Assuming the typical buyer will be using the 2007 Lexus ES 350 for an upscale commuter, the handling package is just right – comfortable, and better than the previous ES, but by no means supremely capable. The ES 350 driver won't notice any serious limitations unless she finds herself cruising at a good clip on a twisty road. That's when a few gremlins appear, such as a generous dose of body roll, Michelin Energy MXV4 215/55 tires that aren't terribly interested in extreme grip, and steering that remains relatively light even at higher speeds.

At slower speeds in typical daily driving, bumps are well absorbed and the ride is comfortable. It's only when fishing for limits, which few ES 350 owners are likely to often consider, that things get unsettled. This softly-sprung sedan offers a ride that is smooth and somewhat isolated from the road on which it travels, a pointed cheered by thousands of workday commuters everywhere. That being said, drivers desiring a Lexus that's capable of fostering a more intimate relationship wit the blacktop would be better served by the Lexus IS.

Braking, courtesy of the four-wheel antilock disc setup, is effective, though we did notice more pedal travel than expected on sudden stops.