I HAD mixed feelings when I drove the Lexus ES250 as it somehow felt new and old at the same time.
New as the car is, of course, one of Lexus' latest offerings in Malaysia and comes with plenty of bells and whistles.
But it's also old in a sense that it uses a big-power naturally-aspirated engine, as if it would be more at home in the "Land of the Free" alongside sedans such as the Chevrolet Malibu or Buick LaCrosse.
The car, now in its seventh-generation, is available in three variants, with pricing starting from RM296,000 for the ES250 Premium to RM345,135 for the ES250 F Sport.
It is the car you may want to consider if you are in the market for executive sedans but are looking for something a little more unconventional.
I recently took the car for a drive to discover the essence behind it.
TAKUMI CRAFTSMANSHIP
Looking at the car from the exterior, you cannot miss the large front grille that is part of Lexus' "Provocative Elegance" theme for the overall design.
Flanked by a pair of three-beam projector LED headlights, the spindle grille delivers a bold and strong impression.
Like it or not, it is a thing for most cars in this segment as the owners of executive sedans are often those who aspire to have some "dominating" road presence.
I wouldn't have appreciated this large grille on a Perodua Myvi though.
Moving along, there's a prominent shoulder line that runs across the front fender all the way to the tail lights, and the rear fascia is nicely tapered to create a sporty look.
The items on the ES250 F Sport include darker grille, 19-inch alloy wheels in gloss black, a rear spoiler and blacked out tail lights.
Before we get into the car, let's check out the dimensions.
Now at 4,975mm long and 1,865mm wide, it is 66mm longer and 46mm wider than the previous generation ES.
The wheelbase is also 51mm longer, at 2,870mm.
Inside, you will be immersed in total luxury that I feel is even better than those in the BMW 5-Series and the Mercedes E-Class.
Almost all of the touch surfaces are not just soft touches but fine plush leathers.
Good news for those who want something other than an all-black cabin as the ES250 in the F Sport trim is upholstered in searing red-black leather, matched with aluminium trim.
I think the car has just the right amount of red, just something special to see when you are getting into the car.
Now, what's the deal with Takumi Craftsmanship, you may ask? Is it just a marketing term?
Well, it refers to the Lexus personnel who devote meticulous attention to crafting, developing and building the cars. As a result, they have created a product that harmoniously blends modern technology and Japanese heritage arts.
On other models such as the UX200, there was the washi paper grain dashboard that mimics materials from the traditional Japanese paper.
In the Lexus ES250, the outcome is evidenced around the air-conditioning panel below the infotainment screen, where the intricate hairline effect was created and etched one at a time using a laser.
Small details perhaps but still something to appreciate, especially knowing it is not one of those "regular" brushed aluminium.
Generally, in the cockpit, the controls are within easy reach, with the centre console delivering a sense of luxury. There's a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment screen enabling access to most of the car's functions, including navigation and phone connectivity.
However, I found the cabin to be a tad overwhelming in terms of the number of buttons and switches.
Imagine, there are 20 buttons on the steering wheel alone, excluding a pair paddle-shifters.
As a Lexus, the ES250 has some traits from the legendary LFA supercar, one of which is the two rotating stalks on either side of the instrument binnacle, like ears or horns.
These are the controls for the driving modes and stability control; not necessary to be there and just a Lexus thing.
Another one is the movable meter that is also the F Sport variant's party piece.
Depending on the display settings, the main dial slides from the centre to the right to make way for more info on the left.
This reveals an additional page that displays navigation, temperatures and even a G-force meter.
Pretty cool to see the sliding ring in action and I don't think this is the sort of gimmick that we can easily get tired of like the voice command or gesture controls.
THE DRIVE
Now, it is worth noting that the Lexus ES250 is built on the TNGA platform (which also underpins the current-generation Camry).
So this is a major reason why the ES250 has a great outwards visibility despite having low seats.
The windows can be rather low and this has made the car to be less of a stress to manoeuvre through tight and busy streets.
Remember, the ES250 is almost five metres long so it is not a small car.
There are three driving modes - Eco, Normal and Sport - and I find myself driving in Sport 90 per cent of the time because the car just felt too lethargic to my liking in the other two modes.
It may just be me preferring a certain level of sharpness in the throttle response even when not driving at a fast speed.
But that is not necessarily a downside as the car has a powertrain with a silky smooth power delivery.
The 2.5-litre Dynamic Force four-cylinder engine delivers its maximum output of 204hp and 247Nm near the end of the rev range, at 6,600rpm and 5,000 rpm, respectively.
This makes the Lexus ES250 a lovely chauffeur limo if you wish, and surely a great family sedan.
And don't mistake it for a slow car as it can accelerate from zero to 100kph in 9.1 seconds and go beyond the national speed limit rather effortlessly.
The car won't be too happy if you push it hard through the bends - just like any other Lexus.
The chassis and suspension can take it but the powertrain isn't that keen to keep up with an aggressive pace.
VERDICT
Is it worth spending nearly RM350,000 for the Lexus ES250 in F Sport trim?
To me, the car is supremely nice and easy to drive, highly refined and quiet for long drives, and has a bold styling with immense attention to details.
It all goes back to your preferences. Are you more comfortable with a mainstream premium brand or something less common?
If you love to answer questions such as "Hey, nice car. So, what is it?", then the Lexus ES250 may just be the one for you.