2012 Lexus ES 350

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(4.9) 31 reviews
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2012 Lexus ES 350
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Key Specs
Our Take
Overview
Photos
Reviews
Safety & Recalls
Warranty & CPO
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Key Specs

of the 2012 Lexus ES 350. Base trim shown.

  • Body Type:
    Sedan See similar vehicles
  • Combined MPG:
    23 Combined MPG
  • Engine:
    268-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 (regular gas)
  • Drivetrain:
    Front-wheel Drive
  • Transmission:
    6-speed automatic w/OD and auto-manual
  • View more specs

Our Take

From the Cars.com Vehicle Test Team

The Good

  • Comfortable ride
  • Strong acceleration
  • Intuitive touch-screen display
  • Hushed cabin
  • Fuel economy

The Bad

  • Low-effort steering at high speeds
  • Brake pedal feel
  • Front-seat comfort
  • Long rear doors

Notable Features of the 2012 Lexus ES 350

  • 268-hp V-6
  • 10 standard airbags
  • Optional glass roof
  • Optional heated and ventilated front seats
  • Pre-Collision System option

2012 Lexus ES 350 Overview

By Cars.com Editors
Vehicle Overview

The ES 350 is Lexus' front-wheel-drive midsize luxury sedan. It seats up to five people, and in keeping with Lexus' naming conventions, the numeric portion of the ES name reflects the engine size, a 3.5-liter V-6 engine. The ES 350 competes with the Acura TL and Lincoln MKZ.

New for 2012
A limited-edition Touring Edition debuts for 2012. It features 17-inch wheels, a full-size spare tire, wood and leather accents for the steering wheel and shifter, heated and ventilated front seats, a navigation system and leather seats. Lexus is limiting production to 2,000 copies.

Exterior
Smooth, flowing lines define the ES 350's exterior, which is free of body cladding. Exterior features include:

  • Standard moonroof
  • Standard 17-inch alloy wheels
  • Available 10-spoke wheels with Liquid Graphite finish
  • Standard dual exhaust tips
  • Standard rain-sensing windshield wipers
  • Available panoramic glass roof

 
Interior
Safety Connect, a subscription-based communication system, is standard, and the available navigation system includes the Lexus Enform concierge service and Bluetooth phonebook download. Interior features include:

  • Leather upholstery
  • Push-button start
  • Dual-zone automatic climate control
  • 10-way power-adjustable front seats
  • Available 14-speaker Mark Levinson stereo with iPod, USB connectivity
  • Available navigation system with backup camera


Under the Hood
The ES 350's 3.5-liter V-6 drives the front wheels through an automatic transmission. Mechanical feat...

Vehicle Overview

The ES 350 is Lexus' front-wheel-drive midsize luxury sedan. It seats up to five people, and in keeping with Lexus' naming conventions, the numeric portion of the ES name reflects the engine size, a 3.5-liter V-6 engine. The ES 350 competes with the Acura TL and Lincoln MKZ.

New for 2012
A limited-edition Touring Edition debuts for 2012. It features 17-inch wheels, a full-size spare tire, wood and leather accents for the steering wheel and shifter, heated and ventilated front seats, a navigation system and leather seats. Lexus is limiting production to 2,000 copies.

Exterior
Smooth, flowing lines define the ES 350's exterior, which is free of body cladding. Exterior features include:

  • Standard moonroof
  • Standard 17-inch alloy wheels
  • Available 10-spoke wheels with Liquid Graphite finish
  • Standard dual exhaust tips
  • Standard rain-sensing windshield wipers
  • Available panoramic glass roof

 
Interior
Safety Connect, a subscription-based communication system, is standard, and the available navigation system includes the Lexus Enform concierge service and Bluetooth phonebook download. Interior features include:

  • Leather upholstery
  • Push-button start
  • Dual-zone automatic climate control
  • 10-way power-adjustable front seats
  • Available 14-speaker Mark Levinson stereo with iPod, USB connectivity
  • Available navigation system with backup camera


Under the Hood
The ES 350's 3.5-liter V-6 drives the front wheels through an automatic transmission. Mechanical features include:

  • 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 makes 248 pounds-feet of torque
  • Runs on regular gas
  • Six-speed automatic transmission with clutchless-manual mode


Safety
An available Adaptive Front Lighting System allows the headlights to swivel when rounding curves. Safety features include:

  • All-disc antilock brakes
  • Traction control
  • Electronic stability system
  • Driver and front passenger knee airbags
  • Side curtain airbags
  • Side-impact airbags for the front and outboard rear seats
  • Available Pre-Collision System

