2021 Lexus ES 350 Review

　　

2021 Lexus ES 350 Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　With the cancellation of Lexus' midsize GS luxury sedan for the 2021 model year, the more affordable ES 350 sedan takes on greater importance for the automaker. It offers a roomy interior, plush driving dynamics and daring design.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 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

　　$143/mo  for ES 350 Base

　　ES 350 Base

　　4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $40,000 MSRPLuxury 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $45,200 MSRPF SPORT 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $45,800 MSRPUltra Luxury 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $49,000 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　Equipped with a satisfying V6 engine, the 2021 Lexus ES 350 is one of three variants of the car. (The new-for-2021 ES 250 and the ES 300h hybrid are reviewed separately.) The regular ES 350 has the soft and sophisticated vibe common to Lexus models, and the F Sport version delivers a sportier look and a more engaging driving character. This year, the ES 350 F Sport is available in a Black Line Special Edition with black-out trim and two pieces of custom luggage.

　　Delivering big luxury car comfort at the price of a typical small European luxury sedan, the 2021 Lexus ES 350 offers plenty of value. Be sure to consult our full Expert Rating on the ES 350 for more in-depth analysis.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　8.0

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the ES 350 drive? Acceleration is powerful and smooth, and the V6 is strong throughout its rev range. The steering is nicely weighted and contributes to the ES 350's composure as you drive around turns. There's not a whole lot of maximum grip from the tires, but overall the ES handles better than you'd expect a luxury-oriented sedan to.

　　Around town, smooth acceleration and imperceptible gear changes make the ES a pleasure to drive. Even in city traffic, the ES feels as if it's just gliding along thanks to its relaxed powertrain.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the ES 350? Comfort and isolation remain ES hallmarks, and neither has been sacrificed for improved handling. The front seats are firm and supportive, without excessive side bolsters that interfere with getting in and out. (Note that the F Sport's sport seats have a more aggressive shape and bolsters.) The rear seats are just as comfortable, if a bit wide and flat. You can sit up front or in the back for long stretches without fatigue.

　　This latest ES 350 hasn't lost its ability to absorb bumps and road rash either. There's a bit of intrusive wind noise at highway speeds — more than we'd expect of a Lexus — but maybe it's just more noticeable since the car tames road and tire noise so well. Engine noise is almost imperceptible. More warmth from the seat heaters on cold days would be nice.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? Getting in and out of the ES is no trouble thanks to the low seat cushions and wide door openings. There's also a good-size gap between front passengers and door panels that creates a feeling of space. There's loads of room in the back seat, especially between the seatbacks and knees, even for 6-foot-tall passengers.

　　Drivers of most heights and body types should find a comfortable driving position given the ES' power-adjustable seat and mostly clear views all around the car. Only the ES' incoherent array of buttons and switchgear is inexplicably inelegant in an otherwise elegant cabin. The volume knob is great, though, and feels like an old-school stereo receiver.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? Our test car came with the spectacular-looking 12-inch infotainment display. The widescreen navigation maps look great thanks to excellent color contrast and indicators. But using the touchpad controller while in motion is onerous; a dial-and-button controller would be preferable. Fortunately, you can control many nav, phone, audio and even climate control functions through voice commands.

　　The ES also includes several standard driver safety features, such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist, which help minimize lane wandering. It isn't semi-automated driving, and the degree of steering correction is limited, but it's useful for occasional lapses of attention.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The ES 350's 13.9-cubic-foot trunk has a suitable amount of room for luggage and golf clubs. However, the rear seats don't fold down, so you're not going to be able to load longer items. Interior storage space for small items is adequate. The door pockets are slim but the cupholders work well for holding various sizes of water bottles or drinks.

　　Have kids? There's plenty of space for installing child safety seats, and the car seat anchors are easy to access.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? With an EPA rating of 26 mpg combined, the ES 350 is one of the more efficient midsize luxury sedans on the market. Of course, you can also pick the hybrid ES 300h for even better fuel economy. We observed a respectable 27.3 mpg on our evaluation route.

　　

Value

8.5/10

　　Is the ES 350 a good value? For a relatively affordable sum, the ES delivers an appealing luxury experience. The top-shelf interior materials and design make the ES cockpit an attractive place to be. The upholstery feels supple and substantial, and the cabin shows typical Lexus attention to detail: tight panel gaps, damped button action and detailed stitching.

　　Lexus' pricing is appropriate for the high quality of materials, space and comfort. Some competitors start at a little less but aren't quite as refined. It's on par with rivals in warranty coverage, but most can't match the Lexus dealer experience.

　　

Wildcard

8.0/10

　　There's nothing overly exciting about the ES 350. The ES is made to appeal to a wide range of drivers and broadcasts a well-made vibe inside and out. Yet with its well-sorted suspension and pleasantly powerful V6, the ES 350 can deliver that luxury and still cut loose on occasion.

　　

Which ES 350 does zzdcar recommend?

We're partial to the ES 350 F Sport for its racier look and more athletic driving dynamics, but most people will likely be happiest with the ES 350 Luxury. It equips the car with upgraded interior materials, improved seat comfort, added safety equipment and nicer alloy wheels.

　　

2021 Lexus ES 350 models

Lexus offers the 2021 ES 350 in four levels of specification. If you wish to upgrade from the standard ES 350, your main choices are the ES 350 Luxury and the ES 350 F Sport. Additionally, the lineup offers an ES 350 Ultra Luxury model including nearly every factory option. There's also the limited-production Black Line Special Edition. Highlights of each version of the car are as follows:

　　ES 350

　　The most affordable version of the ES 350 includes:

　　17-inch alloy wheels Sunroof Simulated leather upholstery Power-adjustable front seats 8-inch infotainment system display Touchpad infotainment system controller Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration 10-speaker audio system

　　Every ES 350 also comes with:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the ES 350 and the car in front) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)Optional for the base ES 350 is the Premium package, which adds:

　　Automatic wipers Driver-seat memory settings Heated and ventilated front seats Power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheelES 350 Luxury

　　Our recommended version of the car adds:

　　Features from the Premium package 18-inch wheels Leather seats Additional adjustments for the driver's seat Ambient interior lighting Rear window sunshade Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)ES 350 F Sport

　　The F Sport version builds on standard equipment with:

　　F Sport exterior and interior design enhancements 19-inch wheels Sport-tuned suspension Contents of the Premium package Sport-bolstered front seats Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Pedestrian detection for the rear automatic braking systemES 350 Black Line Special Edition

　　This limited-production version is based on the F Sport but has:

　　Special black-out exterior trim and wheels Black rear spoiler Two custom pieces of Zero Halliburton luggageES 350 Ultra Luxury

　　On top of the Luxury, this top-shelf trim supplies:

　　Heated steering wheel Fast-response cabin heating Premium leather upholstery Rear side-window sunshades Power hands-free trunk Navigation system Premium sound system Surround-view monitor (gives you a top-down view of the ES 350 and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Special chassis dampers that help absorb vibrations when cornering

　　

2021 ES 350 Highlights

Trim: BaseLuxuryF SPORTUltra LuxuryBase

　　

Base MSRP	$40,000
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$143/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles