Lexus ES 350 2021 Review

With the cancellation of Lexus' midsize GS luxury sedan for the 2021 model year, the more affordable ES 350 sedan takes on greater importance for the automaker. It offers a roomy interior, plush driving dynamics and daring design.

Equipped with a satisfying V6 engine, the 2021 Lexus ES 350 is one of three variants of the car. (The new-for-2021 ES 250 and the ES 300h hybrid are reviewed separately.) The regular ES 350 has the soft and sophisticated vibe common to Lexus models, and the F Sport version delivers a sportier look and a more engaging driving character. This year, the ES 350 F Sport is available in a Black Line Special Edition with black-out trim and two pieces of custom luggage.

Delivering big luxury car comfort at the price of a typical small European luxury sedan, the 2021 Lexus ES 350 offers plenty of value. Be sure to consult our full Expert Rating on the ES 350 for more in-depth analysis.

Which ES 350 does MatoCar recommend?

Lexus offers the 2021 ES 350 in four levels of specification. If you wish to upgrade from the standard ES 350, your main choices are the ES 350 Luxury and the ES 350 F Sport. Additionally, the lineup offers an ES 350 Ultra Luxury model including nearly every factory option. There's also the limited-production Black Line Special Edition. Highlights of each version of the car are as follows:

ES 350 The most affordable version of the ES 350 includes:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Sunroof
• Simulated leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable front seats
• 8-inch infotainment system display
• Touchpad infotainment system controller
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
• 10-speaker audio system

Every ES 350 also comes with:

• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the ES 350 and the car in front)
• Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)

Optional for the base ES 350 is the Premium package, which adds:

• Automatic wipers
• Driver-seat memory settings
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel

ES 350 Luxury Our recommended version of the car adds:

• Features from the Premium package
• 18-inch wheels
• Leather seats
• Additional adjustments for the driver's seat
• Ambient interior lighting
• Rear window sunshade
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
• Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)

ES 350 F Sport The F Sport version builds on standard equipment with:

• F Sport exterior and interior design enhancements
• 19-inch wheels
• Sport-tuned suspension
• Contents of the Premium package
• Sport-bolstered front seats
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
• Pedestrian detection for the rear automatic braking system

ES 350 Black Line Special Edition This limited-production version is based on the F Sport but has:

• Special black-out exterior trim and wheels
• Black rear spoiler
• Two custom pieces of Zero Halliburton luggage

ES 350 Ultra Luxury On top of the Luxury, this top-shelf trim supplies:

• Heated steering wheel
• Fast-response cabin heating
• Premium leather upholstery
• Rear side-window sunshades
• Power hands-free trunk
• Navigation system
• Premium sound system
• Surround-view monitor (gives you a top-down view of the ES 350 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
• Special chassis dampers that help absorb vibrations when cornering