My lease on a 2011 BMW 535 iX has ended and I test drove a 2014 Lexus ES 350 today. It's no "rolling wallflower" as one critic called it. But I really didn't put the ES through it's paces. I enjoy driving and value hearing others opinions about driving their 2013-2014 ES 350's.

Also, can you change a navigation address via voice command while car is moving?

Thanks!

 

The navigation system can be controlled using voice commands while the car is in motion. It will understand certain commands and seems to adapt to people's voices and varied diction pretty well. As to your first question I have a 2009 ES 350, and while it is a confident handler at highway speeds and during emergency maneuvers, it tends to isolate the driver from the outside environment.

My wife's fun car (her daily driver is a Toyota Sienna mini van) is a 2010 328i. When I drive her BMW it is a very different experience. It encourages spirited driving, asking you to dive into turns and power out of them. The suspension feels as if it is tuned to be much tighter with less sway and floating than my ES 350.The Lexus always feels composed, the engine always gives you what you ask of it, but it just feels less athletic than my wife's car.

That being said I have never driven the BMW 5 series. I have driven a 2014 ES 350 for a few hundred miles, and it feels very similar to my '09. I jokingly call my ES a living room on wheels, and while that may be a bit of an exaggeration, it's not too far from the truth. The Lexus GS is sportier than the ES, and may be a better choice for someone coming out of a 5 series BMW.

I think the Lexus ES 350 and the BMW 5 series have different missions, which they both fulfill very well. I would suggest a longer test drive of the ES 350, or renting one for a week. It's a very good car, but different from the BMW.

Good Luck and have fun

Tom

 

I appreciate you're thoughtful reply. I'm attracted to the comfort and quiet of the ES but still enjoy the handling characteristics of the BMW. You're absolutely correct about the different missions each car fulfills. They each have their strong suits in getting from point A to point B. I'm leaning towards keeping my BMW however the uncertainty of maintenance costs post-lease is a concern. To be continued...

 

I think that Tom's summary and assessment is very much on the mark.

You are talking about 2 vehicles that are designed, I think, for two very different groups of buyers. The differences in handling characteristics and ride quality are much influenced, not only by different suspension design, but, also, by the fact that the BMW is a rear-wheel or AWD vehicle, and the ES is front-wheel drive. With my priorities 25 years ago, I would not have considered buying a front-wheel drive sedan, but my priorities have changed, and, now, I have no interest whatever in owning a rear-wheel drive or AWD sedan.

It is difficult for me to imagine how a buyer for whom the BMW was designed would be happy with an ES. On the other hand, it is also difficult for me to imagine how a buyer for whom the ES was designed could be happy with the BMW. I think that a more apt comparison and choice would be between the BMW and a GS.

 

Another confirmation of the comments above....A buddy of mine with a 2007 530i did this comparison and ended up with a 2014 528i. While he liked the ES, the 528i is more fun to drive. He also drove a GS and although he really liked it, could not justify the additional cost over the 528i.

 

As long as your friend plans to dispose of the 528i while it's still in warranty... I don't know how high the maintenance costs are on a GS, but I'd expect them to be MUCH lower than on the BMW. At least that's been my experience.

 

He leased this one. Plans to hand it back in three years.