The Lexus ES 330 is based on the Toyota Camry, but is distinguished by unique styling. The rake of the ES 330 combined with its streaked-back headlamps make a striking statement. The front end seems to slope down in one continuous curve, from the top of the windshield, over the sculpted hood and tidy dark grille, down to the smooth air dam under the almost seamless front bumper. The headlight cluster suggests silvery eyes pulled back at the corners.
Tail lamps trimmed in silver echo the design, stretching around the corners, as if reaching to meet the headlamps. Nine-spoke alloy wheels complement the styling. Chromed door handles are easy to grab and do not require awkwardly flipping your hand over as they do on other models such as the Infiniti I35 and Audi A6.
Lexus designed its ES sedan to be the safest car in its class. The passenger compartment is reinforced in critical areas and front and rear crush zones are designed crumple to absorb the impact of a crash.
You see and feel the quality. It can be felt in the solid sound the doors, trunk and hood when they're closed. But sometimes the quality is hidden: The underbody is smooth, nearly flat, contributing to exceptional aerodynamic efficiency (with a coefficient of drag of just 0.28), and the car is constructed using advanced composites and resin-steel sandwiches to further minimize the intrusion of noise.
and easy to set, though it lacks the elegance of Infiniti's analog clocks.
The center console features a storage box with a power outlet, and two conveniently placed cup holders with adjustable rings. There's a purse hanger in the front passenger footwell, and two retractable coat hooks in the rear. Power windows with auto up/down with jam protection are used at all locations. Retained accessory power allows operation of the power windows and power moonroof after turning off ignition, but not the audio or navigation systems.
Trunk volume is comparable to the class, and considerably larger than that of the Mercedes C-Class sedans. A cargo net is available, but costs extra.
The Lexus ES 330 delivers a smooth, refined driving experience with a smooth engine and transmission, a smooth-riding suspension, smooth brakes, and extensive measures designed to reduce noise, vibration and harshness.
The 2004 model's 3.3-liter V6 engine, which replaces the previous 3.0-liter V6, produces 225 horsepower and 240 pounds-feet of torque (compared with last year's 210 hp and 220 lbs.-ft.). The larger displacement endows the ES 330 with better performance. The increased torque improves the car's responsiveness in everyday driving situations. According to Lexus, the ES 330 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. It's a responsive engine, but the ES 330 is not lightning quick. The ES 330 has an EPA City/Highway fuel economy rating of 20/29 mpg and is certified by the government as an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV II).
The transmission was revised for 2004 for smoother shifting and it shifts very smoothly. Upshifts in normal, everyday driving are almost invisible, but the transmission is responsive when driving aggressively. Downshifts are responsive but smooth, a big improvement over last year's transmission. Also, less downshifting is needed with the increased torque and wider power band of the larger engine. It's best to put it in Drive and leave it there. The gated shifter allows manual shifting and an indicator displays the selected gear on the instrument panel, but shifting manually is a clunky proposition due to the gates.
The ES 330's suspension is tuned for a smooth ride. It filters out vibration and contributes to the ES 330's exceptional quiet and smoothness. Summer tires come standard, while all-season tire are a no-cost option (both size 215/60VR16). If it snows or rains a lot where you live, get the all-season tires; if you live in the Sunbelt, the smile states, then the summer tires should offer better grip on dry pavement. The four-wheel independent strut suspension is designed to minimize body roll and allow precise handling. The speed-sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering has a very nice touch: light, but with good feel, effortless around town. There is very little, if any, torque steer. (Torque steer is a phenomenon of front-wheel-drive cars felt as a slight tug on the steering wheel under hard acceleration.) Overall, the ES 330 handles well, but it is tuned more for ride quality than sporty handling. Its front-heavy weight distribution (61 percent front/39 percent rear) limits its cornering potential, but the front-wheel-drive ES is the conservative Executive Sedan. Serious driving enthusiasts may prefer the similarly priced IS 300 (or a BMW 330i), with rear-wheel drive and an available five-speed manual gearbox, but the IS 300 does not offer the smooth ride quality, amenities, and overall refinement of the ES 330. Most drivers will be happier with the ES 330.
The optional Adaptable Variable Suspension ($620) is worthwhile for drivers who are interested in adjusting handling and ride quality. The system automatically and continuously changes the shock absorber dampening rate at each wheel in response to road conditions, vehicle speed, and steering and braking inputs. Overall, the system is tuned very nicely, and provides a great ride under all conditions. The driver can switch among four stiffness settings by moving a thumb wheel on the center console. The firm setting is relatively firm, but not as firm as a sports suspension: It tightens up transient response (quick lane-change maneuvers) but transmits more vibration into the cabin when driving on rough neighborhood roads; it works best when driving at high speeds or when whipping along mountain roads. The softest setting works very well at low speeds in the neighborhood, filtering out all of these undulations, and we liked it for that, but it's on the squishy side for other conditions. The middle two settings were just right everyday driving conditions.
The brakes are very smooth, effortless, yet sensitive. They require little effort to generate good stopping power, but are easy to modulate. In other words, it's easy to brake very smoothly in everyday driving, wrapping your passengers in a velvety experience, yet the car will stop quickly in an emergency braking situation. The ES 330 comes standard with anti-lock brakes (ABS), which allow the driver to maintain steering control in an emergency stopping situation; just remember to maintain pressure on the brake pedal and to look and steer where you want to go. It also comes standard with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), which distributes braking force evenly to the tires with the best grip for improved stability and braking performance. Brake Assist is optional, but a good idea as it helps the driver maintain maximum braking force even when he or she makes the mistake of relaxing pressure on the brake pedal in an emergency stopping situation.
Optional Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) integrates ABS, EBD, traction control and Brake Assist (and includes all of them) and helps the driver maintain control of the car in slippery corners or even in dry corners when the tires lose grip. VSC retards the throttle and/or applies braking to individual wheels (something the driver cannot do) to help the car track along the path intended by the driver. It's a great active safety feature that can help drivers avoid accidents.
The ES 330 comes in one well-equipped model ($31,725), loaded with luxury and safety features found in higher-priced Lexus sedans.
Handsome, high-quality, leather upholstery with wood trim comes standard. Also standard are automatic dual-zone climate control with interior air filter, power windows with auto up/down and jam protection, and a power moonroof. An AM/FM/CD/cassette system comes standard with 86 watts and seven speakers. A 240-watt Mark Levinson audio system is optional.
Options include Vehicle Stability Control with traction control and Brake Assist ($650); Adaptive Variable Suspension ($620); DVD satellite navigation ($2,220); power-adjustable pedals ($140); power rear sunshade ($210); high intensity discharge headlamps with rain-sensing wipers ($640); heated front seats ($440); wood steering wheel and shift knob ($330); chrome wheels with all-season tires ($1700).
Safety was a top priority when designing the ES 330. Standard safety equipment includes the full complement of airbags: dual front airbags, seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and front and rear side-curtain airbags. (Curtain airbags are very important for their ability to provide head protection.) It comes with three-point safety harnesses for all five seating positions; be sure to wear them as they are your first line of defense in a crash. The front seats are designed to reduce whiplash. To help the driver avoid accidents in the first place, the ES 330 comes standard with anti-lock disc brakes (ABS) and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD).