Lexus dealerships bill themselves as homes of "affordable luxury" automobiles, and the tastefully elegant Lexus ES 350 mid-size luxury sedan is Exhibit A.
Most automakers with sedans in this segment sink lots of money into building cars with performance chops, while a substantial number of midsize luxury customers actually value comfort over engineering specs.
Sure, the ES 350 has a stout V-6 engine and great driving dynamics, but the build budget was clearly tilted toward quality interior materials. While some cars are built to make your heart race, the ES 350 is built to lower your blood pressure after a hard day at the office. The interior has so many shades of chocolatey brown it looks like the inside of a Whitman's Sampler box.
It's a winning formula, as Lexus sold more than 58,000 ES 350s last year. That's down a little from peak sales of 82,867 units in 2007, but still tops in its segment.
The interior of the Lexus ES 350 is an example of simple elegance.
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Looking for a used or new car?
Mark KennedyOur Eminent White tester, provided by Lexus, has an MSRP of $48,090 including about $9000 in options and delivery fees. Lexus of Chattanooga, on Lee Highway, had nine ES 350s in digital inventory this week and a couple of ES 300h models, a hybrid version of the series.
» Just the facts: The Lexus ES 350 is a five-passenger, midsize luxury sedan with a 3.5-liter V-6 normally aspirated engine that makes 268 horsepower. The government estimates the ES 350 will get 30 miles per gallon highway and 24 miles per gallon city, with annual fuel costs averaging $1,550.
» Worthwhile options: The navigation package ($2,590) includes a Mark Levinson Premium Audio package, a 15-speaker system with exceptional sound clarity. The package, though pricey, also includes an 8-inch LCD display and the Lexus Enform App Suite.
» How much? The base price of our Lexus ES 350 tester is $38,900, with a bottom line of $48,090 after options. A $1,670 luxury package adds flaxen leather upholstery among other upgrades.
» It's good for Chattanooga buyers because ... We are an "affordable luxury" kind of town, and the ES 350, for many, is the entry-level Lexus.
» While you are looking ... The ES 350 compares to the Acura TLX, the Buick LaCrosse and the Genesis G80. Some customers will, no doubt, also cross-shop the Toyota Avalon, which shares many of the ES 350's attributes at a reduced price. Others, who value cabin quietness and fuel economy, should test drive the hybrid ES 300h.
» Cool stuff: For our money, Lexus makes the best steering wheels in the business. The wood and leather- trimmed steering wheel in our tester also has an embedded heater ($450). We are also big fans of the luminescent Eminent White paint.
» We could do without: The One-Touch Power Trunk option ($400) seems a bit pricey.
» We wish for: An all-wheel-drive option would be nice for mountain- dwellers looking for an SUV alternative.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com.