- sedan 25,568
- Vicksburg, MS
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- autoshopper.com
2013 lexus es 350 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Fresh lineup of entry-luxury sedans includes hybrid. introductionthe 2013 lexus es marks the seventh generation of the model that helped establish the lexus brand and remains one of the marque's best-sellers. By all indications its popularity should remain intact. although the wrapper is new there are plenty of proven components updated from the last es and the recently redesigned camry, including engines and transmissions. The suspension and steering have been revised to make the 2013 lexus es a better performer and a more pleasurable drive. That goal has been met but the es remains far more luxury sedan than driver's car; there is no sport model or special suspension package available, the sole performance upgrade 18-inch wheels with one-size wider tires. Also, the es uses front-wheel drive. The rear-wheel-drive gs is the better choice for sporty handling. the 2013 lexus es300h hybrid, which essentially replaces the lackluster hs250h in lexus's lineup, combines all the good points of an es with average fuel economy in the region of 40 mpg. Apart from a full-length glass roof, any feature available on the v6 is offered on the hybrid. The only downsides to the hybrid are the price premium and 20 percent less luggage space without a long-item pass-through. The es insulates its occupants from the world outside and is easy to operate. lexus es shoppers have plenty of other cars to choose from. We would name the front-drive audi a6, hyundai azera, acura tl, lincoln mks, buick lacrosse and volvo s60 the primary competitors. Both are front-wheel drive; there is no all-wheel drive option. the lexus es350 comes with a 268-hp 3. 5-liter v6 and 6-speed automatic. Standard features include nuluxe synthetic leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, piano-black cabin trim, moonroof, power front seats, smart key/pushbutton start, power windows and locks, power heated mirrors, am/fm/cd/mp3/ipod/usb audio, bluetooth, led daytime running lights, 17-inch alloy wheels. It is equipped much like an es350 but adds a vehicle proximity notification system (for public awareness when running on electric only), rear spoiler, deeper rear valance, badging, slightly different instrumentation and bamboo interior trim. three major option packages are offered for both models. The premium package upgrades to leather seating, maple wood trim, driver memory system, and power tilt/telescope steering wheel; premium requires an audio or navigation upgrade. The luxury package builds on premium with hid low-beam headlights, leather interior trim, heated/ventilated front seats, power rear sunshade, and park assist. The ultra luxury package further adds a panoramic glass roof, rain-sensing wipers, heated wood steering wheel, passenger seat memory, driver's seat cushion extender, ambient lighting, manual rear-door sunshades, and power trunk lid. standalone options include many of the items in packages, plus 17- and 18-inch wheels, radar cruise control with pre-collision system, blind spot/cross traffic alert systems, and lane departure assist/auto high-beam. safety features on all es models include 10 airbags including front knee and rear-seat side that are compatible with properly installed child seats, plus electronic stability, braking and traction controls. The grille fairs into an arched hood we're thinking was influenced by pedestrian impact standards; the emphasis of the shape is such that from some angles it appears the hood tapers down to the windshield base. framing the grille are cleaner lights that sweep rearward, with fog lights in modest chrome rings rather than the predecessor's chrome plates. Down and inward pointing arrowhead led daytime running lights are standard, the optional hid headlights low-beam only where the european competitors would offer low and high beam hid (aka bi-xenon) lights. whether it's on 17- or 18-inch wheels, the added sheetmetal curvature better encircles the tires and provides a lower, more hunkered-down profile, this despite a proportionally greater increase in height than in length. The new 2013 es is 1. 6 inches longer overall, 1. 7 inches longer between the wheels, and almost an inch taller than the 2012 version. ample mirrors are well off the window surface, mounted on pylons to help quell wind noise; numerous small fins outside and underneath improve airflow. Side panels are free of ornamentation and the only significantly creased character line is along the door sills and sweeps upward to the rear wheel. On es300h there are hybrid badges we think detract from the simple lines more than they announce environmental stewardship. horizontal taillights are pinched at the inner edges, echoing the grille. They offer good wraparound visibility, and the trio of nicely curved lines rising at the corner could have come from bmw or hyundai but these are better done. Dual exhaust outlets on the es350 are dropped on the es300h, which gets a single pipe hidden behind the deeper bumper panel and an added lip spoiler on the trunk. Although the changes drop the coefficient of drag by only a few-thousandths of a point it is enough improvement to add one mpg to the epa combined rating. all es models come with a conventional moonroof and a shark-fin antenna at the trailing edge of the roof. Again not doing anything daring, this generation is no different. the two major changes for 2013 are the move to a broader, more horizontal styling theme just as the 2013 gs did, and a larger back seat easily attributable to two things: cars typically getting bigger every time they're redesigned and lexus's plan to sell this es in china where rear-seat space is so demanded some car companies build long versions specifically for it. the interior is generally inviting and functional. The basic nuluxe upholstery is fine though we expect the majority of es will go with leather of some degree and fineness. A lot of the stitching is done by hand. If it looks like wood it is: maple on es350 and bamboo on the es300h. Regardless of cabin color the front seatbacks, remote-touch controller and steering wheel were black in every example; perhaps spoiled by the apparent luxury, we expected those to be color coordinated. power heated front seats accommodate the majority of the population, with further options of ventilation, position memory and a moderate thigh extender for the driver's seat cushion. Door and center armrests are useful though tall occupants. AM/FM✔ Power Windows✔ Climate Control✔ Cruise Control✔ Bluetooth✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Alloy Wheels
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