Used 2009 Lexus ES 350 Consumer Reviews
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Lexus ..A very good choice
I still stand by this car as my best ever. As a 13 year old car, it's as good as new. Regrettably I only drive it about 6 months put of the year. Nonetheless, performance wise and comfort wise it's hard to beat. I've contemplated selling with the price of used cars so high but then what could replace it . Another ES maybe ? Above all, this car meets all my requirements: great residual value and very low maintenance. So for now ..it's still the best car I've ever owned! UPDATE: No complaints about this car..while it's 14 years old, I wouldn't hesitate to drive it cross country. It still offers a luxury ride, great gas mileage ( but requires premium gas) and has been trouble free. I'm looking at newer models but I don't see the quality in them that I have in this car. I've purchased 2 other Lexus, an 09 RX and a 14 RX. I'm loyal to the brand as they are reliable and hold their value!
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Relentless Pursuit of Perfection
I was fortunate enough to find a 2009 Lexus ES 350 with 35,000 miles on it that was in mint condition.It is silky smooth and whisper quiet.I have no issues with the steering,and it handles well even around sharp curves.You have the feeling you are controlling a precision instrument. The biggest surprise is how fast it is.It has awsome passing power,and it is also fast off the line. My only minor critique on the car is that although the front seats are decently comfortable,there is room for improvement in that area.
- Base SedanMSRP: $9,00070 mi away
- Base SedanMSRP: $8,999174 mi away
- Base SedanMSRP: $11,995180 mi away
Lexus Is The Way To Go!
I purchased my ES 350 a little over a year and a half ago, and to this day have no regrets. We have the fully loaded model in the Matador Red Mica color. The looks, the reliability, and the overall design are superb. This is our second Lexus. We also have a '94 GS 300 which has also been absolutely trouble-free. We'll always be a Lexus family.
Great car sans the rattles
This is my second ES. The prior was an ES 330. The car is quiet in terms of road noise. Performance is great unless you are used to driving a high performance BMW. I';s easy to look down and see you are cruising at 80 thinking you are driving at 60. Interior materials are all high quality. I only have 2 complaints. First the sound system is sub-par for this class of vehicle. Second there is as persistant rattle in the sun-roof area that the dealer cannot seem to fix. There are also other bump related rattles that seem to develop during the first 20k miles.
No Problems at 165,000 miles.
I bought this car with 60,000 miles on it. I've changed the oil, tires and brakes. Update, still no problems at 165k. Still has original water pump. Changed battery. Most reliable car I've ever owned. I've had this car almost 4 years.
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Great entry level luxury car
I just recently bought a 2009 ES 350 with 112,000 miles. Amazingly the interior of the car is absolutely perfect and is in showroom condition. Its very comfortable in front and back and features an array of great technology. The car is loaded (accessory wise) with the exception of not having the Levinson stereo system. The only issue I have with the car is that the Navigation system is very challenging to use and overly complicated. The previous owner must have garaged the car and taken great care of it because its like a new car. One surprising thing is that the 272 HP 6 cylinder is quite powerful and provides excellent acceleration. We also got 31mpg (strictly highway miles) on a long business trip. It is black with a tan interior (nice contrast) with heated and cooled seats. Barring something I am not aware of, this car has a lot of miles left. This is my third Lexus (previously owned a LS400 and LS430) and I like this one the best. Highly recommend this as a used car if someone can find one that has been cared for the way mine has been.
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Lucky to be alive
My husband and I had matching ES 350's. My 2 boys and I were traveling in Washington DC one evening and were T-Boned by a guy going about 50 mph who ran a stop light. My ES 350 saved all 3 of us, it was amazing how the car took over, spun around and landed perfectly between the lines of the road and disengaged itself. The car was totaled but we all walked away. The police officer said we would have had a fatality if not for the safety of that car.
