2006 LEXUS ES 350 6AT (276 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Based on the same platform with the best-seller Toyota Camry, the 2007 Lexus ES was launched in February 2006 at the Chicago Auto Show.

The ES was considered for a long time their entry-level model. It wasn’t as sophisticated a hybrid or a high-performance vehicle. It was just another Camry with better materials and nicer design. The ES was one of the quickest cars to 60 mph (97 kph) with a front-wheel-drive and it was timed with 6.2 seconds.

The exterior look showed the new headlights design for the brand’s image. The small grille was flush to the hood, on the same arch. It was different than other Lexus vehicles on the market that showed a more vertical grille. The sloped rear end helped the car achieve a better drag-coefficient.

Inside, the Lexus ES 350 interior featured walnut wood accents, leather seats, dual-zone climate control with air filter, an MP3 player auxiliary input, power tilt, and telescoping steering wheel, and eight standard airbags. A keyless entry and ignition system, Lexus SmartAccess, which does not require the electronic remote to be taken out of the driver’s pocket, was standard.

Under the hood, there was a new, 3.5-liter V6 engine. It was the same unit that was later on found on some other Toyota models all-over the world. It was mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and helped to gain traction with an intelligent traction control unit.