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2005 Lexus ES 330 Mid-Size Luxury Sedan
Lexus ES 330 even closer to perfection
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New Car Review of the 2005 Lexus ES 330 Mid-Size Luxury Sedan
Base MSRP Range: $32,175
Base Invoice Range: $28,528
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MSRP As Tested: $35,175.
Versions: None
Vehicle Category: Mid-Size Luxury Sedan
Engine Location: Front Engine
Drive Wheels: Front-Wheel Drive.
Standard Engine: 3.3-liter, Dual Overhead Cam, 24-valves, V-6, 218 â€' horsepower at 5600 rpm and 236 lb-ft torque at 3600 rpm.
Transmission: Five-speed automatic.
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 21/25.
Standard Safety Features: Driver and passenger airbags, Front side airbags, Curtain side airbags,Four-wheel anti-lock brake system, Daytime running lights.
Competition: Acura TL, Acura TSX, Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, Cadillac CTS, Infiniti G35, Saab 9-3.
Every time I get behind the wheel of a Lexus, I think, "This is how all cars will feel in 10 years."
It's not the technology that gives a Lexus the ahead-of-its-time feel, nor is it the styling. Heck, any company can install a few gizmos in a car and call it luxury, and there are plenty of examples of cars that look cutting-edge when they're born only to look totally ridiculous when they age.
So what makes a Lexus so special? Perfection.
Every body panel, every piece of interior trim and every component under the hood work in harmony to make the driving experience blissful. It's smooth. It's precise. It's refined.
That's why each new Lexus is so impressive. It's not that they have a revolutionary body style or fancy new gadgets, it's that they're closer to that elusive automotive perfection than ever before.
Thus it is with the 2005 ES 330.
Last year's model was a great car -- probably the smoothest, quietest vehicle in its class -- but the newest version is slightly more polished.
For starters, the body is faintly different. It's certainly not revolutionary, but the new grille, headlights and taillights are a nice evolution of Lexus' subtle luxury theme and make it look less like the cheaper Toyota Camry.
It also has several new luxury features, like enhanced seating comfort and adjustability, a new steering wheel with integrated audio and central display controls, voice activation for the available navigation system, and satellite radio compatibility. Again, the changes aren't earth shaking, but they're enough to make the ES 330 a better bargain and a more luxurious vehicle than ever before.
Lexus also makes the car more appealing by adding several choices for interior trim, including two different types of wood -- burl walnut and golden bird's eye maple. Combined with two new leather colors, the ES 330 offers plenty of choices for the cabin's look and feel.
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