The Finest Car for the Money
Back a few years ago, I test drove a loaded 2009 Toyota Camry XLE---leather, faux wood, sunroof, the whole shabang. And guess what? It drove like a Camry---smooth ride, unresponsive steering, uninspired handling. Boring and dependable. And decidedly NOT luxurious, not like the trim level was aiming for. It was too light, too cheap feeling, too wooden. Then I drove a 2009 Lexus ES350. Despite what its critics might claim---that the ES is just a dressed up Camry---I beg to differ. The ES is a totally different vehicle, a totally different experience. The steering might be a bit too playful for some, and the ES certainly will not win any handling or acceleration awards, but here Toyota/ Lexus has succeeded, brilliantly, where the Camry XLE failed miserably. This time, the cushy handling and the smooth, silent ride are matched by the solid refinement and feel of the ES. The car, itself, is a sculpture. Body lines of the Lexus' design architecture are both graceful and functional. Although my car is eleven years old, its look is timeless in its restraint, its conservatively-handsome lines. Materials are top-quality, from the solid thud of the doors to the soft, leather-wrapped assist handles. If the wood is faux, it's quite good. Everything feels like it should. Bottom line, it's a Lexus. I've had my 2009 ES for almost two years now, and it has been absolutely reliable. Maintenance costs, at the minimum of oil changes, brakes, tires, etc., have been realistic. That, itself, is the beauty of the Lexus: you get a luxury car powered by the unbeatable reputation of Toyota. Mine just turned 100,000 miles and I have absolutely no doubt it can easily double that and keep going just as before. I only gave the car 4 stars, not 5, because nothing is perfect. But this is darned close.
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Lexus ES 350 Is A Strange Car
In many ways this car is very nice. It is solid and fast contrary to most user opinions. Even though the car is quiet....it is hard to explain you can hear rattles and noises that are annoying. BMW and Mercedes are better built cars but the ES 350 feels better when you are in the car purely for comfort. The ES 350 needs to get rid of the rattles.
Suburban Dads' Performance Car
The 272 hp, 3.5 V6 liter engine rockets the Lexus ES 350 from zero to 60 in 6.8 seconds, better than the 2009 Mercedes Benz C300 Sports 228 hp 3.0 liter V6 (7.1 secs.) or the 2009 BMW 328i automatics 230 hp 3.0-liter V6 (6.9 secs.) With 95.4 cu ft. of interior space and 14.7 cu. ft. of cargo space, the Lexus has considerably more room for car seats, strollers, etc. than either the BMW (93 cu. ft. int./ 12 cu. ft. cargo) or the Mercedes (88.2 cu. ft. int./ 12.4 cu. ft. cargo). And it's packed with options that would make Q jealous (voice activated GPS, back up camera, air conditioned seats). It cradles you after the daycare drop off and can waste most of the other cars on the road.
Great VALUE
Smooth serene (very minimal wind noise at 70 MPH) luxurious ride on freeways. My previous '93 LS 400 (AIR SUSPENSION) however, was still noticeably smoother on bumpy roads. The Mark Levinson's CLARITY is auditory nirvana. Bluetooth, navigation, parking assists, and backup camera are highly useful features. Glovebox is small; SECRET: there is an elastic strap in its upper right FRONT corner to secure the HUGE owner's manual to the small ledge at the back of the glovebox. Center storage console's capacity is better in the 2010 design. Only serious competitor for IMMEDIATE VALUE is the Hyundai Genesis, but can be jittery over bumpy roads with unknown reliability and likely faster DEPRECIATION.
Exceeds expections
Bought this car after driving my RX for 10 years, which now my son is driving. Love the features, bluetooth for phone, parking assist, navigation, rear shade, auto wipers, and heated/cooled seats. Black interior can be a challenge to keep looking new but love driving it and the gas mileage is 25+ City and around 30 on highway. Would recommend to anyone. Looking to buy a third Lexus now, which brought me to this page!
Love those Toyotas/Lexus
Before buying this Lexus, I previously owned two Toyotas. So far, my Lexus lives up to the same reliability. Power, looks, features, you can't go wrong. I love the navigation and audio. Acceleration is smooth and it rides quiet. This car is roomy in the front and back. I test drove the Acrua TL and the Volvo S60, but neither was as exciting as my ES350. The fall back is that some of the amenities look and feel cheap especially the trunk handles. You only get two keys. Even though I have park assist, I still find it difficult looking over my shoulder backing up and I also find the seating uncomfortable after driving long periods of time. I would buy this car again.
