2021 Lexus ES 350

The 2021 Lexus ES 350 is available in a total of 3 trims, namely Base, Luxury, and Ultra Luxury. All the trims only come with a front-wheel drivetrain and are powered by the same 302-hp 3.5-liter V-6 powerhouse. The Base trim costs $40,000 and gets key features such as an 8-inch infotainment display, keyless entry, push-button start, 10-way power-adjustable front seats, and a moonroof. The Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 comes standard with the base trim, which adds forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, and much more. 

The Luxury trim costs $45,200 and adds front and rear parking sensors, leather upholstery, 14-way power-adjustable front seats, blind-spot monitoring, a power rear sunshade, and much more. The range-topping Ultra Luxury trim costs $49,000 and adds features such as a 12.3-inch display with in-built navigation, a heated steering wheel, a hands-free power trunk lid, a surround-view parking camera system, and much more.

There are many optional packages bundled with the trim line-up. For starters, the Premium package, priced at $1,375, adds rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated and ventilated front seats, and a power-adjustable steering wheel. Next up, the Navigation package costs $1,820 and adds a 12.3-inch infotainment display with an in-built navigation system. There are many other individual features like the head-up display, Mark Levinson stereo, wireless device charging, and many more features that can be added for an extra price.

Which Trim should you buy?

A car like the Lexus ES 350 is meant to make you feel special, and the Ultra Luxury trim manages to do that the best. Its premium features such as the semi-aniline leather upholstery, a wood-and-leather steering wheel, and an adaptive suspension help in enhancing the overall experience. Thus, while it is significantly more expensive than the base trim, it provides a much more premium experience to the user.

Sticking with the front-wheel drivetrain has helped the ES 350 remain an efficient sedan. It offers 22 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and a combined mpg figure of 26. These figures are quite good for a sedan of its size, and if you want to put even more savings in your pocket, the hybrid version of the ES 350 should be your pick. 

The fuel tank capacity of the ES 350 is on the lower side, with its fuel tank able to hold a total of 15.9 gallons of fuel. This translates into the lowest combined range in its class, which should translate into more than average refueling stops. The Acura TLX still holds the top spot in terms of fuel economy which is only slightly more efficient than the Lexus ES 350.

Lexus seems to have known what its customers want to pay for the most when buying into the luxury sedan package. Thus, for any owner, stepping inside the ES 350’s cabin is followed by the feeling of money well spent. The cabin features rich materials, premium appeal, and a stylish dashboard. There is no lack of space whatsoever, and you get enough room to stretch out at the front as well as at the back. The asymmetrically laid out dashboard looks contemporary and features soft-touch materials at every touchpoint.

The smooth ride of the ES 350 is aided by its supremely comfortable seats that offer good overall support. The seat cushioning is neither too soft nor too hard which is apt for under-taking long-distance journeys. Physical features such as the genuine leather upholstery in the upper trims enhance the overall sense of luxury inside the cabin. However, German sedans such as the Audi A6 or Mercedes-Benz E-Class still are a step ahead of the ES 350 in terms of premium feel. Also, there will not be many issues while parking it as the overall visibility is great, thanks to the large door frames and windows.

The Lexus ES 350 offers the best-in-class cargo capacity. While it is more than all its rivals, however, there is no option of folding down the rear seats to expand the storage capacity. The optional power hands-free trunk lid makes it easy to load and unload luggage if your hands are full. The Nissan Maxima and the Acura TLX, both offer the second-best cargo capacity in the segment. Key interior features include:

• Two-zone Climate Control
• Push Button Start
• Keyless entry
• Moonroof
• Optional genuine leather seats 
• Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column
• Air Filtration
• Cruise Control w/Steering Wheel Controls
• Rear sunshades
• Available Panoramic moonroof
• Available Head-up display

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The Lexus ES 350 comes with a rather nominal but bright enough 8-inch touchscreen display. It supports Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto, which makes it easy to keep all things in one place.

