2019 Lexus ES 350 Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byCalvin KimVehicle Test Engineer

　　Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　

What's new

Fully redesigned for 2019More powerful V6 engineUpgraded technology and safety featuresAll-new F Sport trimPart of the seventh ES generation introduced for 2019

　　The midsize luxury sedan category spans a broad price segment and encompasses cars from just about every continent with an automaker. That means there are tons of choices and a proverbial seat for every behind. One model that will likely stir up some interest is the 2019 Lexus ES 350.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Lexus ES 350 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$141/mo  for ES 350 Base

　　ES 350 Base

　　4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $39,750 MSRPLuxury 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $42,405 MSRPUltra Luxury 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $43,400 MSRPF SPORT 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $44,285 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　As with prior ES versions, the redesigned 2019 ES 350 is an easy-driving, quiet, comfortable and well-built sedan. But this time, Lexus has attempted to infuse the car with a little more personality. This new generation is slightly wider and lower than its predecessor. Still, in spite of the more aggressive profile, a lower seating position results in nearly identical headroom. A 2-inch increase in wheelbase both adds to the looks and the interior space.

　　Picking an ES is still simple. The car comes with an excellent array of standard equipment, which you can bolster with a few choice options. The new interior features elements from Lexus' flagship LS and LC models, such as design details and a new infotainment system that uses a touchpad controller. This system is more intuitive to use than the previous joystick-based system, but it still involves a learning curve to understand the menu structure fully. Probably the best thing to happen to the 2019 ES 350 is its Apple CarPlay integration. Unfortunately, Android users still have to wait for Android Auto support.

　　For power, the ES 350 continues to use a 3.5-liter V6 engine. It now produces 302 horsepower (up 34 hp from last year) and 267 pound-feet of torque, and is connected to a new eight-speed automatic that replaces the previous six-speed. These changes should help the ES 350 be a little quicker than before. Lexus also engineered the suspension and dynamics to make the ES drive with greater agility and a quick turn-in. There's even an F Sport version for 2019, which is the first time for the ES.

　　Altogether, these updates increase the 2019 Lexus ES 350's luxury and functionality, which in turn helps it maintain its ability to satisfy as many people as possible. In just about every way, it's a better car than before. It should be a smart pick for a midsize luxury sedan this year.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

8.1 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Lexus ES 350 w/ Premium package (3.5L V6 | 8-speed automatic | FWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	8.1 / 10
Driving	8.0
Comfort	8.0
Interior	8.0
Utility	8.0
Technology	8.0

　　

Driving

8.0

　　We've typically tempered our performance expectations when considering the ES 350. It is a midlevel luxury sedan after all. But the newest ES is surprisingly capable. Composed in corners and quick from a standstill, the ES 350 now asserts itself a bit more forcefully. Grippier tires would make the ES even more lively.

　　

Acceleration

8.0

　　Acceleration is powerful and smooth. The V6 is superb in its ability to unspool both low- and high-end power without calling attention to itself. It sounds pretty good when you dig into it, too. In zzdcar testing, the ES 350 covered 0-60 mph in 6.8 seconds.

　　

Braking

7.0

　　The brake pedal's travel is long and has some initial squish and numbness, but thereafter provides full braking force. We noticed mild nosedive during our 60-0 mph panic-braking tests and a lengthy 136 feet required to stop. Grippier tires would be of benefit.

　　

Steering

8.0

　　The ES 350 exhibits good on-center feel and tracks straight without requiring much driver effort. The steering feel has a nice weight that's appropriate to the car's mass and not overly light, appealing to fussier drivers. Not a lot of road feel comes back through the steering column, but there's enough to convince you of the steering's accuracy.

　　

Handling

8.0

　　The ES' body control is good for a softly sprung luxury sedan. It holds a steady line through corners, even if they are bumpy and undulating. It is held back by slippery tires that lack the kind of bite for quick and fun antics, but most ES buyers won't drive the car in this manner.

　　

Drivability

8.5

　　Smooth acceleration and imperceptible transmission shifts give the ES a gliding quality in stop-and-surge city traffic. Optional manual paddle shifting and Sport mode allow you to extract a little more control over the ES' character. It's no sport sedan, but you can have fun with it.

