What’s it up against?
This one’s tough to answer: The ES doesn’t really have many direct rivals aside from the Ford Fusion-based Lincoln MKZ, the Cadillac CTS , the Acura TL and the Volvo S80 since the segment is all-but ignored by the default German luxury carmakers – and even those four really take on different roles.
The redesigned MKZ has a capable chassis and a nice V6, but it trails the competition in terms of interior appointments. The CTS has wowed us over and over by being so, well, un-GM, but its rear-wheel-drive sportiness might turn some shoppers off. The controversial TL abandoned its conservative roots for 2009, but like the ES, it offers a lot for the money. The S80, also fresh off a makeover for 2010, might be the ES 350′s most direct rival thanks to its sophisticated and quiet demeanor, but we’d be surprised if there’s truly much cross-shopping between the two brands.
Any breakthroughs?
Lots of luxe for the cash – that’s the ES’ promise. You won’t find much that’s truly groundbreaking, but you will find the coddling of the larger LS in a less expensive package.
See also:
Clock
Without navigation system
1. Adjusts the hour.
2. Adjusts the minutes.
3. Rounds to the nearest hour.*
*: e.g. 1:00 to 1:29 → 1:00
1:30 to 1:59 → 2:00
With navigation system
1. ...
Performance
Even if you like the looks inside and out — which many likely will — there is
nothing endearing about the driving experience.
First there's the body-lean issue. When you take a highway off-ramp at ...
Automatic High Beam
The Automatic High Beam uses an in-vehicle camera sensor to assess the
brightness of streetlights, the lights of oncoming and preceding vehicles,
etc., and automatically turns high beam on or off as ...