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2011 Lexus ES 350
Posted by Alexander in Car Reviews, Lexus on February 7th, 2011
The Lexus ES 350 is the latest version of the company’s long-running ES series.
2011 lexus es 350
Terms
series, sedan, luxury, Toyota Camry, smoother, automatic, transmission, responsive, adaptive, cruise, panoramic
The standard wheel size is up to 17 inches from 16 inches.
The Lexus ES 350 is powered by a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, which is rated for 272 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission sends it all to the front wheels. Reaches 60mph in about 7 seconds. Estimated economy is 21 mpg in the city and 30 on highways. The new transmission also is more responsive, although its shift gate is notchy, especially during quick gear selections. The transmission has a manual shift feature.
Standard equipments in Lexus ES 350 includes a moonroof, a telescoping steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless start, power front seats, an in-dash CD changer and wood trim. Other options includes Mark Levinson surround-sound stereo, a navigation system, adaptive HID headlights, adaptive cruise control, heated/cooled seats and a panoramic sunroof that provides an additional fixed skylight over the backseat.
Standard Lexus ES 350 safety features are stability and traction control, front and rear side airbags, antilock brakes, side curtain airbags and front knee airbags.
Category › Car Reviews
Title › 2011 Lexus ES 350
Optional features include a radar-based pre-collision system and the Lexus Enform and Safety Connect emergency telematics system.
The ES 350 has good room in the extremely quiet interior for four tall adults, with an especially roomy rear-seat area. Major dashboard controls are easy to use, as are the front cupholders. A large, covered console bin, and front doors have storage pockets. Starting the car now is done with a keyless fob and a dashboard pushbutton, which also turns off the engine. Steering is precise, and the soft ride is smooth, without being sloppy. Braking power is good, although the pedal has a rather soft action.
2011 Lexus IS
Posted by Alexander in Car Reviews, Lexus on December 19th, 2010
Lexus is known for quiet, powerful, refined cars, so one can be blamed for being a bit skeptical when it
2011 lexus is
Terms
lexu, serie, buyer, inche, sion, tran, spen, styli, confu, seat, level, shifter, sport, becau, sale, shrug
been sold for a few years in Japan with a smaller engine as a Toyota. (Lexus is Toyota’s upscale division.)
What was Lexus thinking? There was no way it could seriously challenge the 3-Series with such a car.
However, the trim IS 300 has been the most fun-to-drive Lexus and has gained it experience in the entry luxury sports sedan market. More importantly for Lexus, it’s captured a young audience because the median buyer age of an IS 300 is only 29.
Higher Sales Expected
Lexus hopes the newly revamped compact IS, which is more refined and more liberally equipped than its predecessor, will retain the younger crowd and grab older buyers to boost annual IS sales in
Category › Car Reviews
Title › 2011 Lexus IS
America to 40,000 cars.
The IS 300 attracted only 9,972 buyers in this country in 2004. The 3-Series—also sold as coupe and convertible versions—found 106,549 buyers in 2004, making it BMW’s top-selling auto series in this country.
Larger and More Stylish
The more stylish, high-waisted 2006 IS resembles the BMW 3-Series sedan, which was revamped for 2006. The new Lexus is as solid and smooth as that BMW and is a big improvement over the IS 300.
The new IS looks sleeker and more muscular than its predecessor and is partly derived from the redesigned new Lexus midsize GS sedan. The IS wheelbase is up 2.4 inches to a fairly long 107.5 inches, and the car is 3.5 inches longer overall, 3 inches wider and nearly an inch higher.
The new rear-wheel-drive IS is less edgy than the rear-wheel-drive IS 300 but is far more of a 3-Series sedan rival. Car and Driver magazine’s October 2005 issue compared eight respected entry-level sports sedans, including the top-line IS 350 and BMW 3-Series, and said the IS finished a close second to the winning 3-Series.
One criticism of the IS 300 was its cramped rear-seat area. One might think that the larger dimensions of the new IS would give it more rear-seat space. But no dice—it’s still too tight back there, especially for long-legged adults, and narrow door openings impede entry and exit.
However, there’s good room up front in the quiet, upscale, nicely designed interior, which has good materials, supportive bucket seats and easily read Optitron gauges with needles that appear to float.
The trunk is roomy, but the car’s racy styling causes its opening to be rather small.
Hot Rod Version
The IS 350 is the hot rod, with an engine that outpowers all others in its class. It does 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. The IS 250 is no slouch, though, despite having less power and torque. It reaches 60 mph in 7.9 seconds with rear-wheel drive and in 8.3 seconds in heavier all-wheel-drive form.
The IS 350’s engine will make this version hard to pass up, but Lexus says most buyers of the new IS will choose the IS 250, if only because of its lower price. Lexus also says a good percentage of buyers in northern states will order the all-wheel-drive version.
2011 lexus is
Nice Roadability
The electric power steering was quick but heavy in an all-wheel-drive IS 250 I tested. New front and rear suspension components and powerful new anti-lock brakes provide sharp handling and sure stops—although the brake pedal action is a bit grabby. The supple suspension shrugs off most road imperfections, but is firm enough to occasionally cause a jerky ride on freeways.
The IS 250 versions have traction control and a Vehicle Stability Control system. The IS 350 gets a more sophisticated Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system. Both help keep the car on the road under trying conditions.
An optional performance package with 18-inch (vs. standard 17-inch) wheels and lowered sport suspension isn’t really needed unless one is a genuine car buff.
2011 lexus is
Well Equipped
All IS trim levels have a long list of standard comfort and convenience features, including a 13-speaker audio system. Safety items include a wide array of airbags.
Options include a sunroof, heated-ventilated front seats, leather upholstery, wood interior trim, easily operated navigation system with a rear TV camera, more upscale audio system, steering-linked headlights and a collision avoidance system with radar cruise control.
Lexus has proved that it knows a thing or two about building highly competitive cars. If I were BMW, the IS would make me a little nervous.
