Luxury can mean different things to different people. To a large number of car buyers, it means finding a vehicle that takes the time to get all of the little details right on the way to providing a comfortable and rewarding driving experience. This is in large part what has helped to make the midsize Lexus ES the automaker’s best-selling luxury car for the last 15 years.

The 2010 Lexus ES manages to accomplish this impressive feat by being quietly competent at almost everything it does. From the outside, it resembles a more mature and larger version of the company’s sporty, youth-oriented IS – a well-defined step up the premium ladder. The swept headlights and long hood give the vehicle a clear link to other Lexus offerings, and the entire sedan makes extensive use of the company’s L-Finesse design vocabulary. Despite being positioned above the IS in the company’s stable of vehicles, it functions largely as an entry-level luxury sedan for those who are also shopping the Acura TL or BMW 3 Series, which is reflected in its affordable price tag.

There is a single model of the 2010 Lexus ES available. Dubbed the ES 350, it is motivated by a 272-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine. Also offering 254 lb/ft of torque, this all-aluminum powerplant qualifies the ES as an Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) and sees EPA fuel mileage estimates of 19 mpg in city driving and 27 mpg during highway cruising. Shifting is accomplished via a slick six-speed automatic transmission that helps the front-wheel drive sedan hustle to 60 mph in just under seven seconds. “Quiet” and “smooth” are the catchwords when it comes to describing the Lexus ES drivetrain with acceleration rising like a swelling wave once the gas pedal has been depressed. The sedan’s suspension system does a good job of isolating driver and passengers from potholes and other asphalt insults, and electronic stability control is always ready to step in to keep the ES pointed in the right direction.

The interior of the ES 350 is surprisingly spacious, especially when considering its modest length and width. Modern space-saving techniques have maximized the vehicle’s platform to great effect, and the end result is a flat rear floor that provides excellent legroom for those in the rear. In addition, the front seats are comfortable and well bolstered, and the trunk offers almost 15 cubic feet of storage space. A sunroof, dual-zone climate controls and a full range of power equipment are standard on the entry-level Lexus ES. However, the base ES 350 should be seen as a canvas that can be customized with any of the wide number of different option packages and features that can be specified when ordering the vehicle. These include amenities like real wood trim, leather seats, voice-activated navigation and a surround-sound stereo system. A full glass roof can be ordered for those who prefer to motor peacefully under the stars, and a Pebble Beach^® Edition provides unique walnut wood trim, three special exterior colors and a personalization package for the interior. Finally, technology fans will appreciate the availability of Bluetooth integration, an MP3-player port that connects directly to the ES 350’s entertainment system and a rearview camera to help keep a cautious eye out when reversing.

On the safety side of the equation, optional HID adaptive front headlights can move with the turning of the steering wheel to illuminate around corners. This is coupled with radar-monitored cruise control that keeps a safe distance between the ES and the vehicles in front of it and brake assist that can add extra oomph behind the brake pedal during panic stop situations. The 2010 Lexus ES is also crammed with 10 separate airbags designed to handle a wide variety of different crash situations, which combined with its collision detection system helps to make the sedan one of the safest options available from Lexus.

As Lexus helpfully points out on its website, the ES offers the perfect blend of refinement, performance and technology. It will provide you with years of trouble-free service with a high level of comfort, luxurious style, competence and drivability that is the culmination of Lexus’ engineering team focusing on the little things in order to create a vehicle that is greater than the sum of its parts.