2005 Lexus ES 330 consumer reviews

I bought my ES-330 in Jan.1st.-'05, and 'til today I am really happy of my decision. Nothing bad in this gorgeous car. I have driven, Mercedes,BMW,Volvo, etc...this Lexus is the best.

I purchased this car back in September '08. I figure I've had a decent amount of time to evaluate the car. I mean it when I say this is a great car for the money. After some careful persuasion with the dealer, this car became an absolute steal. Sure I got it used with 34k miles, but it was Lexus certified. And let me ask, how many other NEW cars can you get for 20k that offer heated and cooled adjustable leather seats, with lumbar? NAV? Mark Levinson Premium Sound? Elegant real wood trim? HID auto-leveling headlights? Rain sensing wipers? Power sunshade? An auto-dimming rear-view mirror? A smooth, extremely quiet ride? The list goes on. This car is superb for long, bumper to bumper commutes, which is exactly what I have to deal with every day on the way to work. No, it's not a sporty car. But what does that matter when you're stuck in traffic anyway? The comfort here is what counts. Jamming away to music on the excellent sound system, or just sitting back and relaxing as you enjoy the heated seats in cold weather. And the car has ample power for most common situations, like merging quickly on a highway. It looks slightly dated on the exterior, but I think it's still pretty sharp looking. Not as nice looking as the newer model ES, but that's okay, because it actually has a better, higher quality interior than the newer ES. And it rides smoother, too. There's only a few minor quibbles I have with the car. Winter handling in this car is below average I'd say. In snow or slush, going from a dead start, this car is not a happy camper. It'll slide around and the VSC will come on blinking, and you'll struggle on for a few seconds before you finally gain traction. I didn't have so much trouble with this in my older car. The trunk, while it has ample space, is poorly lit, which is a problem that Lexus could have easily solved by adding a brighter light, or a second one on the right side of the trunk. The lighting inside the car is okay, but I replaced mine with LEDs for a brighter, fancier look. The rear seats also do not fold down. Granted this is not a car you'd typically need a feature like that for, but you never know. Overall, this is an excellent vehicle if you're looking for a reliable, comfortable cruiser for commuting, traveling, or just running errands. If you want something sporty, why are you looking at a Lexus ES, anyway?

My Mom owns this car and she loves everything about it except for the local driving. There is a hesitation problem when you do not stop completely and start going again. The car has a drive by wire throttle transmission as do most cars, but this one had a recall. When you are driving and approach a stop sign and don't stop completely and then accelerate, the computer in the transmission takes a second or two to get into gear so you feel a jolt when you apply the gas. Other then that the driving is very smooth and luxurious. The Lexus dealer said there is nothing they can do to resolve this issue except for stopping completely at stop signs.

this is an amazing and smooth car.would never trade it for any other. have had a merc. but this car is much better.

I did not anticipate purchasing this vehicle. I have always driven cars by another manufacturer. However, on a lark, I decided to test drive it. I fell in love with its smooth drive and great handling. It is extremely comfortable to drive - good visibility (no bad blind spots), good seat adjustments (I'm only 5'3" tall but I can adjust the seat to compensate for this) and a very quiet engine. The car looks as great as it drives. The paint job is flawless and the styling is very sleek. The trunk is ample and there is a place where the arm rests in the back seat comes down and two pair of skis will fit through the back seat to the trunk. Two sets of golf clubs and one pull cart will fit easily into the trunk. All of this - AND - there is a special hook for your purse on the front side of the passenger's seat. It was love at first site.