　　

Comfort

8.0

　　Comfort and isolation from the road remain a Lexus ES hallmark. That hasn't been sacrificed for improved handling either. You can sit in front or back for long spells without fatigue since the seats are firm and supportive, if a bit shapeless. We noticed more intrusive wind noise at highway speeds than we'd expect of a Lexus.

　　

Seat comfort

8.0

　　The front-seat cushioning is firm enough to support and soft enough to coddle. Multiple power adjustments and lumbar support ensure a good fit, but taller drivers may want more thigh extension. The slim side bolsters make for easy in and out. The rear seats are just as comfortable, if a bit wide and flat. Their seat bottoms are set low, but the ample legroom provides enough room to stretch out.

　　

Ride comfort

8.5

　　Comfort reigns supreme at Lexus. The ES ably absorbs bumps and road rash during its highway glide. The ES makes no sport sedan pretensions, and the ride is softer than it is firm, but there's still a good degree of body control.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.5

　　At highway speeds, there's some noticeable wind noise rushing over the front pillars. It's more than you might expect of a Lexus and enough to make you turn up the radio a bit, but it's still quieter than many competitors. Ironically, you notice the wind noise because road and tire hum is so well-suppressed.

　　

Climate control

7.5

　　The cabin heats and cools fine, but the vents are thin and narrow and don't push a lot of air. They're still effective but are a curious form-over-function design choice. The seats heat and cool with impressive speed. If anything, seat heat is a little tame. We wanted more warmth, but your mileage may vary.

　　

Interior

8.0

　　The ES interior is nice, but there's an incoherent array of buttons and switchgear that takes some getting used to. Getting into the roomy cabin is no trouble, and outward visibility is very good.

　　

Ease of use

7.0

　　Buttons and switches are everywhere and don't have a particularly logical layout. Functions that lack a button — shutting off the A/C, for example — require a visit to a menu screen accessed by a cumbersome touchpad. It's inexplicably inelegant in an otherwise elegant cabin. The volume knob is great, though. It feels like an old-school stereo receiver.

　　

Getting in/getting out

8.0

　　The minimally invasive side bolsters make dropping into the ES' front or rear seats easy. The wide door openings make exiting a cinch, too.

　　

Driving position

8.0

　　A high center console gives front passengers the impression of sitting low, but it's more of an illusion. Good all-around visibility, broadly adjustable seats and, in our test car, a power-adjustable steering column make it easy to set a pleasing driving position.

　　

Roominess

8.5

　　The door armrests have plenty of room for elbows, and a wide center front console minimizes turf battles between the driver and front passenger. The back seat has loads of room, too. Rear legroom is suitable even for 6-foot passengers.

　　

Visibility

8.0

　　The thick pillars up front hinder the driver's awareness, especially when trying to avoid objects while turning left. The door sills (the "beltline") are high but flat, and they don't impede views to the side or over the shoulder. Likewise, visibility out the back is good thanks to the relatively narrow pillars and flat beltline.

　　

Quality

9.0

　　The upholstery is supple and substantial, and the interior panels and surfaces have the level of detail typical of Lexus models: tight panel gaps, damped button action and detailed stitching. We also like the upper door panels, which offer a perfectly formed shelf for resting an arm on the windowsill.

　　

Utility

8.0

　　For such a roomy cabin, the ES oddly offers a scant amount of space for personal items. But that's OK — you can stash everything in the generously sized trunk. No need to worry about space for car seats since there's plenty and seats are easy to anchor.

　　

Small-item storage

7.0

　　Storage nooks and spaces up front and in the rear seat are pretty limited. The center console offers room for small items, but the door pockets are slim and there's only a small opening in the center stack area. The cupholders are offset, which makes some sense since it creates space for same-size bottles and cups, but it's still odd.

　　

Cargo space

8.5

　　The trunk, at 13.9 cubic feet, is huge and can swallow plenty of luggage and golf clubs. The rear seats do not fold down, which hinders overall utility, but a center pass-through is useful for longer items.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

8.5

　　Plastic tabs cover easily accessed LATCH anchors, but the tabs are detachable. They don't impede the process of securing a car seat, but it's easy to see them going missing. They're big and don't blend in very well either. There are three top tethers in the rear deck.

