Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
Lexus always has a wide array of vehicles that seem to have a mix of luxury and sport wrapped up into one and the Lexus ES350 F Sport is no different. The Lexus ES is the series of compact executive and mid-size luxury cars that are sold by Lexus. The ES name stands for “Executive Sedan”, but some call it the “Elegant Sedan”. Lexus has positioned the ES as a sport sedan but still in the comfort luxury segment, highlighting interior amenities, quietness and ride quality.
The Lexus brand has worked hard with the full redesign of the ES. The new ES is built on the all-new Global Architecture – K (GA-K) platform. Lexus has adopted this platform to ultimately create a visually appealing, yet comfortable vehicle. Upon first look the standard spindle grille has become a bit more linear with slimmer headlights and taillights, as well as sharper window trim. The Silver Lining Met F sport model that we tested sat on 19-inch, split five-spoke alloy wheels. The trunk lid spoiler is a nice touch as well. The ES is longer, lower and wider than the previous model.
The interior of the ES350 is equally as nice as the exterior. The interior has Hadori aluminum trim on the F Sport that features fluctuating wave patterns. The seats are comfortable and offer a unique and sporty design. The cabin truly feels refined along with other soft interior elements. The cabin is not as quiet as I would like. To much wind noise disturbed my groove.
The infotainment system in the 2019 Lexus ES350 F Sport is nothing to scoff at. A 10.2-inch Head-Up display and 12.3-inch center screen, touchpad, Alexa, Apple CarPlay on the ES, but unfortunately no Android Auto. The leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum pedals and red stitching add more flare to the ride. Music is crisp with the 17-speaker, 1,800-watt Mark Levinson audio system. Verizon-powered wi-fi is standard, and there’s Siri Eyes-Free voice control.
The ES350 comes with a 3.5-liter V6 – 24 Valve, Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) producing 302 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. I wouldn’t be in a hurry to go line it up for a dig or roll on race but it has enough power in it to make driving pleasurable. The eight-speed transmission offers smooth shifts under all conditions. Paddle shifters come with the F Sport. The gearbox links through a red-stitched manual console lever. The F Sport has a firm ride and quick acceleration on the highway. When you feel as if the throttle response isn’t as peppy as you would like, just switch it into Sport+ mode to get it up to what you are looking for. Sport+ mode also makes a difference in drive handling as well. The F Sport also has the usual Eco, Normal and Sport settings, for more-aggressive engine, transmission and suspension responses. In terms of gas mileage, the F Sport comes in with an EPA rating of 22 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg combined.
The ES sits in a highly competitive class, going up against the Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5 Series, Acura TLX and the Audi A6. The 2019 Lexus ES350 F Sport is roomy, comfortable, luxurious, handles well and built for speed. Led by engineer Yasuhiro Sakakibara, ES F Sport si ready for action. Driving is a pleasure when behind the wheel of this gem. Please enjoy the photo gallery.
