2008 Lexus ES Review

The 2008 Lexus ES 350 comes as a single front-wheel-drive model with a 272-horsepower, 3.5L V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission.

Lexus provides a large amount of standard equipment, including dual-zone automatic climate control with rear-seat ducts, 10-way power front seats, and steering-wheel-mounted controls for the audio system and trip computer. Other standard amenities include soft-tone LED interior lighting, lighted cup holders, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with an integrated compass.

A push-button start system with SmartAccess keyless entry is also standard, which allows the driver to enter and start the vehicle without ever removing the key fob from a pocket or purse.

The ES comes with more available luxury features and high-tech gadgets than most cars in its price range. Most notable is the Pre-Collision System (PCS), which uses sensors from the dynamic radar cruise control to help anticipate an impending collision. If the PCS determines an unavoidable collision, it retracts the seatbelts, primes the brake assist feature, and can automatically apply the brakes to a degree if the driver does not react in time.

To further ensure rider safety, eight air bags come standard on the ES including knee air bags for the driver and front passenger, front side air bags and full-length side curtain bags. Rear-seat side air bags are also available. The front air bags for both the driver and passenger can deploy with variable force, depending on the severity of the accident.

Stability control comes standard on the ES 350, along with anti-lock brakes, integrated electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), and brake assist.

Several optional packages bring additional luxury and convenience features. The Premium Package adds leather seats, Bluetooth wireless capability, and memory functions for seat, mirror, and steering wheel adjustment. The Premium Plus package adds a driver's seat cushion extender, rain-sensing wipers, heated and ventilated front seats, while the Ultra-Luxury Package also includes the panorama glass roof, rear backup camera, perforated leather seating, a power rear sunshade, HID headlights, the navigation system, and wood and leather trim.

Other standalone options include high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps with an intelligent adaptive lighting system that swivels the headlamps into corners, heated and ventilated front seats, and a large panoramic glass roof. An available intuitive park assist feature uses ultrasonic sensors to detect objects ahead of or behind the vehicle, showing the distances in a dashboard display.

A 300-watt, 14-speaker Mark Levinson audio system will appeal to audiophiles, with 10 channels of amplification and an especially low level of total harmonic distortion. Both this and the standard sound system will accept iPods and portable MP3 players, and both include a six-disc changer.
The luxurious, comfort-oriented Lexus ES 350 is essentially unchanged for 2008, save for the addition of two standard reading lamps to the interior. see less