sixth-generation of the popular four-door sedan. It has increased interior room, a new hybrid model, better fuel efficiency in the V-6 model and even more flagship-type amenities.
While the ES 300h hybrid is getting the efficiency spotlight with its 40-mpg combined EPA fuel economy estimates, the ES 350, with a 268-hp V-6, continues as the sales leader in the line and is itself highly efficient, with a 31-mpg EPA highway fuel economy rating.
New for 2014, the ES 350 gains LED fog lights and adds available bamboo interior trim, already offered in the ES 300h. And if you don’t like a leather interior, you can now get heated/ventilated seats in perforated NuLuxe trim. Genuine leather-trim is still available, as is semi-aniline leather.
Long a leader in user technology that’s easy to use, Lexus has integrated Siri Eyes Free Mode with technology licensed from Apple, in the 2014 ES 350. Compatible with the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 models forward, Siri lets you call contacts, select and play music from iTunes, get turn-by-turn navigation through Siri and Apple maps, and much more. To help you keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, Siri can read notifications and calendar information and allow you to add reminders, calendar appointments and notes.
Lexus continues with a two-model sedan strategy for this entry-luxury segment — the front-wheel drive ES models that emphasize roominess and comfort, and the sport-minded IS models, which are built on a different platform and offer a choice between rearwheel drive and all-wheel drive.
The ES 350 continues with the brand’s distinctive spindle grille design flanked by L-themed LED daytime running lights.The roof sweeps back for a coupe-like stance and the taillights repeat the L motif.
This generation ES 350 has more interior space in a sleeker package. The 1.8-inch stretch in wheelbase over the previous generation yields a 4.1-inch gain in rear seat legroom, now 40 inches and on par with larger sedans, and a 2.8-inch increase in knee room. Even with the sleeker roofline, there is almost an inch of more rear seat headroom.
The MSRP on the 2014 Lexus ES 350 is $36,470.
Grant Miller is the publisher of Community Newspapers. He may be contacted by calling 305-662-2277 or by addressing email to Grant@CommunityNewspapers.com.
