SA Road Tests

Welcome

This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. We drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under South African conditions. It also just happens that most of the vehicles we drive are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you can get at home.

*To read one of our archived road tests, just select from the alphabetical menu of manufacturers' names on the left. Hover your cursor over the manufacturer's name, then choose from the drop-down menu that appears.

*Please remember too, that prices quoted were those ruling on the days I wrote the reports.


We drive the 2014 ES 250 EX, a more practical Lexus

No points to make

Posted 6th May 2014

Lexus is one of South Africa’s best kept secrets. Its products have all the good engineering, build quality, performance, quiet and plush of the German Big Three. And value for money. But the brand hasn’t yet been around forever, so local barbeque-fire motoring committees have still to accept it. That’s despite being enormously popular and winning numerous awards overseas.

And that’s a pity because the ES 250 EX we recently had for review is every bit as luxurious as C-Class, 3-Series or A4; and probably more spacious; and without constantly worrying about a turbocharger, because no-one quite trusts them yet.
 
This sixth-generation ES is based, like its fore-runners, on the Toyota Camry platform but uses an Avalon body shell that’s 50 mm longer, giving your back-seat passengers loads of leg room. There’s also more luggage space than in any other Lexus sedan available here; or in most of the opposition, for that matter.
 
Power is supplied by a 2.5-litre, naturally aspirated four-cylinder Toyota 2AR-FE motor that develops 135 kW of power and 235 Nm of torque. Its zero-to-100 time won’t set the world on fire, but it’s still quite acceptable at a shade under ten seconds; because not everyone has a point to make with Golf GTIs.

The gearbox is a six-speed U660E electronically controlled torque converter automatic featuring artificial intelligence shift control, manual override and Drive Mode Select with choice of Eco, Sport and Normal behaviours. Not quite as intuitive as a twin-clutch, it is nonetheless extremely smooth and responds to driver inputs quickly. ES is a luxury brand, so there is no manual option.

McPherson strut front suspension is designed to deliver minimal roll when cornering, with spring-rates chosen to optimise ride comfort and stability, while counter-wound coil springs optimise straight-line stability and enhance steering feel. Multilink rear suspension, with special attention to geometry and bushings, is also aimed at optimising ride comfort and handling stability. And a new lightweight suspension-arm arrangement increases vehicle stability during acceleration and braking.

What all this means is that the suspension, while moderately firm, soaks up speed humps and rumble strips and is comfortable without ever feeling floaty. The car also steers and handles well; a luxury car that holds its own without feeling any need to rattle your fillings out.

Briefly, safety kit includes ten airbags, the usual electronic braking and handling aids, tyre pressure monitoring, surround and backup sonar with reversing camera, blind spot monitoring with lane change assist and cruise control with speed limiter.

Standard is the expected dual channel air conditioning but with ionised and slightly moistened air, powered windows with automatic “up” both front and rear, heated and folding electric mirrors, an eight-speaker sound system with the usual plugs and Bluetooth, a multi information display, satnav, a tilt-and-slide sunroof and a sunblind for the back window. Upholstery is in leather, both front seats are heated and the driver’s chair is electrically adjustable with three memory settings and lumbar support.

South African buyers will appreciate the full-size alloy spare wheel and standard tyre, but less nice are intruding wheel arches and boot hinge arms that could get in the way of loading. On the positive side, the loading lip is at mid-thigh level and only 16 centimetres deep. The cavity itself is wide and long and rated at 490 litres by the manufacturer.

While it’s true that the ES boasts lots of rear legroom, head space is limited and right-seat passengers will find it hard to fit their feet under the driver’s chair if it’s fully down. And although the back seat features a load-through and there are a couple of useful phone- or oddments trays in the armrest, there are no door bins.

But enough of that; there are plenty more storage spaces spread through the cabin, the joystick computer controller is easy to use and most accessory controls are repeated on the steering wheel. Cruise control is on a third stalk behind it.

Our overriding impression is of a big, quiet, solid and comfortable car with everything a reasonable buyer could want – quick enough, but no fireworks – very decent executive transport, in fact.

Test unit from Lexus SA press fleet

The numbers
Price: R449 000
Engine: 2494 cc, DOHC, 16-valves with dual VVT-i, inline four-cylinder
Power: 135 kW at 6000 rpm
Torque: 235 Nm at 4100 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 9,8 seconds
Maximum speed: 207 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 9,8 l/100 km
Tank: 65 litres
Luggage: 490 litres
Warranty: 4 years/100 000 km; with roadside assistance
Maintenance: Lexus Distance Plan Plus


What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material. If I ever place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with that vehicle at least once already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. As quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so they can see I do actually exist.

Comments?
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