Yes, it’s based on the same platform as the Toyota Camry. But so are the RX and Toyota’s Sienna minivan – and they don’t exactly look or feel like a Camry.

So, too, is the ES 350 quite a bit different from its best-selling cousin. You’ll have a hard time pointing out shared trim pieces between the two, though they do share a 3.5-liter V6 engine rated at 272 horsepower in the ES 350 (versus 268 slightly tamer ponies in the Camry).

Introduced for 2007, the current ES comes chock full of optional higher-end features not typically seen at a car at this price level, including ventilated seats, a rear-view camera, a panorama moonroof and adaptive cruise control.