Lexus ES 350 test drive since 2009 sedan

Do not touch the keys!

Lexus ES350 The only passenger model in the entire Lexus line, which has a front -wheel drive. There is a logical explanation for this. After all, he shared the platform with Toyota Camry.
 

However, the platform is the only thing that related to these two cars. Lexus remained Lexus. It will not occur to a person who is unknown and it will not occur that they are created on the same platform. As they say, ES and not standing next to Camry. Nothing superfluous, nothing screaming, nothing that would make you turn into a trace, but ... but with what taste everything is done! It is taste. Because the bad taste of Toyota is in principle not inherent. Any element of the design of this car is verified so much that there is no even the slightest desire to change anything in it. It is taken by default. And the one who did this is trusted, and it is endlessly. For quality, for solidity, for the comfort that this car has and which is able to give everyone in it.


And the point here is not that everything that surrounds you in the car is made only of high -quality materials. The fact is how it is presented. After all, no matter what skin is a durable car, what Shelabushki there are no, he will not become an object of lust. The ability to weave what the salon is made of, there is a lot of things into the overall design. It is necessary, for example, to choose the right color and the texture of wooden inserts. Otherwise, all such a tinsel will look at least inappropriate. But in ES everything is in its place and is done exactly as it should. And although you can’t call it luxurious, everything looks very good.
 

On the other hand, when the euphoria passes from what he saw and acquaintance with the machine from the contemplative stage goes into the stage of tactile relations, everything becomes not so smooth. Or, more precisely, too smooth. First of all, we are talking about the steering wheel. Of course, in the tree and skin it looks incomparable, but slides under the palms. The second point is the central armrest. Of course, the cinematic of its opening is non -trivial. He pressed the button, and he, rising in the back, drives back, providing excellent access to the contents. However, this very button is located in such a place that you involuntarily crush it with your elbow. I thought, I put my hand in the wrong way and, Op, instead of the support between the front seats. It was not very clear to us that in order to change the intensity of the fan of the ventilation system, it is necessary to go to the control system menu and already there, poking directly into the central display, set the optimal speed and direction of the flow. Why? After all, the temperature buttons are carried out separately, and it is very convenient to use them. Or in this way, the developers decided to once again recall a multifunctional display? Like, that’s how smart we are, we even have an active display. So this will not surprise anyone.


However, they still managed to surprise us. After examining the car from the inside, we, for the sake of general development, decided to look into the trunk. It is clear that its volume for this category of machines is not the most important indicator, and perhaps that is why the trunk capacity here cannot be increased by folding the back. The maximum that the owner can count on is that he can shove into the salon through a hatch of skis. But that's not the point. The presence of the tool is what was the reason for us for thoughts. Why, tell me, in a high -tech Lexus, pliers, uniform keys, a screwdriver? Which of the owners will climb under the hood of this car with a tool? Yes, those who go to Lexus even be filled with non -freezing on the service. And then the keys ...
 

The only key that you will need in this car is the ignition key, and even then it will not have to remember it. It is enough to have it with you, and everything else, as they say, is a matter of technology. He went to the car, pressed the button on the door, the car opened. He got behind the wheel, poked his finger at the Start Engine button. He looked at how the arrows started on the instrument panel. He transferred the selector to position D and went on his bourgeois affairs. More precisely, I swam, because I went and ES somehow does not fit. Lexus is floating. The suspension configured under the American market (this car is primarily oriented to this market) allows you to drive even along our roads without compromising for comfort. Of course, you will not be able to go through without noticing, an open sewer hatch, but it is easy to slip the tram tracks is not a problem. But there are no miracles. You need to pay for comfort. The rolls for him were the rolls in corners. Nesyal, but still. The steering warmed us much more. An empty steering wheel by car of this class, in our opinion, is completely unacceptable. And if at low speed this does not particularly affect anything, then at speeds above 150 km/h begins to strain somewhat. But ES 350 can go faster. According to the performance characteristics, the car can move in space at a speed of 221 km/h. We did not check it. But to make sure that up to hundreds of the car accelerates in 6.8 seconds, there was an opportunity.
 

Result. Lexus ES 350 The car is serious. Not without minor shortcomings, of course, and yet those who are interested in, do not pay attention to such trifles. After all, for them they are just vanity.



Driving
With sharp restructuring, minor body rolls occur. But the dynamics and brake system deserve a high rating.

Salon
The modest charm of the bourgeoisie. Perhaps this is how you can briefly characterize the salon of this car.

Comfort
All components of this concept are present in the car. I especially want to note sound insulation.

Safety
At a high level, both passive and active.

Price
Highly.




Technical characteristics Lexus ES350
Dimensions, mm 4854/1821/1455
Gasoline engine, 1368 cm3, 100 hp/6000 min-1
Automatic transmission, 6-speed
Dynamics 0-100 km/h, C 6.8
Maximum speed, km/h 221
Competitors Ford Mondeo, VW Passat, Toyota Camry


Advantages and disadvantages
+ Versatility: excellent running qualities on the highway, good patency on dry ground.
- The quality of plastic in the cabin worsens the overall impression and does not correspond to the price of the car.
 

Our opinion

The main market for this car Lexus sees exclusively North America. However, it seems that in our country he will find his buyer. And first of all because of its exclusivity. And for many, this can just become the root cause when choosing specifically this model. After all, Lexus was and will be a machine for the elect, but they know a lot about exclusive.
 

Oleg Kalaushin
Photo: Igor Kuznetsov
 
 
 
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [November 2007]