The higher trims come with an in-built navigation system, but it cannot match the useability of something like Google Maps. A 10-speaker sound system comes standard, and it also features SiriusXM satellite radio. Features like the Wi-Fi hotspot, Amazon Alexa compatibility, Bluetooth phone, and music streaming are also standard. Key infotainment features include:

• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• 8-inch infotainment touchscreen 
• Available 12.3-inch screen infotainment touchscreen 
• HD radio
• In-built navigation
• Bluetooth Wireless Phone Connectivity
• Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Wireless device charging
• Optional Infinity Premium Audio with Clari-Fi Music Restoration Technology

The ES 350 is a luxury mid-size sedan, and it looks exactly like it on the outside. With a wide footprint and a sharp design language, it looks more sporty on the outside than on the inside. Its looks are certainly not as polarising as some of its rivals, and it synthesizes the complex cuts and creases beautifully. At the front, it gets a huge Lexus Signature grille and sleek headlamps that set the tone for its imposing looks. From every angle, it looks well balanced and proportionate that underlines the cohesive nature of its design.

The Lexus ES 350 and the Acura TLX really offer the best road presence in the segment. The Nissan Maxima comes with the longest wheelbase and hence the most generous second row in terms of space. While looks are subjective, all the sedans in question look well-balanced and contemporary. Few standout exterior features include:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Projector headlamps 
• Light Tinted Glass
• Fixed rear window w/ defroster
• Speed sensitive rain detecting variable intermittent wipers
• Trunk rear cargo access
• Perimeter/approach lights
• LED Brakelights
• Cornering Lights

Lexus has given the ES 350 quite a lot of standard safety equipment that includes many driver-assistance features. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has given the ES 350 five out of five stars for its overall safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has named the ES as a Top Safety Pick+. The ES range comes standard with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, which includes features like the forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and much more. Key safety features include:

• Forward collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking
• Rearview camera
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane departure warning
• Pedestrian detection
• Adaptive cruise control
• Rear parking sensors
• Adaptive headlights

2021 Lexus ES 350 vs 2021 Nissan Maxima

The Nissan Maxima is an attractive-looking mid-size sedan. It offers good value for your money and a punchy V-6 powertrain. Nissan has also taken good care of the standard features list.

With its athletic handling, it is also more fun to drive than the E 350. However, the Lexus simply comes with better reliability ratings and a much more premium cabin. It is also a well-rounded and much more refined product than the Maxima.

2021 Lexus ES 350 vs 2021 Infiniti Q50

The Infiniti Q50 comes with a powerful V6 engine and gorgeous looks. It also features a well-built and upscale cabin that boasts much technologically advanced equipment.

With its sharp handling and good highway manners, you can occasionally have fun behind the wheel as well. Where it lacks behind the ES 350 is in terms of the interior space and the cargo capacity. The Lexus is certainly more practical but is also more expensive than the Infiniti. 

2021 Lexus ES 350 vs 2021 Acura TLX

Fully redesigned for the 2021 model year, the Acura TLX is a much more desirable sedan now. It features a high-end cabin and a healthy standard features list. In terms of the driving dynamics, it is well sorted and offers a poised ride with enjoyable handling.

However, its cramped rear seats and a hesitant transmission come at the top of its cons list. The TLX is cheaper than the ES 350 which does offset some of its ignorable drawbacks.

The2021 Lexus ES 350 gets most things right but offers nothing extraordinary or out of the box. With its appealing exterior design and an upscale cabin, the ES 350 pampers you to the fullest with its supremely comfortable ride. It also gets full points in terms of safety, and the large cargo area is certainly going to make your airport rides or weekend getaways easier. However, the lack of an all-wheel-drive option might put off some customers that live in tricky terrains. If you want a fuss-free experience and do not want to spend more than $40,000 for a mid-size sedan, the ES 350 is certainly a great option.