Luxurious midsize Lexus sedan also has some pop

This review first appeared in the October 2022 edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

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Sacramento, California -- Funny how your opinion of a car can change when it delivers surprising levels of performance.

Take the tested 2022 Lexus ES 300h F Sport for example.

Classic midsize luxury sedan, right?  Ranks right up there with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series and the upper-end four-door models produced by Volvo and Audi.

For the 2022 model year, the ES was freshened for the better front and back.  I liked the mesh grille on the front, and the understated spoiler on the rear added to the sporty appearance.

So, horsepower on the tester was listed at a comparatively modest 215. Taking it out on the road, that number felt decidedly low.

Why?  The F Sport tuning made all the difference.

Climbing on Interstate 80 in the Sierra Nevada, I was impressed by how I dusted off a couple of coupes that I knew possessed many more horses than I was riding.  Then, in a tight spot, I did a monorail-like, 45-degree crossover move to shoot the gap between a poking 18-wheeler and a fast-closing gaggle of cars.

It wasn't even close to being a problem.  The sedan dug in and burst easily into safe open space without anyone having to hit their brakes in alarm.

Impressive from a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder power plant with electric assist.

And that battery/electric assist part is important, because the tester was rated at 43 miles per gallon in the city and 44 mpg on the highway.

Another bonus: a max five-star rating in federal government crash tests.

Happily, the expected level of Lexus luxury is part of the package.

Besides the F-Sport tuning and badging, the tested ES 300h was generously equipped with comfort, convenience, safety and driving-enhancement features.

Beyond that, optional extras on my ride included a hands-free open/close trunk, parking assist and a sizable head-up display.

All that brought the bottom line to $52,695.  I've seen similarly equipped models going for 60-grand.

Looking at the whole package, I was thinking: Who would want this car?  My guess is: Quite an eclectic bunch of folks.

That would be high-earning professionals ages 50 and up, young up-and-comers looking to show something for all those long hours they've been putting in and maybe some retired folks who like luxury and performance but don't want to shell out six figures for it.

With that broad-based appeal, Lexus still holds serve in the midsize luxury market.