And the inside?

Like the exterior, the ES’ interior makes neither friends nor enemies. It’s business as usual for Lexus, which means you’ll be treated to acres of glossy wood, sumptuous leather and a generally cohesive design that emphasizes user-friendliness over trendy style.

The center stack, inspired by the previous-generation RX, logically groups controls and, on our tester, featured Toyota’s excellent and intuitive navigation system. Our car’s optional Mark Levinson audio system places a priority on clear sound quality over thundering bass, not surprising given the ES’ target demographic.

We did find fault with a few materials that didn’t impress us as much as those on the Cadillac CTS. Namely, the dash top’s oddly shiny urethane and some of the plastic surrounding the center console. Surely Lexus could have spent a few more bucks on materials buyers are likely to expect at this level.

    See also:

    What’s it look like?
    The current GS continues the theme introduced more than a decade ago with Lexus’ subtle-but-shapely original GS 300. A bulbous greenhouse and tall tail give it a more distinctly recognizable desig ...

    Pre-Collision System
    When the radar sensor detects an unavoidable frontal collision, safety systems such as the brakes and seat belts are automatically engaged in an attempt to lessen vehicle damage. Pre-collision se ...

    Safety, Features & Pricing
    The CT 200h achieved top scores in all four crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, earning the car a Top Safety Pick designation. The CT has not been tested by the National Hig ...