2005 Lexus ES 330 Review and Specs

Summary

What Edmunds.com says

A supple ride and a gorgeous interior make this one entry-level luxury sedan that you'll never want to upgrade from.

Pros

Comprehensive array of luxury and convenience features, superb ride quality, silent cabin, advanced safety technology, excellent reputation for reliability.

Cons

Bland driving characteristics, many of the most desirable options are expensive, no split-folding rear seat.

What's New for 2005

Lexus polished up some of the details on the ES 330 for 2005. Revised exterior styling includes a new front and rear appearance with updated lighting and trim. Inside, color revisions and new wood availability keep things fresh. New 17-inch wheels are available in either chrome or alloy finish. A memory function now applies to both the driver and front-passenger seats, and heated and ventilated front seats are a new option. A revised steering wheel with auxiliary audio controls debuts, as does voice activation technology for the optional navigation system.

Consumer Ratings & Reviews

DON'T BUY A 2005 MODEL

Written by: Tamra Parks on 08/08/2008

Detailed Ratings

Overall Rating


Performance:	2	Fun-to-Drive:	3	Build Quality:	1
Comfort:	7	Interior Design:	5	Reliability:	5
Fuel Economy:	7	Exterior Design:	7

Vehicle

2005 Lexus ES 330 4dr Sedan (3.3L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I have the same issues as others with the transmission and it drives me crazy. I complained at the 5,000 mile checkup and the dealership told me, "We know about this common complaint, but you will get used to it." In other words, too bad. My car has 63,000 miles and I have not gotten used to it. So I will never buy another Lexus because of it. This is my second one. Also, the cup holder is so flimsy that it broke and they want $380 to fix it. The quality is equivalent to what you would find in a $10,000 car.

Favorite Features

Heated and cooled seats.

Suggested Improvements

See above.

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2005 ES 330

Written by: Rich on 07/26/2008


Performance:	9	Fun-to-Drive:	9	Build Quality:	10
Comfort:	8	Interior Design:	9	Reliability:	9
Fuel Economy:	7	Exterior Design:	10

The ES is a pleasure to drive and one of the quietest cars I have ever been in. It offers a great ride with nice power. Controls are logically laid out for easy operation while driving. My 3 points of criticism are: 1) Terrible cup holders 2) Transmission hesitates when accelerating from a slow roll is a very poor design on this model 3) Front seat should be longer to reach closer to your knee for improved comfort and better support "under leg".

Great looking car, quiet drive, maintains value.

Improve cup holders so that every time you turn the wheel your drink doesn't fall out. Improve computer calibration on transmission to eliminate hesitation noted above. Increase length of front seats by 2-3" to improve comfort and support.

So here's the deal...

Written by: Greenespace on 05/13/2008


Performance:	8	Fun-to-Drive:	8	Build Quality:	10
Comfort:	9	Interior Design:	9	Reliability:	10
Fuel Economy:	9	Exterior Design:	8

Overall, it's a great and reliable car. The pluses include a quiet ride, extreme reliability, plenty of legroom, and an excellent stereo, even if it's just the premium, not the Mark Levinson version. The biggest negative I can think of is that the transmissions in these cars are awful in lower gears. You WILL be jerked around, especially if you are rolling at low speeds and then accelerate. However, other than that, an excellent buy and a car that is hard to go wrong with.

Fairly smooth ride, quiet, extreme reliability, good stereo, well laid out cockpit for the money.

Could be a little more stylish from the exterior- not exactly a Mercedes in that dept. Transmission definitely was a problem on these cars. Won't go out, but will jerk you around a bit.

I'm going to miss her

Written by: comfortable/safe on 04/11/2008


Performance:	9	Fun-to-Drive:	10	Build Quality:	10
Comfort:	10	Interior Design:	9	Reliability:	10
Fuel Economy:	8	Exterior Design:	9

This is a luxury car, not a sport car. I have enjoyed driving this car! I will buy another someday! the comfort and feeling of a quiet, safe reliabilty comes to mind instantly! Worth every penny... I owned a Lexus.

I loved the seats! Heated or cool in the summer!

More direction on working the navigation system.. Paint on hood starting chipping right away!

Overpriced vehicle

Written by: Mark on 04/02/2008


Performance:	2	Fun-to-Drive:	2	Build Quality:	7
Comfort:	10	Interior Design:	10	Reliability:	10
Fuel Economy:	3	Exterior Design:	9

Poor tires, poor transmission, poor gas mileage, no performance for the money,car has no traction in snow and we had to change the tires almost immediately because they could not handle wet conditions in New England. The new tires have excellent traction but are considerably more noisy. A little stiffer ride but worth the change.

Interior, head lights, wiper system, GPS, quiet car. Excellant maintenance record, car is a lady's car, great on long distance rides (over 200 miles), very comfortable ride.

Improve mileage and performance. You need to buy GM transmissions for this engine.

2005 Lexus ES 330 Consumer Ratings & Reviews