In the process of redesigning the ES, Lexus hurt the ride comfort and made the controls complex. Our ES350 with the powerful 3.5-liter V6 and six-speed automatic got a good 25 mpg overall, while our tested ES300h hybrid got 36 mpg overall and 44 mpg on the highway. The ride is decent but not as plush as before; it is worse with the optional 18-inch wheels. Handling is sound but unexceptional. Inside, the very quiet cabin looks good at first blush, but there is evidence of cheap touches and cost cutting throughout. The driver-interaction system is distracting and convoluted; if you skip the navigation system you get simpler controls. A Toyota Camry provides much of the same for less money. Reliability is likely to be above-average.
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Lexus Blog Content
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