2012 Lexus ES vs. Its Competition

Bengt Halvorson Senior Editor

If you want a luxury car and favor ride and comfort over performance, the 2012 Lexus ES 350 is one of the better picks, though there are plenty of other options.

The Hyundai Azera and new Buick LaCrosse also tend toward the comfort end of the scale, but both have a very competitive price and the Buick in particular has an expressive new interior that's arguably better looking than that of the Lexus; the Buick also gets a new fuel-efficient eAssist powertrain.

The Nissan Maxima is a sportier option; it has a roomy, stylish interior and more of an emphasis on performance, but it lacks the refinement and isolation of the overall experience in the Lexus and doesn't offer the excellent Lexus dealership experience.

The Lincoln MKZ is also a sharper-edged car, with an interior that is at the same time more stylish but less rich-looking.

The Lincoln’s engine also has more growl, and it's available with all-wheel drive; some might be interested to hear that there's an MKZ Hybrid, with fuel economy ratings of more than 40 mpg.

Acura's TL is a bit sportier than the ES 350, and it can be had in a performance SH-AWD (all-wheel-drive) guise that doesn't forgo much comfort.