Lexus ES350. Do not touch the keys!

The Lexus ES350 is the only front-wheel-drive passenger car in the entire Lexus lineup. And this is easy to explain: it is based on the Toyota Camry platform.

But that's where the similarities end. Lexus remains Lexus. A person not privy to the details would never guess that these cars share a common base. The ES is nowhere near the Camry. Nothing extra, nothing flashy, nothing that would make you turn your head — yet everything is done with such taste! Exactly taste. Bad taste is generally not characteristic of Toyota's luxury division. Every design detail is so refined that the thought of changing something doesn't even arise. It is taken for granted. And you trust those who created it unconditionally — for the quality, solidity, and comfort that the car generously bestows on everyone who gets into it.

2006 Lexus ES 350
© Photo: 5 Koleso

And it's not even about the fact that you're surrounded only by high-quality materials. What matters is how it's presented. You can upholster the interior with the most expensive leather and stuff it with all sorts of gadgets — but an ordinary car won't become an object of desire because of that. The ability to weave materials into the overall design is an art. You need to choose the right color and texture of the wood inserts, otherwise all this tinsel will look at least inappropriate. In the ES, everything is in its place and done exactly as it should be. You wouldn't call it luxurious, but everything looks very decent.

However, when the euphoria of the first impression fades and the acquaintance moves from contemplation to tactile sensations, everything turns out to be not so smooth. Or rather, too smooth. First of all, this concerns the steering wheel. In leather and wood, it looks impeccable, but your palms slide on it. The second point is the center armrest. The kinematics of its opening are undoubtedly non-trivial: you press a button — and it, rising from the rear, slides back, opening access to the contents. But the button itself is located so that you involuntarily press it with your elbow. You get distracted, put your hand in the wrong place — and now instead of a support between the seats, there's a hole. It also seemed unclear why to change the ventilation intensity you need to go into the menu and, poking at the central display, set the speed and direction of the airflow. Why? The temperature buttons are placed separately, and they are convenient to use. Maybe the developers decided to remind once again about the multifunctional screen? Like, look how smart we are, we even have an active display. But that won't surprise anyone anymore.

2006 Lexus ES 350
© Photo: 5 Koleso

But we did manage to surprise ourselves. After examining the car from the inside, we decided, for general development, to look into the trunk. It's clear that for this class of cars, trunk volume is not the main indicator. Perhaps that's why you can't increase it by folding the seat back. The maximum the owner can count on is pushing skis through a hatch into the cabin. But that's not even the point. The presence of tools is what made us think. Why does a high-tech Lexus have pliers, open-end wrenches, and a screwdriver? Which owner would get under the hood with such a set? Even those who drive a Lexus have washer fluid filled at the service center. And here are wrenches...

The only key you'll need in this car is the ignition key, and even then you won't have to remember it. You just need to have it with you, and everything else is a matter of technology. You approach the car, press the button on the door — it opens. You get behind the wheel, poke your finger at the Start Engine button. You watch the needles on the instrument panel come to life. You move the selector to D and go about your business. Or rather, you float, because "drove" doesn't quite fit the ES. The Lexus literally floats. The suspension, tuned for the American market (and it's primarily aimed at that market), allows you to drive even on our roads without compromising comfort. Of course, you won't miss an open manhole, but easily gliding over tram tracks is no problem. But there are no miracles. You have to pay for comfort. The price is body roll in corners. Not strong, but noticeable. What was much more alarming was the steering. A "dead" steering wheel in a car of this class is unacceptable, in our opinion. At low speeds, it doesn't bother much, but at speeds above 150 km/h, it starts to get annoying. The ES 350 can go faster, after all. According to the technical specifications, the top speed is 221 km/h. We didn't test that. But we did have the opportunity to verify that the car accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds.

2006 Lexus ES 350
© Photo: 5 Koleso

Conclusion. The Lexus ES 350 is a serious car. Of course, not without minor flaws, but still... Those who are interested in it don't pay attention to such trifles. For them, it's just fuss.

Driving
During sharp lane changes, slight body rolls appear. But the dynamics and braking system deserve high praise.

Interior
The modest charm of the bourgeoisie. Perhaps that's how you can briefly characterize the interior of this car.

Comfort
All components of this concept are present in the car. I would especially like to note the sound insulation.

Safety
Both passive and active are at a high level.

Price
A bit high.

2006 Lexus ES 350
© Photo: 5 Koleso

Advantages and disadvantages
+ Versatility: excellent driving performance on the highway, decent off-road capability on dry ground.
- The quality of the plastic in the interior worsens the overall impression and does not match the price of the car.

Our opinion

Lexus sees the primary sales market for this car exclusively as North America. However, it seems that it will find its buyer in our country as well. And primarily because of its exclusivity. And for many, that might just be the primary reason for choosing this particular model. After all, Lexus has been and will be a car for the chosen few, and they know a thing or two about exclusivity.