Test Drive Lexus ES 350 since 2009 Sedan

Unmarked hero

10 percent of the Russian market will take ES350 (according to LEXUS marketers)

The first and main question that your correspondent once asked himself, sitting behind the wheel of a new Lexus ES350 for us: why is he here? Large sedans are loved by us, but, as it turned out, not lexus their share in the premium class is very small, the cashier makes the brand mainly SUV. Theoretically ES is just a descendant to correct the situation, having assured the same Germans part of customers in the segment to $ 70,000. But does he work out?

In the States would have happened. Already happened. ES Abbreviation Executive Sedan. At one time, this car became the most first Lexus premium sedan (and part-time sold in the ruler) created for the North American market. But in the overseas markets, there are otherwise machines. In the US, a person will never buy himself toyota if he can afford to own a more comfortable car. This is not only a certain status status, but also the desire for convenience
. Economically, I must say, reasonable. In Russia, the situation is similar, but we are not more expensive for cars. Generally. Therefore, any car we have not just a vehicle, but the most notorious clothes for which we are met in society. So the signboard is not enough, the Russians must be demonstrated and model. As a result, even the top BMW 335i will never be better than the stock five, and Cesca is steeper E-class. And ES will definitely lose more sporting in all GS parameters.

The Japanese seems to understand it is not worse with us. During the presentation, they, of course, compared the novelty with the BMW 535, E-Class and Audi A6, visually demonstrating the difference in the price tags. But this was done, it was rather for the oppforms in the segment so it should be. However, at the same time, it was obvious that in the Russian office of the brand, they do not count on direct competition. Es will not stand it, so they focused on those who already overgrown the level of Camry, but a little more expensive sedan has not yet decided to buy. By the way, from comparison with Camry, they do not leave here (as if marketers of the brand did not seek). Platform one. Motor in general, too. In addition, ES is the first and only one while the front-wheel drive sedan in the Russian lineup. These cars are even outwardly similar.
   

Full cards of the onboard navigation system are still swimming even in the European part of Russia. Nevertheless, in the near future this deficiency will be eliminated.

Although this is no longer so obvious. A large body with a minimum number of sports decor, but the classic Lexus architecture ... It looks not impressive, but quite massively and completely in our opinion: the driver of such a car will not definitely ask for the driver. It is noteworthy that this is the result of restyling. Last year, ES looked much easier, was closer to the banal already Camry ... True, the Japanese in this case were limited to cosmetic finishing that touched not only bumpers and lattices of the radiator, but also optics, and door handles on which they appeared characteristic All modern Lexus sweat elements.

However, in the cabin, they were not, and not. From the inside ES is comfortable, gorgeous, but is not modern. Front panel of the same GS A couple of years ago was perceived as a cockpit of a modern aircraft: buttons, LEDs, the tumblers doomed to a short test colleagues seemed to understand them would not even be able to use the users, it was not necessary for users: the electronics still did everything alone . But what does it look like! In ES wow effects will not happen. The whole raisins are imprisoned in a fairly original drop-like design of the central console, the rest looks quite differently. True, all of the materials are fulfilled, the quality of which does not allow for a second to doubt the origin of the car.

It is equipped with a novelty, what is called, at the level, however, on the center console of the buttons, it is hardly more than on the mobile phone panel that Lexus is not too typical for modern products. But interfaces are simple and transparent to expectations. The exception is except that the proprietary system of navigation, completely the abandoning to lead our crew on the roads of the Krasnodar Territory. The reason, of course, in the maps, and this lack of specials from the domestic representation of the company promised to correct in the near future.

Here in terms of comfort ES real Lexus, without bills and reservations. Side pillows seats Torso passengers do not bite here. They flow it like a water mattress. In the chair in the literal sense, the words are immersed and relaxing, cease to pay attention to anything. Regarding the ranges of adjustments and other little things you can do not bathe at all. In extreme cases, they can be corrected directly in motion, and it is nice.

In the second row, at the same time no revelations. Places here exactly for a pair of adults, do not count more. ES is not a representative class sedan, we have a small business, in the states and at all a family car, just more comfortable than the same single-platform Camry. Therefore, there is no excess place here, as not and familiar to experienced consumers of cars of such a class of additional climatic consoles, heated or electric drives. Simply relatively comfortable seats with a pretty good margin of free space.

But if we consider this car from such a point of view, you must admit that it looks pretty pretty. The same GS on the road sometimes begins to provoke into racing feats. And on the novelty, you don't want to dust all the money. Especially on Russian roads. The suspension is so. It is extremely comfortable, but sharpened under good, high-quality coverage. We also have a wave, then a crack, then pothole. As a result, at high and average speeds, the car is subject to constant star. And not only longitudinal or diagonal, but at times, expressing the seabed, killeva (when the body hesitates vertically). In principle, the driver of inconvenience does not deliver, but passengers can scold. In the good asphalt, this is not a car, but a ship on an air cushion floating above the surface, maximum comfort with a minimum of oscillations.


In the rear seat there are no additional control panels, which allows you to position ES as a family sedan. There is a free space for a couple of adults here is quite enough.

At the same time, he keeps the road well, at least the serpentine is not drush. But the main silence. I do not know whether ES really has the best in the class of insulation, but he does not annoy the speed or on Ughab. And this, by the way, is not the most insignificant component of general comfort.

On the calm mode sets up the power plant. More precisely, the 3.5-liter V6 hood is not located under the hood, and the 6-speed ACP conjugates. It can be adjusted, for this there is a sports (and, of course, manual) regime, but even in it the electronics tries as quickly as possible to reset the revolutions. In principle, this is not the best characteristic, especially when it comes to high-speed overtakers on some average (as usual, single-lane) road, but as a whole, the engine temperament to complete the maneuver more than enough. Here are the brakes additional efficiency would not interfere. Of course, the feeling of unreliability in this case can be provoked by a noticeable clutch body, however, during the test, your correspondent has the impression that the car slows down with a noticeable Lenza. However, it is quite related to the character of ES350, which was not so much a lexus in the usual understanding of us, how many excellent cruise liner. In many ways, family, but at the same time quite presentable, to be considered not the worst business car.


By the way, to say ...
The history of Lexus ES has already for two decades: for the first time he was shown in the summer of 1991, then he became the main shock force of the brand in conquering the premium segment of North American markets. The current generation of the model saw the light in 2006, but by the time the GS was already present in the company line, which was intended to fasten German rivals. Es remained the keeper of the true American values \u200b\u200bof prestige and comfort. What is characteristic, customers are still reciprocating to him, at least in popularity in the USA ES ahead of both relatives and European competitors. True, his price tag at the same time is equal to the price network of less dimensional IS.


SPECIFICATIONS
Lexus ES350

Dimensions (mm) 4875x1820x1450
Wheel base (mm) 2775
Road clearance (mm) 145
Mass (kg) 1730
The volume of the trunk (L) n. d.
Slave. Engine volume (cm3) 3456
Max. Power (hp) 277
Max. Torque (nm) 346
Max. Speed \u200b\u200b(km / h) 230
Acceleration 0100 km / h (c) 7
Middle fuel consumption (l / 100 km) 10.2
Price (rub.) From 1 850 000

A source: Mkmobile Magazine [December / 2010]