Lexus has always been about luxury but is luxury enough? Over the past decade, Lexus has proven that luxury can also be fun and sexy. But with crossovers and larger vehicles dominating the current marketplace, can Lexus’ ability to make luxury affordable create an attractive sedan for today’s Dad Driver. With the 2022 Lexus ES 350 F Sport Lexus is setting out to prove that sedans are not only practical but can look damn good while doing it.
For me, Lexus has represented “accessible luxury” and it’s continued to evolve its ES line along these same lines, with more options and trims than most other manufactures. For 2022 the ES undergoes a slight refresh including an updated grille, new LED headlights, and snazzy 19 inch wheels. The F Sport package brings with it some uber cool features like paddle shifters and the contrasting red and black leather throughout the interior. It’s a sharp looking car but the way it performs may be an acquired taste.
What This Dad Digs about the Lexus ES 350 F Sport
Luxury Over Power – The Lexus ES 350 F Sport is a blast to drive and takes advantage of the F Sport options like Drive Modes but you won’t forget that it is first and foremost a luxury vehicle. This is an important distinction because the ES provides a smooth, comfy drive that happens to also feel powerful and capable. It might not win over performance hungry Dad Drivers but ultimately the ES drives like a luxury sedan should – confidently and with style.
Under the hood the ES 350 comes equipped with a 3.5 liter V6 engine producing 302 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with an 8-speed transmission and the F Sport package has options to tune the suspension for more tighter handling. While driving, the ES does feel slightly heavier than it appears but it’s a nimble heft that allows for the driver to feel grounded to the road, particularly in tight corners. The suspension makes for an overall plushy ride and the cabin is super quiet – a perfect combination for drivers with sleeping children in the back seat.
Respectable Interior – I’ve always found that Lexus handles its luxurious design with a level of respectable constraint and that is clearly evident in the interior of the ES 350. All the elements of the ES interior are posh but not overbearing. There is a busy but unobtrusive flow to the design aesthetic that allows for functionality to play as an important part as style. Even the dash with all of its buttons and dials seems appropriate. The F Sport red and black leather interior take the interior vibe to the next level.
The ES cabin is also a roomy affair with plenty of legroom for all. My daughter’s car seats fit comfortably in the backseat with ample leg room for my oldest who is now forward facing. Cargo space was a pleasant surprise too – there is 17 cubic inches of space to work with in the deeply set trunk and I had no problem placing a stroller back there along with groceries.
Finally, a touchscreen – The ES now comes with an all new 12.3-inch infotainment screen mounted proudly on the dash. And yes, finally, it’s a touchscreen. Lexus’s line of vehicles utilize a laptop-esque trackpad to control the infotainment and to say it requires a steep learning curve is putting it lightly. The trackpad is actually still a part of this year’s ES but now you can skip using it altogether and tap the screen itself. I’m actually a proponent for other input methods besides a touchscreen – I hate when the screen gets smudgy with fingerprints – but this new screen in the ES is a welcome edition. Lexus’s touchpad, while eventually effective, never felt quite right for an automobile.
Reliable Safety System and Additional Features – Reliability is key in luxury vehicles and Lexus doesn’t shy away from creating elements in ES that don’t disappoint in this regard. The Safety systems — which includes features like lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring — is a prime example of this. These systems worked reliably well and during my test driving I even had the (unfortunate?) opportunity to test out the emergency brake system with pedestrian detection. A young man darted across the road in front of me while I was driving through a residential street and not only did the ES beep loudly at me, I actually felt the brakes engage automatically. I was only traveling at 30 miles per hour and the individual was far enough away to never be in danger but it was amazing to feel the safety system in action.
Other features that the ES can be optioned with – like the panoramic moonroof – are nothing new but they are great examples of how well Lexus can implement these add ons. Take the contact-less truck opener feature that requires you to wave your foot under the bumper to automatically pop the hood. This feature is available on other vehicles from other other brands but I’ve never gotten it to work just right. But on the ES? Every single time I waved my foot under the back bumper, the sensor picked it up and the truck popped open. I like it when things work as they should.
What Gets This Dad’s Downvote
Luxury Upon Luxury will Cost – The base model of the 2022 ES starts at $42k. That’s not necessarily cheap for a sedan but for a luxury sedan with the bells and whistles Lexus provides, this is a reasonable starting point. The ES 350 F Sport package starts at $46,750 and while that’s a significant jump, the features that come with it are tough to live without. Add more features from there like an incredibly sounding 17-speaker 1800-watt Mark Levinson sound system, and the cost for the ES can start to creep closer to the 50k mark. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a sedan, especially when 50k can garner a much larger vehicle in today’s market.
Yearning for the Hybrid – The 2022 ES 350 gets 22 miles to the gallon in the city and 31 miles on the highway. I was actually able to squeeze a few more miles per gallon during my week with the ES, which was a pleasant surprise. Still, with a ride this smooth there is a subconscious yearning for better mileage. There is a 350 hybrid version of the ES that offers an impressive 43 miles per gallon city and 44 highway. That sort of mileage fits the luxury of the ES like a glove, but it will cost a couple of extra thousand dollars.
Reliable Luxury
While modern families opt for larger vehicles, sedans still play a part in offering practical options for Dad or Mom drivers. Luxury sedans, like the ES require a substantial investment but if swanky driving is your thing, this is as swanky as sedans get. The F sport package, which will tack on an additional five thousand dollars, adds a fun balance to the luxury but ratchets up the sport factor. Like a marriage of performance and style, the ES 350 F Sport is a reminder that the sedan is alive and well.
Phillip is a filmmaker, an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and craft beer aficionado. He writes about cars, car tech, and various other cool Dad things. He lives, works and plays in Dallas, Texas.
