2022 Lexus ES 350 F Sport Review

This week, we are looking at the 2022 Lexus ES 350 F Sport, a beautiful, luxury midsized sedan that was refreshed for this year.

Exterior

It has a new grill, new LED headlights, and upgraded 19” wheels.  The exterior looks great and has a sporty look with a rear spoiler, and functional dual exhaust.

Powertrain

Under the sculpted hood, you’ll find the tried-and-true 3.5-liter V6 mated to an 8-speed automatic with shift paddles.  Together, they put out 302-horses and 267-pound feet of torque.  The 3.5 is naturally-aspirated without the use of turbochargers.

My tester is the front-wheel drive version, but all-wheel drive is available, and the ES 350 is also available as a hybrid, which I like a lot.

Interior

This is a luxury sedan and that is evident in the interior.  Beautiful red and black two-tone bolstered leather seats greet you and immediately grab your attention. 

Every detail is meticulous, including the door panels and stitching across the dash.  I also love the use of brushed aluminum instead of the usual overused carbon fiber.

The gauge cluster is simply beautiful and changes with each drive mode.  A round tachometer and digital speedometer sit in the middle and a push of a button on the steering wheel slides the center display to the right to reveal even more info, but it does cover the fuel gauge when you do that.

High on the center of the dash is an all-new 12.3-inch screen that operates everything including the 17-speaker 1800-watt amazing Mark Levinson sound system, navigation, Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice commands, a CD player, Wi-Fi, apps, and settings.

The greatest news ever for Lexus lovers is the new screen is an actual touchscreen.  So, what is the big deal about that?  You can now avoid the annoying trackpad  on the center console, which I have never liked.  You can use it if you wish, but I suspect most won’t.

Below the screen are climate controls, shortcuts to the touchscreen, and buttons for the heated steering wheel, and the heated and air-conditioned seats.

The center console is nice and simple.  There is a hold button, USB ports and power outlets. The armrest is soft to the touch, and in a brilliant move, you can open the armrest for additional storage and it opens from both sides so the passenger can access it, too.

There are controls coming off on the dash, behind the steering wheel to change the drive modes, and on the other side to turn off traction control.

The back seat is very roomy, and these passengers get air-conditioning vents, a power outlet, two USB ports, and a fold down armrest with a pass through to the trunk, however the back seat does not fold down.

Utility

The trunk will hold 17-cubic feet of cargo and is quite deep.  Underneath is something rare these days:  a spare tire.

Standard Equipment

It’s a Lexus, so you know it’s loaded.  You get a power moonroof with manual sliding cover, touchless power trunk lid, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, a power rear sunshade, a wireless phone charger, and much more.

The Lexus Safety System plus gives you pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, and a rear camera with cross traffic alert.

Ride and Drive

The ES rides and drives like a luxury car or you can tighten things up by going to Sport Plus mode, which changes things dramatically.  The cabin is extremely quiet, and acceleration is more than ample.

Fuel economy is good at 22 in town and 31 on the highway.  Total MSRP as you see this car is a very reasonable $53,310.

Verdict

If you are not ready to make the switch to an SUV and want a comfortable luxury sedan, the Lexus ES 350 F Sport should be on your shopping list.

1. What I Liked Most: The ride, quietness, and fuel economy.
2. What I would change:  Nothing now that you can avoid trackpad.
3. MSRP: Base price: $45,450; as equipped: $53,310.
4. Fuel Economy: 22 city/31 highway/25 combined.
   
5. Odometer reading when tested: 195 miles.  
6. Weight:  3,6901-pound curb weight.
7. Spare Tire: Compact Temporary Spare.
8. Length-Width-Height: 195.9” long/73.4” wide/56.9” high.
9. Fuel Tank Capacity: 15.9 gallons with the filler on the driver's side.
10. Official Color: Iridium.
11. Towing Capacity:  N/A.
12. 2022 Lexus ES 350 in a few words: A great sedan with a wonderful ride and handling, and when combined with the F Sport option, a ton of fun.
13. Warranty: 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper with roadside assistance, 8-year/70,000 mile powertrain coverage, and two complimentary maintenance visits.
14. Final Assembly Location: Georgetown, Kentucky.
15. Manufacturer's website: Lexus.