Edmunds Associate Staff Writer Will Kaufman reviews the 2018 Lexus ES 350. This large luxury sedan may be getting long in the tooth, but it has consistently outsold all its competitors even after some of them underwent truly impressive redesigns. What is it about the ES 350 that continues to make it such a popular choice? We explore the Lexus in our studio and on the road to find out.
Transcript
WILL KAUFMAN: Hi, this is Will Kaufman, and I'm here with the Lexus ES350. This is America's favorite midsize luxury sedan, but why? Let's find out. The ES350 is a little bit of an outlier, both for Lexus and for the class, in general. It's the only Lexus sedan that's front-wheel drive, and it's the only Lexus sedan currently on sale, that's really closely related to Toyota products. In this case, the platform underneath this, is similar to what's under the Camry and the Toyota Avalon. This car also hasn't had a major redesign since 2012 so it's getting a little bit long in the tooth. And yet, it's still managed to outsell every other midsize luxury car, including the new Mercedes Benz E-Class and the new BMW 5 Series. So what is it about this car that makes it stand out for buyers? Let's get in it and find out. One of the ES350 strengths is definitely its price. The base car starts at just under $40,000, which is pretty reasonable for the class. For that price, you get proximity entry with push button start. You get a power sunroof. You get leatherette seats, instead of real leather. You do get an eight-inch infotainment display screen. HD and satellite radio, along with Bluetooth streaming audio. Standard equipment also includes, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. There are quite a few upgrades available for this car. Some of them are aesthetic. There are a lot of different colors of wood trim and leather that you can get so no matter what kind of wood you want to look at on your steering wheel, Lexus has you covered. There's the Mark Levinson stereo system that's a pricey upgrade, but sounds really good. There's a second sunroof for the rear seat. And a power rear sunshade, along with rear side windows sunshades that are manual. The inside of this car does feel a little dated-- honestly. There's kind of a lot of plastic around in here. In spite of the nice wood and leather that you see on the steering wheel and on the center console, there's also just hard plastic around. A lot of the buttons and switchgear are also plastics that just aren't quite up to par. This car has the heated and cooled leather seats. The heated and cooling aren't super impressive. They work, but not as well as what you'll see in some other cars. The padding on these seats is actually pretty nice. They strike a good balance of cushioning and support. My big issue with them is the headrest, which is actually pretty intrusive. For me, it comes forward just too far. Shorter drivers might not have this issue, but for me, I've been sitting in this car for about four days and I might need to see my chiropractor. As you might expect from a car in this class, the ES350 has plenty of leg room, and even with this dual pane sunroof up here, I still have enough headroom. This back seat isn't quite as fancy as what you'll see in a Mercedes or a BMW, especially as you start optioning those up, but it is much less expensive. And it's still not a bad place to spend time. For example, there is a back seat vent, but there's no separate climate control zone for the back seat. And there's no separate controls. There's also no USB ports back here, although there is a 12-volt outlet, or what you might know as a cigarette lighter port. Fold-down armrests with its own cup holders. And you also have some sunshades to keep the glare or the paparazzi out. Overall, this is a pretty roomy back seat. The infotainment system-- honestly-- is another one of this car's weaknesses. You get this little toggle here and it's finicky to use on the road, but it's not the biggest problem with this system. The biggest problem is the logic behind the choices of the labeling of the buttons in there. It's sort of hard to find what you're looking for in this system. And honestly, it takes me a couple of tries to figure out how to get to the commands that I actually want to use. Fortunately, you don't have to interact with this all that much. There are physical buttons for almost all of the controls that you use on a regular basis, and that's pretty smart in this car. Once you have your radio presets put in, you can do almost everything you need to do just by touching buttons that are pretty clearly labeled, easy to find, and easy to use. The one exception is navigation. Luckily, voice controls work pretty well there, and there are prompts to guide you through. So now that I'm mostly comfortable, let's get this car on the road and see how it drives. Whatever music is playing right now, I want you to imagine that it's a soothing, string concerto, perhaps, in E minor because that's really the vibe of this car. Under the hood is a three and a half liter V-6 that's only making 268 horsepower. That's both not an exceptional number for the class and also, not an acceptable number for how big the motor is. In our testing, this car did manage to make a zero to 60 run faster than the stated time from Lexus. We measured it in about 6.8 seconds. Again, not bad, but it's more than half a second slower than the stated time for a base E-class. That three and a half liter V-6 is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and it drives the front wheels. Acceleration in this car isn't blistering. It's a strong engine, though, and it's really smooth-- that's sort of what it's meant to be. It has enough power to get out of its own way and to accomplish merges and passing maneuvers. And it's not going to set the world on fire. Transmission handles shifts really smoothly. Again, sort of the point of this car. The steering is very light, and there's no real feel from the front wheels, but resistance does build. Only a little bit, but naturally, as you turn the wheel. The brakes in this car are very predictable. They're very easy to use. So that's sort of it. That's what this car is about. It's not a sports sedan. It's a comfortable, easy to drive luxury car. On city streets, it feels better than on the freeway. On the freeway, you start to notice how busy it can get. If you know what a Camry rides like, this rides like a nicer Camry. The handling in this car is surprisingly competent, really. Even though it's not that engaging on a back road, it handles itself pretty well. You actually feel pretty confident taking it around corners. Adaptive cruise control in this car. This is an old car, and it's one of those systems that does not work in stop and go traffic. It will only turn on above a certain speed, and it cuts out automatically below that speed. This is an older car, and you can tell from the technology and the interior design, that it's ready to be replaced. So the Lexus ES350 might not be the most exciting luxury car on the road, might not be all of the luxury car you want, but it might be the luxury car you need. It's just accessible and easy. I will say this, though, there is a new ES350 coming out in 2019, which means that if you're interested in this car, it's probably a good idea to wait a little while. Pretty soon, you're going to see the prices on these drop, and you'll have a choice between, maybe, a nice little discount on an ES350 from 2018, or a new 2019 ES350, if that appeals to you. Thanks for watching. If you like this video, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. And if you're interested in finding out more about the Lexus ES350 or its competitors, make sure to check out edmunds.com.