View 14 Photos

Latest 2012 ES 350 Stories

See all 2012 Lexus ES 350 articles >

Consumer Reviews

4.9
31 reviews
Exterior Styling
(4.6)
Performance
(4.6)
Interior Design
(4.6)
Comfort
(4.9)
Reliability
(4.9)
Value For The Money
(4.8)

What Drivers Are Saying

(4.0)

I keep buying

by Always Lexus from worcester, ma. on October 4, 2018

this car is the 5th one I have owned. they have lived up to their reputation on every one I have owned going back 1993 Read full review

(5.0)

Best Car I?ve Ever Had

by Chantisha from Rocky Mount N.C. on September 19, 2018

I absolutely LOVE IT ....best car I?ve had...I got my car at a great price with very low mileage...and the value of my car OMG ??? Read full review

Safety & Recalls

Recalls

The 2012 Lexus ES 350 currently has 1 recall

IIHS Crash and Rollover Test Ratings

Based on 2012 Lexus ES 350 Base

IIHS rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor.

Front

Overall evaluation
poor

Head Restraints and Seats

Dynamic Rating
marginal
Overall Rear
marginal
Seat Head/Restraint Geometry
good

Moderate overlap front

Chest
good
Head/Neck
good
Left Leg/Foot
good
Overall Front
good
Restraints
good
Right Leg/Foot
good
Structure/safety cage
good

Other

Roof Strength
good

Side

Driver Head Protection
good
Driver Head and Neck
good
Driver Pelvis/Leg
good
Driver Torso
good
Overall Side
good
Rear Passenger Head Protection
good
Rear Passenger Head and Neck
good
Rear Passenger Pelvis/Leg
good
Rear Passenger Torso
good
Structure/safety cage
good
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a nonprofit research and communications organization funded by auto insurers.

Manufacturer Warranties

Backed by Lexus
New Car Program Benefits

  • Bumper-to-Bumper

    48 months / 50,000 miles

  • Powertrain

    72 months / 70,000 miles

  • Roadside Assistance

    48 months / unlimited distance

Certified Pre-Owned Program Benefits

  • Maximum Age/Mileage

    6 years/less than 70,000 miles

  • Basic Warranty Terms

    6 years/unlimited mileage

  • Powertrain warranty

    6 years/unlimited mileage

  • Dealer Certification Required

    161-point inspection

  • Roadside Assistance

    Yes

  • View All Program Details

Have questions about warranties or CPO programs?

See Warranty FAQs or visit the manufacturer's website .

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Cars.com Car Seat Check

Certified child passenger safety technicians conduct hands-on tests of a car’s Latch system and check the vehicle’s ability to accommodate different types of car seats. The ES 350 received the following grades on a scale of A-F.*
* This score may not apply to all trims, especially for vehicles with multiple body styles that affect the space and design of the seating.

Warranty FAQs

What is a Bumper-to-Bumper warranty?

Often called a basic warranty or new-vehicle warranty, a bumper-to-bumper policy covers components like air conditioning, audio systems, vehicle sensors, fuel systems and major electrical components. Most policies exclude regular maintenance like fluid top offs and oil changes, but a few brands have separate free-maintenance provisions, and those that do offer them is slowly rising. Bumper-to-bumper warranties typically expire faster than powertrain warranties.

What is a Powertrain warranty?

Don't be misled a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty doesn't promise a decade of free repairs for your car. It typically covers just the engine and transmission, along with any other moving parts that lead to the wheels, like the driveshaft and constant velocity joints. Some automakers also bundle seat belts and airbags into their powertrain warranties. With a few exceptions, powertrain warranties don't cover regular maintenance like engine tuneups and tire rotations.

What is included in Roadside Assistance?

Some automakers include roadside assistance with their bumper-to-bumper or powertrain warranties, while others have separate policies. These programs cover anything from flat-tire changes and locksmith services to jump-starts and towing. Few reimburse incidental costs like motel rooms (if you have to wait for repairs).

What other services could be included in a warranty?

Some automakers include free scheduled maintenance for items such as oil changes, air filters and tire rotations. Some include consumables including brake pads and windshield wipers; others do not. They are typically for the first couple of years of ownership of a new car.

What does CPO mean?

A certified pre-owned or CPO car has been inspected to meet minimum quality standards and typically includes some type of warranty. While dealers and third parties certify cars, the gold standard is an automaker-certified vehicle that provides a factory-backed warranty, often extending the original coverage. Vehicles must be in excellent condition and have low miles and wear to be certified, which is why off-lease vehicles feed many CPO programs.

See also the latest CPO incentives by automaker