2007 / 2008 Lexus ES 350 - CarzUnlimited.com

Vehicle Overview
Lexus has revamped its midsize ES sedan for 2007 with a larger engine and a couple nifty features. In keeping with Lexus' naming conventions, the numeric portion of the ES name has changed to reflect the installation of a new, larger engine: 350 designates a 3.5-liter V-6 engine. The 2006 ES 330 had — are you ready for this? — a 3.3-liter V-6.

Though the engine is a key change, there are other marked differences from the previous generation. A push button lets the driver start the engine without taking the key fob out of purse or pocket, a feature seen previously in more expensive luxury cars. Also, the body is more tapered, particularly in the rear quarter panels, for a streamlined look.

Exterior
Though Lexus calls this a complete redesign, the basic teardrop shape will be familiar to the brand's faithful. Length, width and height are virtually the same, although the car gains two inches in wheelbase and more than an inch of track. There's also an optional panoramic glass roof, which amounts to a standard sunroof and an additional glass panel above the rear seat.

Interior
Though added wheelbase typically translates into more legroom, that's not the case in the ES 350. Front legroom is unchanged at 42.2 inches; rear legroom increases less than half an inch, from 35.6 inches to 35.9 inches.

And, possibly as a result of the more tapered body, the rear seat loses nearly three inches of hip room — the 2007 model has 52.8 inches, down from 55.5 inches. Front hip room rises slightly, from 55.5 inches to 55.9 inches.

Even if the space didn't get appreciably bigger, it does have some nice features. In addition to the start button, the ES 350 has dual-zone automatic climate control and 10-way power-adjustable front seats. A 14-speaker, 300-watt Mark Levinson audio system and a navigation system are optional.

Under the Hood
This is where change is most evident: the ES 350's larger, 3.5-liter V-6 engine produces 272 horsepower and 254 pounds-feet of torque, which is up from the outgoing ES 330's 218 hp and 236 pounds-feet. The front wheels are driven via a six-speed-automatic transmission that has a clutchless-manual mode and one more gear than the previous ES.

Safety
All-disc antilock brakes, traction control and an electronic stability system are standard. The ES 350 also has eight standard airbags, including driver and front-passenger knee airbags, side curtain-type airbags and side-impact airbags for the front seats. Rear side-impact airbags are optional. An Adaptive Front Lighting System, which allows the headlights to swivel when rounding curves, and a rearview camera that's bundled with the navigation system are optional.

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