While a 3.0-liter 24-valve DOHC aluminum V-6 has always resided under the ES' hood, the current engine was thoroughly updated last year. Lexus refers to it as three quarters of an LS 400 engine, as it has nearly identical valvetrain architecture, three quarters of the cylinders, and 75 percent of the displacement. Its 188 horsepower is the least powerful of this competitive group (one horse less than the BMW, two less than the I30, and six less than the C280), while its 203 pound-feet of torque places fourth. Still, one tester wrote that "the Lexus feels faster than it really is.It's got a tremendous surge through the midrange that makes it very responsive and fun to drive."
The MacPherson-strut suspension comes through with well-damped ride compliance, and the car is predictable in turns, although it exhibits more chassis pitch than most of the others in our test. This was accompanied by a high squeal factor from the Goodyear Eagle GA Touring tires, even in moderate cornering.
The ES' base price of $31,500 is the second-lowest, although by the time our test car was loaded with leather ($1300), a six-disc CD changer ($1000), a power moonroof ($900), and chrome wheels ($1100), its $36,453 sticker was topped only by the C280's.
The ES 300 remains an attractive entry in the class, even if a bit of its luster has been overshadowed by more-recent models. A new version is expected in the near future, which means the current ES could soon be one of the best real-world values of the group.
Mazda Millenia S
Mazda isn't a name that immediately comes to mind when thinking along the lines of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, and Acura. Yet, as many people know, the front-drive Millenia was originally intended to be the lower-priced member of Mazda's aborted Amati luxury division. In fact, the performance-oriented Millenia S has drawn such favorable response since its '94 introduction we're tantalized as to what Amati's top-line sedan would have been like.
Mazda has long held a reputation in the industry as an engineering-based automaker, which is borne out by the Millenia S. Under the hood is the smallest, lightest, most compact engine of our six entries: a super-efficient 2.3-liter 24-valve DOHC V-6, employing a sophisticated Miller-cycle intercooled supercharger system to churn out a group-best 210 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque.
As would be expected of a small-displacement, forced-induction engine, the 2.3 is weakest in the low-end torque department, but once the tach needle begins its swing across the gauge face, the revs come freely and frantically. Taking advantage of the lowest weight-to-power ratio of the test (16.2:1), the car hits 60 mph in a mere 8.0 seconds, only 0.3 second behind the group-best Infiniti. A defeatable traction-control system aids driveability in slippery conditions.
Complementing this ample output is a sport-tuned chassis/suspension package that invites the Millenia driver to get spirited on twisty backroads, yet trades off little on the day-to-day highway commute. With an aggressive 16-inch wheel/tire package, the Millenia S verified its superior transient stability by posting the top slalom speed, at a sports-car-like 65.8 mph.
In contrast to the 325i, the Millenia S also knows how to pamper. The interior drew compliments for its excellent ergonomics and comfortable roominess. Its power-adjustable tilt steering column automatically swings out of the way to facilitate ingress/egress and swings back into its preset position when the key is inserted into the ignition. Although our test car's curious two-tone combination of a black dash and beige interior left some testers bewildered, the Mazda drew kudos as the most appealing of this rich-looking but conservative lot, with a plush, contemporary flair that reinforces both its sporting and luxury intentions.
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