New cars: Lexus ES350

ForbesAutos.com

The name of this entry-level luxury sedan refers to its 3.5-liter, V6 engine.

In the highly competitive upscale-car market, the ES350 is a sports sedan “intended for value-oriented” buyers who don’t mind a car with handling and ride “on the softer side.” An optional Pre-Collision System applies the brakes when a crash is imminent.

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AutoWeek

Unlike the old ES—“a gussied-up Toyota Camry”—this new version does offer a genuinely enjoyable experience. Still, there’s too much “body roll during turns” and weak brakes, and options can bloat the price up to $42,081. The ES350 is a comfortable car, “but just a bit too soft for our taste.” Grandpa, though, “would love to own” one.

Automobile

The six-speed, front-wheel-drive ES350 also comes in a version aimed at an upmarket segment whose search for status can’t be satisfied by any mere car. The Pebble Beach Collection model comes with “three distinct merchandise packages”—the Callaway Golf Experience, the Travel Package, and the Epicurean Encounter—which, respectively, include a set of golf clubs, luggage, or cutlery. Only 6,000 of each vehicle will be produced.