1st time buyer
This is the first Lexus I have owned and couldn't be happier. I only drove about 800 miles, but there isn't anything I seriously dislike about the vehicle. All of the necessary features are great and the ride is beautiful. I tend to be a leadfoot and this car has not let me down, although the handling is a little light. I test drove 14 different cars, seriously researched 26, and have always bought American previously. The price was great, $8,000-$10,000 below domestic competitors in its class with similar features. Needless to say, this was a big consideration when purchasing. The dealership was A+. Give it a try-you'll fall in love!!
So Impressed I bought two!
TOYOTA/LEXUS is the way to go for reliability!!! I bought my 2009 Lexus es350 used from a mechanic who got it at an auction after it had been wrecked. The mechanic changed the plastics and a few other things and it came with a reconstructed title, but none of that mattered to me. 4 years later and the only issue is my tire sensors need to be changed. I put 33,000 miles on it AFTER it was fixed from a wreck and the ride is a dream. My wife was so jealous that we sold her other car and I bought her a 2007 Lexus es350, which is equally impressive!
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So far I'm enjoying the car
I have never owned a Lexus. Previously we owned a 2001 C320 Mercedes, which I loved. It was just not a reliable vehicle, in the shop for problems at least once a year. After reading reviews about the ES350 we decided to give it a try. So far I'm enjoying the car. The ride is nice, not quite as quiet as the Mercedes, but very nice. Gas mileage is great, 29mpg can't complain about that. GPS is fun, and the bluetooth I like. No complaints so far...
HATE This Car
Am I the only person in the universe who bought a rattletrap? Have taken it back several times but still develops more rattles. I have an 8 year old RX that doesn't have one rattle. Very disappointed.
Not as good as everyone thinks
This car was supposed to be the car that lasted forever... but that is not true at all. Bought it certified Used from Lexus with 45,000 with 100,000 mile warranty. At 60,000 miles, the cv joint went out do to a leak. Warranty covered. Then at 95,000 miles the motor blew up. There was a crack in the short block and one of the crank bearing went out. Still covered under warranty but very disappointed. Then 4 weeks later I got a letter in the mail saying that the front passenger airbag was a defective Takata inflator capable of spewing shrapnel just like the GM stuff. The car is also not quiet, which is disappointing because I commute via the highway. The leather interior is comfortable, though. I will never buy a Toyota/Lexus again. I have 2 Fords that have over 200,000 miles and they are still hangin' in there. Maybe I just got a Lemmon or the previous owner did something stupid, but I do not recommend you buy this vehicle despite it's comfort.
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Buyer Beware
I bought a new 2009 Lexus es 350 off of the showroom floor in Mobile Alabama in Feb. 2009.Pebble Beach edition.Car has been garage kept until November 2017. Now the dash is disintegrating. Lexus refuses to repair or replace.They know this an issue. Offered up a dash cover. Do not buy Lexus vehicles, they use inferior materials and do not stand by their products.You need to know!
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Lexus should be embarrassed, but easy to sell
April 2021 update: Edmunds asked for an update and it's a positive one simply because we sold the car for a little bit more than we paid for it. That's it. (Oh, and if you live in Colorado Stevenson Lexus is the worst but Kuni is much better.) Original review: We’ve owned two RXs, a LS, and still have an older GS, so we are great believers in Lexus (at least until much of the current lineup arrived). We found this ultra low milage (1,800 per year) ES at our dealer and made a bit of an impulse buy and thought it would be like all of the other cars Lexus makes so what could go wrong to get it as a commuter car? What a mistake. This is the most cramped (you kinda don’t feel it on a test drive), poorly laid out, underengineered and underwhelming piece of overpriced crap I’ve ever been in. Outward visibility is absolutely hysterical. If you do buy one, make sure it has parking sensors. Steering feels like docking a boat in the wind. The transmission is a joke and spends much of the day seeing how many gear changes it can make per mile how they get so little torque and horsepower out if a V6 had to take some effort to accomplish. Fortunately, we kept the three year old RX and the absolutely fantastic GS. Nearly as fortunate, this thing is popular for reasons not understood and puts on a good show on a test drive so we can sell it quickly. Lexus should be embarrassed.
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Great car
Quiet, luxurious, smooth to drive, with effortless power. A great touring car, and handsome besides.
