Strengths

Excellent fit and finish; luxurious interior; quiet ride and smooth road manners; strong, economical powertrain

 

Changes

The 2010 Lexus ES 350 gets a facelift that includes a revised front grille, bumper, and headlights, as well as a reworking of the taillights, while metallic trim has been added to the side sills.

Inside, contrasting-stitched leather abounds, as do elegant metallic and wood trims, a larger center console has more storage, and the steering wheel controls have been updated. Driver's seat memory settings and rain-sensing windshield wipers are now standard, as are seat-mounted side-impact airbags for rear passengers. The ES 350's vehicle stability control (VSC) can now be shut off, and the instrument cluster includes an ECO indicator

 

Value

The 2010 ES 350 shares its genes with the popular Toyota Camry, but it has been massaged by Lexus engineers into something much more than just the sum of its parts. The ES 350 is the quintessential entry-level luxury car with a host of standard amenities, innovative technology and a smooth 3.5L V6. It boasts all this and more for less than $35,000, which makes it a bargain as well.

 

Overview

The front-wheel-drive 2010 Lexus ES 350 ups the ante in the realm of entry-level luxury with many improvements and upgrades to enhance its appeal.

A 4-cam 3.5L V6 with dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) powers the ES 350, putting out 272 hp through a standard 6-speed sequential-shift automatic transmission. Lexus claims a 0 to 60 mph time of 6.8 seconds with EPA fuel economy rated at 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. The ES rides on 17-inch alloy wheels and is also a nimble handler thanks to a fully independent suspension and speed-sensing, progressive power steering.

Inside is where the ES really shines however. Standard luxury features include dual-zone automatic climate control, Lexus Memory to control the driver's seat, sideview mirrors and steering wheel, a supple leather interior with brown walnut or bird's eye maple accents. The ES also features loads of standard technology goodies, like Bluetooth hands-free connectivity and an 8-speaker sound system with in-dash, 6-disc CD stereo.

Standalone options on the ES include high-intensity discharge (HID) adaptive headlamps and a pre-collision system (PCS) with dynamic radar cruise control. Popular options packages include a $4,000 Navigation/Mark Levinson Package that boasts a voice-activated hard-disk navigation system, color LCD display with backup camera, Bluetooth, and a 14-speaker, 300-watt premium surround sound audio system with an in-dash CD/DVD auto changer. The Ultra-Luxury Package adds semi-aniline leather-trimmed interior, special wood inlays, heated and ventilated front seats, and a panorama glass roof.

The ES 350 excels in the safety department, with stability and traction control, anti-lock braking with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a bevy of airbags for both front and rear passengers.