The 2020 ES350 is Ultra Luxury That Checks Every Single Box

High Luxury

While many automakers continue to eschew sedans, Lexus keeps on making theirs better and better. Look no further than the ES for proof. This sharply styled four-door luxury sedan has a lot going for it, especially if you live overseas. And even for those of us here in the states, there aren't many vehicles that offer the same level of luxury per dollar as the ES350 Ultra Luxury, as The Ridgefield Press found out after a recent test drive. 

Photos: Lexus

Exceptional Performer

The tester in this case carried a sticker price of $53,595, which is pretty reasonable considering what you get. And as soon as our reviewer stepped behind the wheel, they were immediately impressed. "The Lexus blends big-car functionality with personal-luxury performance, and does it exceptionally well," the remarked.

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>>Join the conversation about the 2020 ES350 right here in Club Lexus.

Several Advantages

Like many Americans, our reviewer is a big SUV fan. But they also admit that cars like the ES have a few advantages, still. "Lexus has done a remarkable job of injecting its crossovers and SUVs with the refinement that characterizes the brand’s sedan lines. Still, there’s something special about a luxury sedan — the low-slung body, the graceful lines, the crisp handling. Plus, Lexus’ ES sedans cost several thousand dollars less than comparably equipped RX crossovers."

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>>Join the conversation about the 2020 ES350 right here in Club Lexus.

Incredible Sound

Our reviewer also noted that the ES350's Mark Levinson audio package was "the best sound system we've ever experienced," which is obviously high praise. They were a bit surprised, however, that this, along with many safety-oriented features, were additional options on the Ultra Luxury. But that's likely what keeps the base price so low.

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>>Join the conversation about the 2020 ES350 right here in Club Lexus.

Few Quibbles

Our reviewer had a couple of other minor quibbles as well. Including the Lexus’ infotainment touchpad, which they found "too jumpy," along with rear-seat headroom that could only accommodate passengers up to six feet tall. But otherwise, they had a hard time finding faults in this do-it-all luxury sedan.

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>>Join the conversation about the 2020 ES350 right here in Club Lexus.

Smooth Perfomance

That includes the power department, where the ES's 3.5-liter 302 hp V6 engine "delivered quiet, effortless power via an 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission, and a simple knob high on the dashboard administered sport, normal or economy settings. We averaged 26 mpg, using regular unleaded gasoline," our reviewer pointed out. 

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about the 2020 ES350 right here in Club Lexus.

Checking Boxes

In the end, The Ridgefield Press sums up the ES350 Ultra Luxury nicely by saying that it "checked all the boxes for luxury." And it does so at a very reasonable price, compared to the competition. So while many others are writing off the passenger car in general, Lexus is once again proving that perhaps we shouldn't count them out just yet.

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about the 2020 ES350 right here in Club Lexus.

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