Lexus Does It All
This car has everything - great looks and performance. I feel like I'm driving in my living room. Love the very quiet and smooth ride from the V6 272 HP engine. The Mark Levinson Sound System is incredible.
Great Value for Luxury
Just got a 09 ES 350, with premium plus package and extras at invoice. Great value compared to G37, Maxima SV, Genesis and CTS. Ride is very comfortable, obviously not sporty, but it's also not "Buickesse" either, unlike some reviews have stated. The engine is very smooth and really moves this vehicle in manual shift.
Bullet Proof
This car is unreal, it's my third Es. You can't beat this car for the money, fuel econ. and re-sale... I am getting 23 mpg in the city... with that much hp what a well built car.
Wonderful car...minus audio experience.
Great car for the money and cradles you when you sit. I drive 70 miles a day and the drive to and from work is the best part of my day. Got 8000 miles on it already and I try not to fall asleep every day on the way home in the comfortable seats. Dealership service is second to none.
New ES 350
I previously owned a 1998 ES300 and logged 154000 miles without a major problem. The amazing thing is that the purchase price of the 2009 was about the same with more equipment standard. If this car is nearly as good as my old Lexus, I will be more than satisfied. I have only driven it about 2000 miles but I am very impressed with the power, quality and economy of this car.
Suprised - terrible GPS and bluetooth
I have never owned a Lexus before. I was impressed by the test drive and buying experience. However, since owning the car for a while the integrated GPS is disaster and the blue tooth phone system does not work well either. I think it has to do with the microphone placement. I also own a Ford explorer (which has its own issues) but the GPS and bluetooth phone features just plain work better. I don't think I will buy another Lexus. I expected to pay more and have an issue free car but that is not the case.
Best luxury value
The ES is the best luxury value sedan in my opinion. It's all weather friendly and it offers plenty of power and it's loaded up with equipment all for $42000 for a full size sedan. Something you need to pay $10000 more for a Mercedez, BMW or Infinity and you sacrifice the fuel economy because of a heavy all wheel drive. The car is quiet and nimble, smooth and extremely stylish.
Smoother than Silk
The ride on this baby is super smooth. I went for the front-wheel drive and the fuel economy is a superb 29 on my daily commute. It is whisper quiet but can also pour on the power when needed. The navigation system is good but the GPS could use an update to provide better directions. Speakers are top notch as is the air conditioning.
So far I LOVE everything about it
Just bought a 2009 ES 350 - got a smoking good deal as the dealers are getting ready for the 2010's and want to move the 2009's out. $200 under invoice on a fully loaded model, premium plus, navigation, etc. I really like all of the features and have not experienced the GPS or Bluetooth probs another reviewer mentioned. Car handles like a dream, smooth, quiet, plenty of power. I drove and researched many other makes and models such as the Infiniti G37, Hyundai Genesis, etc. The ES 350 was the best of the bunch and the best bang for the buck, too. So far, so good.
So Far, Excellent
Just bought the 09 with Levinson, Nav, and ultra luxury package in the Matador Red. The thing is gorgeous and fun to drive! I traded in an Impala, so this is a whole different ballgame. Got a great deal since the '10s are coming in. Highly recommend getting the Levinson.
Great Car Overall!
This is my first Lexus and what a car it is! Love almost everything about it. The acceleration is as smooth as can be and you are pampered in the most sumptuous surroundings when inside. However, one annoying quirk is the fact that the 2009 model is missing a pop- out hanger hook.
White Knight Chariott
Low mileage meant more to me than model year.
To the point!
Great sire
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thumbs up
appearance ..5 stars comfort ..5 stars handling the road ..5 stars
Great job!
Smooth ride. Professionally maintained.
Owned a 2009 Lexus ES350 forever
My 2009 Lexus ES350 has been paid off for over 10 years, has almost 290,000 miles on it, and still runs like it's brand new. No lie. Basic upkeep stuff like tires, brakes, etc., but ZERO major repairs...ever.
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Great Car
Great mileage- ave 22.9, standard stereo is excellent, very quiet ride, traded in 2005 ES 330 Lexus and the 2009 is ten times the car- excellent quality- worth every penny!!!!