Lexus ES300 2004 Review

It's a little disappointing then when they think you are driving a Camry.

Not that there's anything wrong with a Camry.

The Lexus ES300 has some good credentials. A lot of its technology and features come from the highly evolved LS430 luxury saloon.

Under the bonnet is the ubiquitous Toyota VVT-i 3-litre engine developing 158kW of power and almost 300Nm of torque.

And inside there is sumptuous soft leather, highly polished real wood trim, dual-zone climate control airconditioning, trip computer, power rear sunshade and an electric moonroof.

Yet, on the outside, it looks like a Camry. At least to my neighbours.

Actually it looks more like a combination of a Camry and a Nissan 200SX, but perhaps to the untrained eye, it's a Camry.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and some people may love its incongruous lines, outdated bonnet shape and bulbous-eyed headlights.

I don't. But if I did and I had just spent more than $80,000 I would be a bit disappointed if it were mistaken for a Camry. I would protest wildly and tell those misguided fools how sophisticated it is to drive and how stunningly quiet it is.

So quiet that you forget there is a potent Toyota quad cam V6 in there, shunting 1500kg of car through to illegal speeds at a surprisingly rapid rate. I would tell them that the five-speed automatic transmission is the smoothest shifter around. I would even challenge them to drive it and see if they could detect when it changed gears. While they were driving, I would point out how smoothly the long wheelbase and sophisticated long-travel suspension rode the lumps and bumps of southeast Queensland's horror roads.

If they were still unimpressed, I would point out all the safety features such as vehicle stability control, traction control, ABS with electronic brake force distribution, Lexus brake assist, dual-stage driver and passenger side SRS airbag, curtain shield airbags and whiplash injury reducing front seats.

And if that failed to impress them, I would show them the rain-sensing wipers. Well, that used to impress me, but not since they are standard on most European cars.

The Lexus ES300 isn't the biggest in the Lexus fleet. That's the LS430. It isn't the fastest or sportiest. That's the IS300.

It's kind of a mid-ranged car that doesn't excel in anything but oozes quality and refinement.

If it didn't cost so much and still be mistaken for a Camry, I would have one.