　　

Technology

8.0

　　Other than its cumbersome touchpad interface, the ES is a showcase for appealing technology. The 12-inch navigation and infotainment display is a highlight, as is deep integration with voice commands. Even Apple CarPlay is finally available. The ES also includes a generous suite of standard driver safety features.

　　

Audio & navigation

7.5

　　The central display is spectacular. This huge widescreen displays great-looking maps and excellent color contrast and indicators. But "mousing" over screen icons with the touchpad is onerous. Volume for the base Pioneer audio system is oddly front seat-biased but offers full, clear sound.

　　

Smartphone integration

8.0

　　Apple CarPlay is finally available, but Android Auto isn't. The native hard-wired and Bluetooth connections are robust and useful outside of device operating systems, though. Amazon Alexa functionality offers remote control of various car functions such as remote start and lock/unlock.

　　

Driver aids

8.0

　　The combination of adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist does well to minimize lane wandering often caused by distracted driving. It isn't semiautomated driving and the ES' amount of steering correction is limited, but it's useful for occasional lapses due to device, touchscreen or passenger distraction.

　　

Voice control

8.0

　　The ES offers a fairly comprehensive set of voice commands for phone, navigation and audio. Especially useful is the ability to control some climate functions, such as turning the A/C on and off through voice command. The latter function otherwise requires a cumbersome trip into the climate menu system.

　　

Which ES 350 does zzdcar recommend?

　　The 2019 Lexus ES 350 comes well equipped if you're looking for luxury on a budget. But we recommend getting the Luxury trim, which adds leather seating, heated and ventilated front seats, wood interior trim and ambient interior lighting. Audiophiles should add the Navigation and Premium Audio package for the Mark Levinson sound system and Apple CarPlay functionality. It comes with the bigger 12.3-inch display, too.

　　

2019 Lexus ES 350 models

　　The 2019 Lexus ES 350 is a midsize luxury sedan available in four trims. The base ES 350 features an extensive features list. As its name suggests, the Luxury trim adds more luxury items, while the Ultra Luxury model adds even more amenities. An F Sport trim, new for the ES series, comes with a sportier look and feel. A hybrid model, the ES 300h, is also available and reviewed separately.

　　Powering every ES 350 is a 3.5-liter V6 (302 hp, 267 lb-ft of torque) paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Note that some of the following options and configurations may be limited depending on where the car is purchased.

　　Thanks to its extensive standard features, the base ES 350 may be enough for some shoppers. Standard feature highlights include 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, keyless entry and ignition, a sunroof, simulated leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver's seat and dual-zone automatic climate control. On the electronic front, you get an 8-inch central infotainment display, Bluetooth, navigation (Scout GPS Link), a Wi-Fi hotspot (Lexus Enform), three USB ports (one  front, two rear) and a 10-speaker sound system with a CD player and satellite radio.

　　Standard safety features include forward collision mitigation, dynamic cruise control, lane keeping assist and lane departure warning, automatic high-beam assist and parking sensors.

　　An optional Premium package adds a power-adjustable steering wheel, driver-seat memory settings, heated and ventilated front seats, and automatic wipers.

　　The Luxury trim has those features plus heated mirrors, noise-reducing side windows, leather upholstery, ambient interior lighting and interior wood trim.

　　Additional luxury amenities come with the Ultra Luxury trim. It adds higher-quality leather seating, a power rear sunshade with manual rear door sunshades, a hands-free trunk release, and special chassis dampers that help absorb vibrations when cornering.

　　Building on a standard ES 350 with Premium package, the ES 350 F Sport comes with 19-inch wheels, the chassis dampers from the Ultra Luxury package, a special grille and rear spoiler, aluminum interior trim pieces, sport front seats, special gauges, a unique analog clock and active noise control.

　　While the ES 350 is well-equipped, there are still a few options buyers might want. A navigation system and premium Mark Levinson sound system can be optioned together or individually. Ordering the navigation system also gets you a 12.3-inch display and Apple CarPlay. Other options include a panoramic sunroof, a head-up display and a wireless phone charger pad. The F Sport can be upgraded with adaptive suspension dampers and a sport steering wheel.

　　Additional safety options include a blind-spot monitoring system, parking sensors and a surround-view camera system.

　　

2019 ES 350 Highlights

Trim: BaseLuxuryUltra LuxuryF SPORTBase

　　

Base MSRP	$39,750
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$141/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles