Lexus hurt ride comfort and made the controls complex with the ES redesign. In tests the powerful 3.5-liter V6 and six-speed automatic got a good 25 mpg overall; our hybrid got 36 mpg overall and 44 mpg on the highway. The ride is decent but not as plush as before; it's worse with the optional 18-inch wheels. Handling is sound but unexceptional. Inside, the quiet cabin looks good at first, but cheap touches are apparent. The driver-interaction system is distracting and convoluted unless you skip the nav system. The hybrid's combination of size, luxury, and fuel economy makes it more appealing. A Camry provides much of the same for less money. Reliability is likely to be above-average.
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