AutoNSider Review | 2019 Lexus ES350 Ultra Lux

So after 30 years, what might be left to say about Lexus' latest ES sedan?

How 'bout this: If you're planning to lease a luxury sedan, pick any one you like.

Today's vehicles are so well-made that anything should get you through a three-year lease with no drama.

But…if you're planning to BUY a new luxury sedan and keep it till the proverbial wheels fall off, put Lexus at or at least near the top of your list.

And that's not just me talkin', but decades of J. D. Power and Consumer Reports surveys and studies.

While it's not the fastest, nor sexiest, or highest-tech, Lexus' ES350 might be considered as your "go-to-player"…the one you want to have the ball when you need to score.

Comfort + control + above-average reliability. That's a hard formula to beat.

But like all good players, the ES hasn't stood still for it's three decades with us.

The '19 was overhauled only a year ago, in fact. Today's version gives you a new 3.5 liter, 302 HP V-6 with an 8-speed automatic. And just what does this new engine get you? All the acceleration that the average driver will ever use, plus an EPA rating of 22 MPG City and 33 Hwy.

Let me say that again. 33 Highway. That's the kind of mileage that most of Lexus' competitors resort to turbo fours to eke out. But Lexus makes it happen with a nice big torquey non-turbo six. Again, no one can predict tomorrow, but if I was going to try for 300,000 miles, I'd probably pick something like this.

ES window stickers start right at 40K and can escalate into the mid 50's if you opt for a hybrid and check every option available.

We tested the non-turbo top-of-the-line Ultra Lux…and as the name implies, the Ultra Lux doesn't leave out much.

While all ES350s come with auto-high beams, heated outside mirrors, moonroof, 10-speaker premium sound and Smart Watch and Alexa integration, the Ultra Lux adds semi-aniline leather with 4-way lumbar and cushion extenders, heated steering, wood trim, ambient lighting, power rear sunshade and manual side shades, and front and rear performance dampers.

Your total list price for all this? Just a hair over $43,000.

Just 10K in options got us a larger sunroof, noise-reducing 18"s, killer 17-speaker sound, illuminated door sills, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts, an intuitive parking assist with auto-braking, voice command and more.

And if you'd prefer to have your Ultra Lux in a hybrid that delivers an EPA average 44 MPG, that's less than two-thousand more.

And just one more thing. All those positive comments that others make about Lexus' reliability apply to their Certified Pre-Owned vehicles, too.

There are those who consider a three-year-old off-lease Lexus to be one of the safest "bets" on the used car market.

So whether new or pre-owned, your trade-in values for an ES350 should be a bit above average. Follow AutoNSider on Facebook for review videos and more!