Honda Accord vs. Lexus ES 350
We take a peek at Toyota’s luxury auto brand, the Lexus, and its entry level sedan, the ES 350, and match it up against its rival company, Honda, and its Accord LX, to see if any of these cars are good, or practical enough, to own in the wake of the recent economic hangover.
We start with the popular Honda Accord LX, which has a 2.4L inline-4 engine, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission gearbox. This thrifty engine has a fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon for city and highway driving, and has sufficient horsepower (177), attainable at 6,500rpm. The company’s suggested retail price for this model starts at $21,765.
The Lexus ES 350, which actually belongs to the automotive luxury section, starts at $34,800, and for this price there is a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, which achieves 22-mpg for both city and highway driving. A 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is attached to the engine, and has the capability to reach 272 screaming horses at 6200rpm, and deliver those to the front wheels.
Now, both of these cars offer 4-wheel ABS on ventilated disc brakes as a standard safety feature. In terms of curb weight, the Accord LX comes out in a slightly trimmer 3230 lbs., when compared to the Lexus, which weighs in at 3605lbs. The Accord’s weight is supported by 16-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 215/60 All-Season tires, while the Lexus ES350 has 215/55 spec tires on 17-inch rims.
One must remember though, that the Lexus ES is available in only one trim, which, of course, is the 350. This luxury sedan has the following comforts you wouldn’t find as standard equipment on a base Accord LX: a moonroof, keyless start, power front seats, a telescoping steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, an in-dash CD changer, and lovely wooden trims. Thrown in, is stability control and an assortment of airbags at no extra cost.
As for the Honda Accord, things get a bit more upscale, more competitive and pricier as you go up the different trim levels. The Accord offers three different trim levels, namely, the base LX, the upgraded EX, and the top of the line EX-L, which offers premium features, such as leather upholstery and an optional navigation system.
Then again, the Lexus has everything and more, than what you can expect from the Accord’s top level trim, again, at no extra cost. However, if you are not the executive type of person, the Accord will suit you just perfectly.