2005 Lexus ES 330 Ownership, What's New - Intellichoice Review

Lexus' top-notch quality is evident throughout, and reputation suggests the ES 330 will only visit the shop for the occasional scheduled service. Those who spend long hours commuting in heavy traffic or running errands over bumpy city streets will love its solitude and comfort, as will anyone else who just wants an ultra-quiet, sedate, and luxuriously reliable ride. Those searching for sportier performance should consider a German competitor like the BMW 3 Series, an Infiniti G35, or Lexus' own IS range. The 2005 ES 330 comes with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, four-year/unlimited-mileage roadside assistance, power train coverage of six years/70,000 miles, and corrosion protection of six years/unlimited miles. The Lexus ES 330 earned recognition as an IntelliChoice Best Overall Value, claiming the Near Luxury category for 2005. Projected to be an Excellent value over a five-year ownership cycle, the ES 330 is desirable sedan on many levels. The ES 330 is a happy marriage of sumptuous luxury and Lexus reliability--best of all, this wedding costs less than $35,000. What's Hot

Supple, high-quality interior

Whisper-quiet cabin of solitude

Best Overall Value of the Year What's Not

Driver divorced from the road

Bland, Camry-esque exterior

No rear entertainment system for the kids 2005 finds the ES 330 with a few minor tweaks to its exterior and an updated palette of paint and leather choices. Voice activation for the navigation system, ventilated front seats, and six-spoke 17-inch wheels are now options.

The ES 330's interior is where it shows its stuff--and where you should spend the extra money: voice-activated GPS navigation, heated and ventilated front seats, and premium audio take the pampering to another level. Drivers with shorter legs will the love the adjustable pedal assembly.