A clean instrument panel features analog instruments with a white background, and they are easy to read. Besides the usual indicator lights, there's an exterior temperature gauge and an information display that covers fuel mileage, driving range and average speed.

We had a big problem with reading the radio and climate control digital displays in the sun, however. And the air conditioning has a tiny crumb-sized green light indicating it's on, which is undetectable in the bright of day.

The glove compartment contains a trunk lock, as well as trunk lid and fuel door releases; and the rearview mirror is self-dimming electrochromic, with a digital compass. The console holds a storage box with a power outlet inside, and two cupholders with adjustable rings. There's a purse hanger in the front passenger footwell, and two retractable coat hooks in the rear.

The standard fabric seats offer 10-way power adjustment for the driver and eight-way for the front passenger, so the seating position is excellent, with lots of front-seat legroom. There are good places to brace your limbs, and a big dead pedal for your left foot. Our test model was loaded, and had the plush Regency leather. The seats are very comfortable, but if you try to drive the ES 300 around corners like a sports sedan, your upper body will slide a bit.

Increasing the size of the ES 300 resulted in more headroom, and more legroom in the rear. Front and rear headroom increased by 1.7 and 1.4 inches, while rear legroom grew from 34.4 to 35.6 inches. Front legroom suffered, however, shrinking from 43.5 to 42.2 inches. Despite the increased height, there doesn't seem to be an abundance of headroom; a 5'10" driver can touch the headliner by stretching a bit. And the slope of the rear window doesn't allow a panoramic view, though it still fills the rearview mirror. The mirror is mounted so close to the headliner that it has to be grabbed awkwardly from the bottom to adjust.

The optional DVD navigation system is state of the art, designed for intuitive operation, according to Lexus. It has a tilt screen and simplified highway graphics for easier viewing, and multi routes to multi destinations for those so intuitively inclined. This system is third generation, and route calculation is twice as fast as before, with voice guidance that directs you back to the route if you blow it. In French, if you want it. The database also contains the location of airports, banks, hotels, restaurants, shopping centers and even ATMs.