2022 Lexus ES 350: 6 Things We Like (and 4 Not So Much)

It’s been four years since the Lexus ES’ last major redesign, but it must keep reading out of the self-help section because it seems to have been reciting the mantra: “Good, better, best. Never let it rest. ‘Til your good is better and your better is best.” Well, maybe there’s something to all that Tony Robbins-type stuff after all, as incremental improvements have indeed evolved the compact luxury sports sedan into its best self. It may be surprising to learn that it’s not powertrain improvements, suspension enhancements or even cabin comfort that put the 2022 Lexus ES over the top, but (cue “You Got the Touch” … by Stan Bush, not Dirk Diggler) the seemingly simple solution of adding a touchscreen in place of a frustrating touchpad.

Related: 2022 Lexus ES 350 Review: Now More Reasons to Buy

But just because the ES — more specifically, the six-cylinder ES 350 versus the still-inferior four-cylinder ES 250 — is living its best life doesn’t mean it’s beyond reproach. For the full context, be sure to check out Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek’s comprehensive critique via the related link above, but for a rapid-fire rundown on the pros and cons, keep reading.

Here are six things we like and four things we, um … like less, about the 2022 Lexus ES 350:

Things We Like

1. Just the Right Touch

The aforementioned touchpad multimedia controller on the outgoing ES, not to mention the joystick controller that preceded it, have proved that if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get the results you’ve always gotten. A new 12.3-inch (an 8-incher is standard) touchscreen replaces the old non-touch display that was difficult, and therefore dangerous, to use while driving due to unnecessary extra steps and sloppy responses. However, the touchpad remains if, for whatever reason, you actually prefer that.

2. Apple CarPlay All the Way

In addition to the touchscreen upgrade, the infotainment system allows Apple CarPlay to display across the entire expanse of the 12.3-inch screen. As multimedia displays get bigger and bigger, getting maximum usability out of Apple’s smartphone integration system isn’t always an option in other vehicles.

3. It’s Not a Stretch

The multimedia unit may stretch Apple CarPlay, but it won’t require you to stretch in order to reach the screen. Lexus moved the unit 4.3 inches closer to the driver, conveniently and safely putting the screen within arm’s reach.

4. For a Smooth Ride, Base Is Best

The ES 350 equipped with the 302-horsepower V-6 engine and standard suspension provides confidence, comfort and refinement both off the line and at speed. That’s opposed to the supposedly sportier F Sport trim level, which we’ll get into later.

5. Improved Safety Standards

Expanded standard safety features across the ES lineup come courtesy of the new Lexus Safety System Plus 2.5, including blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. That’s in addition to camera and radar enhancements that enable new functions like Intersection Turning Assist, which triggers precollision system warnings and intervention if it senses a car or pedestrian, as well as Curve Speed Reduction to slow the vehicle through tight curves.

6. Buy Four Cylinders, Get Two Free

The six-cylinder ES 350’s starting price is exactly the same as the four-cylinder ES 250, at $41,875, including a destination charge. Moreover, per Cars.com inventory figures, an ES 350 will be easier to find. In other words: You need to really want the 250 if you choose it over the 350.

More From Cars.com:

• Shopping for a 2022 Lexus ES 350? Research One, Here
• Find a 2022 Lexus ES 350 for Sale Near You, Now
• 2022 Lexus ES, IS: More or Less (or Much, Much More)
• What’s New With Lexus for 2022?
• com Reports the Top Trends for 2022

Things We Don’t

1. A Distorted View

The main touchscreen’s graphics are excellent, but the backup camera and 360-degree camera system distort images, and they’re not as clear as they should be.

2. Off-Center Lane Centering

Bruzek found the lane-centering system’s ability to maintain a consistent lane position spotty, tending to cheat to the right side. That’s despite the lane-centering function’s purportedly improved course recognition.

3. Sleek Looks, Rough Ride

If you opt for the F Sport Package, we get it — just do so knowing that it’s ultimately for the aesthetics and not so much for driving delight.

“F Sport is a sleek, attractive package that gives the ES a healthy dose of aggressive looks, but its ride harshness and unique suspension tuning — even with the optional adjustable-firmness shock absorbers — make any handling gains not worth the price of admission,” Bruzek writes in his review.

4. Held Back by Front-Wheel Drive

Those two extra cylinders are two too many for two wheels and, unfortunately, the ES 350 only comes in front-wheel drive. That’s strange considering the eager V-6 engine is the one that could use the traction afforded by all-wheel drive — available only on the four-cylinder ES 250 — in order to unleash its full acceleration potential without rubberizing the asphalt in the process.

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.