Lexus ES 350 – Brian Chee's Opinion:
So you have a little spare dough and want to impress the boss with a mature, movin' on up vehicle purchase. You've lined up a nice 3 Series, you know – a conservative car guy's car, not flashy but a real hell raiser on the highway. Ah – but then there's the mate, who whines about the hard ride of the BMW, thinks it's boring and hates – really hates – the interior.

You know what's next.
You're headed for Lexus Town, bubba. The good news is that you may wind up with a win-win situation on your hands if you pick the Lexus ES 350. Sure, it rolls like a plastic boat in a bathtub when you push it, but that 272-horsepower six-cylinder engine gives out plenty of power, the styling is hot and the interior is a nice place to sit for extended periods of time. And let's face it – you've been thinking lately that you'd like a little comfort on the ride home. Shoot, you can't remember the last time you took that canyon road anyway, darn boss always making you work late. And while the ES 350 will never thrill you, it will please you, last you a good long time and feel good when you sit inside and crank up the Maiden. Based on that ideal, our ES 350 tester delivered the goods, making day-to-day driving a pleasure. The interior was especially well done, with comfortable seats that were easy to adjust and enough isolation from the road – via noise and bumps – that you feel like you're driving a more expensive sedan. And that's the bad news – you are. While the sticker price of the ES 350 is competitive, even a good value for the car you get, adding a few options can really zoom the final price tag. Our car was priced at more than $40,000. Shoot – does anyone think buying an ES for 40k or more is a good deal?

Lexus ES 350 – Christian Wardlaw's Opinion:
Traditional luxury car buyers are going to love the new 2007 Lexus ES 350. This car is stylish inside and out, features plenty of creature comforts, is powered by a strong and fuel efficient V6 engine, and shifts sublimely. The driving experience is neither sporty nor plush, yet the ES 350 is utterly capable at any speed its target buyers are likely to travel, and features powerful brakes that respond to inputs with finesse. As expected, comfort is king thanks to soft leather, plenty of room front and back, a large trunk, and impressive outward visibility except for the view through the steeply raked rear window. No worries there; our test car had parking sensors and a reversing camera. Luxury is also found in the Lexus ES 350's details; the wood trim is lustrous, the gauges glow brightly, and everything you see and touch looks and feels refined. Still, I detected hints of cost cutting in the dry leather on the steering wheel, the thin padding on the door armrests, the creaking of the center console, the slight whine of the powertrain, and the suspension noise over rough pavement. Personally, the Lexus ES 350 isn't my kind of car. It gives up pretty early when pushed in turns, and isn't entertaining to drive. Plus, I couldn't get the right mix of seat adjustment, resulting in a driving position that was either too low with good thigh support, or pleasingly high but flat. Regardless, I would have no qualms about recommending the 2007 Lexus ES 350 to anyone who wants to get from Point A to Point B in style. People who enjoy driving will want to consider something else.

Lexus ES 350 – Mandy Ison's Opinion:
The Lexus ES 350's 'keyless' fob is bulky, and for those without a purse, requires storage in a cup holder or bin while driving. Do I really need one more item I can forget in the car? That being said, this luxury sedan is one handsome vehicle, with a sophisticated exterior and interior design which screams class and competence. Add the fact that there's an airbag for virtually every body part and passenger, and the Lexus ES 350 becomes the safety conscious car of choice. Adjustable in almost as many directions as a gyroscope, the driver's seat provides a clear view over the steering wheel. Comfortable elbow niches, logically placed controls on the driver side door and center stack, as well as cool factors like the amazingly panoramic sunroof add to the feeling of solid workmanship and quiet affluence. The backseat is spacious but the lack of a flip down center console or 12-volt outlets here or in the trunk is strikingly stingy for a car of its class. Though the Lexus ES 350 has plenty of pep when getting up to highway speeds and handled well on busy city streets, the car feels wide and a little cumbersome while merging into congested lanes. For all the car's stellar qualities, the cozy and silently plush driving experience, while impressive, was also a tad boring. However, "exciting" isn't the thrust of this luxury sedan's mojo. Reliability, comfort, and excellence are.

Photos by Ron Perry