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Note: This performance review was created when the 2010 Lexus ES was new.
Performance: | 8.5 |
Lexus has carved out the ES's place clearly in an increasingly crowded upscale sedan market. This is the comfortable one, not the car that pretends to be headed for the track. You'll probably be content cruising quietly in the ES and feel no need to prove your car's muscles. But if you're not careful, you might find yourself getting a speeding ticket. The car's engine is so smooth that 30 and 90 don't feel very different.
The ES is available with just one engine, a 3.5 liter V6 putting out 272 horsepower. It sends power through a six-speed automatic transmission, which can be shifted manually. Though reviewers often say that the ES is not as sporty as more performance-oriented upscale midsize cars, the Lexus doesn’t lack power. It offers particularly brisk acceleration between 50 and 75 mph -- just where power is needed for highway-speed passing. The EPA estimates that the ES delivers 19 miles per gallon in the city and 27 on the highway.
The ES doesn’t attempt to compete with canyon-carving sport sedans like the Audi A4 or Infiniti G37. That leads to some criticism from reviewers, who often conduct measured performance testing under track conditions and are impressed by the sportiest cars. But the ES has been one of the best-selling entry-level luxury cars in recent years, in part because of its soft, cushioned ride -- which smoothes out road imperfections to create a superbly comfortable commute.
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