Driving Impressions

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. And did we mention this car is smooth? The 3.3-liter V6 engine gives the ES 330 responsive performance in everyday driving situations. Lexus says the ES 330 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. It's rated 21/29 mpg City/Highway by the EPA and is certified by the government as a ULEV II Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle. Power ratings are down slightly for 2006, to 218 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, but that's only because the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has instituted new test procedures that tend to deliver more conservative numbers. The engine itself, and its performance, have not changed. This year's ES is just as powerful as last year's model. The transmission shifts very smoothly. Upshifts in normal, everyday driving are almost invisible. Yet the gearbox delivers responsive shifts when driving aggressively. The gated shifter allows manual gear selection, but we found this to be a clunky proposition and preferred to just leave it in Drive. 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. The four-wheel independent strut suspension provides precise handling with minimal body sway. The speed-sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering has a very nice touch: light and effortless around town, but with good feel. There is very little, if any, torque steer. Overall, the ES 330 handles well, but it is tuned more for a smooth ride than sporty handling. Its front-wheel-drive layout and front-heavy weight distribution (61 percent front/39 percent rear) limit its cornering potential. Serious driving enthusiasts may prefer the Lexus IS with rear-wheel drive, but most drivers will be happier with the ES 330. The standard 16-inch wheels come with all-season tires (215/60VR16). The optional 17-inch wheels should provide sportier handling with a choice of all-season or summer tires, both with slightly lower-profile sidewalls (215/55VR17). The optional Adaptable Variable Suspension is worthwhile for drivers interested in adjusting handling and ride quality to suit conditions or mood. The system automatically and continuously changes the shock absorber damping 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 indeed 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 city streets. This setting works best when driving at high speeds or when whipping along mountain two-lanes. The softest setting works very well at low speeds on rough neighborhood streets, filtering out the undulations of neglected pavement. We liked using it for that, but it's on the squishy side for other conditions. The middle two settings were just right for everyday driving. The brakes are very smooth and 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. The ES 330 comes standard with anti-lock brakes (ABS), which help the driver to maintain steering control in an emergency stopping situation; in an emergency stopping situation, remember to maintain hard pressure on the brake pedal and to look and steer where you want to go. The ES also comes standard with electronic brake-f

Final Word

The Lexus ES 330 delivers a smooth, refined ride. Its engine and transmission are smooth and so are its brakes. The cabin is very quiet. Lexus quality and attention to detail pervade. If you want a smooth and quiet mid-size luxury sedan, you cannot do much better in this price range than the Lexus ES 330.