TAKE a Toyota Camry, wrap it up in a new body and throw practically every imaginable luxury item you can think of at it, and you have what is essentially a Lexus ES300. The new-look model has been with us since late 2001, but it still looks fresh because its snub-fronted, slab-sided styling is not dissimilar to that of the latest Camry. As would be expected, the ES300 is flawlessly put together, almost unbelievably silent on the road and does a good job of pampering and entertaining its passengers. The driver may not extract as much joy, but that's not to say the Lexus doesn't do everything it needs to with efficiency and ability. But in a market where presence counts, its main deficit is lack of character.

Lexus ES300 LXS sedan
Released: October 1996
Ended: October 2001
Family Tree: ESTHE ES300 nameplate arrived Down Under in June, 1992, when the original, VCV10R codenamed model went on sale here. It was replaced by S and more luxurious LXS badged versions of the new, MCV20R ES300 in October, 1996 - both featuring a 149kW V6. The all-new 158kW model ES300 tested here, the MCV20R, became available in October, 2001.
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