The 2018 Lexus ES 350 may not be the quickest or sportiest vehicle in its class, but it offers a winning combination of style, comfort, a long list of features and a quiet ride. Add in the Lexus reputation for quality and reliability, and it's easy to see why the the ES appeals to large numbers of buyers seeking an elegant yet practical five-passenger sedan.
The ES 350 is sold in a single trim level that comes with one powertrain — a 3.5-liter V6 engine (268 hp, 248 lb-ft) that drives the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Although it propels the ES to 60 mph in a respectable 6.6 seconds, its forte is really in providing a smooth and quiet ride under virtually all road conditions.
The gentle, compliant suspension system is tuned more for comfort than handling. Although the ES acquits itself reasonably well in corners, it genuinely comes into its own on the highway, where driver and passengers can relax and enjoy the premium sound system while watching the miles roll by.
Inside, the 2018 ES 350 certainly won't disappoint entry-level luxury car shoppers. The roomy interior shines with a host of standard comfort and convenience features, such as high-quality materials, power-adjustable front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control.
There are three main option packages available, with each building on the previous level's luxury equipment. A navigation package is also available, and it can be bundled with an upgraded sound system. There are also numerous individual options, including a panoramic sunroof and power trunklid, but unlike other manufacturers that let owners pick and choose, Lexus typically requires the addition of one of the packages first.
While the ES 350's option configuration may be different than most, it's designed to appeal to buyers looking for an easy purchasing experience. If ease of purchase, comfortable interior, smooth ride and quality build interest you, let Edmunds help you find the perfect 2018 Lexus ES 350.
2018 Lexus ES 350 Overview
The 2018 Lexus ES 350 is offered in the following submodels: Sedan. Available styles include 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A). ES 350 models are available with a 0-liter gas engine, with output up to 0 hp, depending on engine type. The 2018 ES 350 comes with front wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 6-speed shiftable automatic. The 2018 ES 350 comes with a 4 yr./ 50000 mi. basic warranty, a 4 yr./ unlimited mi. roadside warranty, and a 6 yr./ 70000 mi. powertrain warranty.
What should I pay for a new 2018 Lexus ES 350?
2018 Lexus ES 350 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
The 2018 Lexus ES 350 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A) can be purchased for less than the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (aka MSRP) of $42998. The average price paid for a new 2018 Lexus ES 350 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A) is trending $2018.8 below the manufacturer's MSRP.
Edmunds members save an average of $2018.8 by getting upfront special offers. The estimated special offer price in your area is $40979.2.
The average savings for the 2018 Lexus ES 350 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A) is 4.7% below the MSRP.
We are showing 180 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A) 2018 Lexus ES 350 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A) vehicle(s) available in the Ashburn area.
Is the 2018 Lexus ES 350 a good car? Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2018 Lexus ES 350 and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2018 ES 350 featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.
Our Review Process All of our reviews are written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.
We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.
What do people think of the 2018 Lexus ES 350? Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2018 Lexus ES 350 and all its trim types. Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2018 ES 350 a 4 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2018 ES 350.
Vehicle 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
Review Navigation very mixed. Hard to set and control. Dumb routes sometimes. Miss interprets voice commands frequently. Using own phone probably better.
2018 Lexus ES 350 inventory listings Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2018 Lexus ES 350 for sale near Ashburn VA. There are currently 262 new and 490 used and CPO 2018 ES 350s listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as 39895 and mileage as low as 0. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a car from our massive database to find cheap vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the 2018 Lexus ES 350. Then select Edmunds special offers, perks, deals, and incentives to contact the dealer of your choice and save up to 6381 on a new, used, or CPO 2018 ES 350 available from one of 2631 dealerships in your area.
How can Edmunds help? Edmunds has deep data on over 6 million new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, including rich, trim-level features and specs information like: MSRP, average price paid, warranty information (basic, drivetrain, and maintenance), features (upholstery, bluetooth, navigation, heated seating, cooled seating, cruise control, parking assistance, keyless ignition, satellite radio, folding rears seats ,run flat tires, wheel type, tire size, wheel tire, sunroof, etc.), vehicle specifications (engine cylinder count, drivetrain, engine power, engine torque, engine displacement, transmission), fuel economy (city, highway, combined, fuel capacity, range), vehicle dimensions (length, width, seating capacity, cargo space), car safety, true cost to own. Edmunds also provides tools to allow shopper to compare vehicles to similar models of their choosing by warranty, interior features, exterior features, specifications, fuel economy, vehicle dimensions, consumer rating, edmunds rating, and color
Is the 2018 Lexus Es-350 safe? The 2018 Lexus Es-350 earned a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and "GOOD" ratings from the IIHS in the following caregories: Side Impact Test, Roof Strength Test, Rear Crash Protection/Head Restraint, IIHS Small Overlap Front Test Results, Moderate Overlap Front Test Results, and a JD POWER overall quality rating of 4.5 out of 5. Among Edmunds' many tools and resources for finding your perfect car are detailed safety ratings and analysis from NHTSA, IIHS, and JD Power, including overall ratings, frontal barrier crash ratings, side impact tests and crash ratings, rollover test results, roof strength tests, rear crash protection and head restraint ratings, side barrier ratings, combined side barrier and pole ratings, and more.
