The standard leather-trimmed upholstery is quite nice, and the seats are very comfortable. The seating position is excellent, with lots of front-seat legroom. Optional power-adjustable pedals are especially useful for shorter drivers, helping them find a comfortable driving position without sitting too close to the airbag-equipped steering wheel; we recommend them for families with short drivers. The seats are relatively flat, without large bolsters, making getting in and out easier. The driver's seat comes standard with 10-way power adjustments, and both front seats have a memory function. The shape and construction of the front seats is borrowed from the flagship LS 430 and they can be ordered with integrated heat and ventilation.
The ES 330 is about 10 percent larger inside than a Mercedes-Benz C-Class, with significantly more front hip room. The ES 330 does not offer as much headroom as the Mercedes, however, and six-foot drivers may wish for more.
The rear seats are roomy, making this a comfortable car for four adults. Five is a crowd, but it'll work for short distances. Overall, it's roomier and more comfortable (with more hip room and leg room) in the back of the ES 330 than in the back of a Mercedes C320 sedan. The outboard rear seatbelts have pre-tensioners and force limiters, similar to those in front, which can help reduce injuries to rear passengers in an accident.
The driver's seat offers good visibility out front. The self-dimming outside mirrors offer a good view rearward and seem larger than those on German cars; we prefer the Lexus mirrors. They automatically tilt down, if desired, when you shift into reverse. The inside rearview mirror is self-dimming (electrochromic) and features a digital compass. The slope of the rear window doesn't allow a panoramic view, though it fills the rearview mirror. The rearview mirror is mounted so close to the headliner that adjusting it requires an awkward grab at its bottom edge. An optional power rear shade filters out the blazing sun, whether driving or parked.
The clean-looking instrument panel features three round, deeply recessed pods with highly legible Optitron gauges. A large speedometer dominates the layout. A digital trip computer at the bottom of the speedometer displays range, average fuel consumption and other functions, controlled by a pair of buttons on the left side of the steering wheel. Similarly, a digital odometer with two trip odometers is displayed in the right pod with big fuel and temperature gauges. On the left is a big tachometer.
The optional navigation system is powerful, with excellent graphics, a huge database (5 million points of interest), and voice activation. It's a good system, but requires some experience and study to master. Once you've done that, it works well. Input an address or point of interest (restaurant, hotel, airport) and the system directs you verbally and visually. Pressing the Map button displays the address of wherever you are at that moment on the fly, a great feature when looking for an address where the numbers are hard to spot. To reduce the chance of driver distraction, the navi cannot be programmed when the car is moving.
Audio functions are integrated into the navigation system, which we found a mixed blessing. To change preset radio stations, for example, you must first press the Audio button to call up your presets; so what takes one step on a standard radio now takes two steps, which doesn't seem like progress. The good news is that the Audio button is smart: Press it when a CD is playing and you're presented with CD functions; press it when FM is playing and you get your station presets. The bad news is that the system at times left us gazing at a screen that had little or no function. After a few moments, the system automatically redisplays the dynamic map of your location, saving you from having to press the Map button after tuning the radio.
The sound quality from the optional Mark Levinson system is fantastic, especially for CDs. Combined with the sound-absorbing measures in the ES 330 cabin, it provides the audiophile with clear highs, crisp lows and enveloping mid range. While the standard audio system is rated at 0.1 total harmonic distortion, the Mark Levinson system generates just 0.01 THD. If you like technology and music and can justify its considerable cost, our recommendation is to spring for the navigation/Mark Levinson option, then spend some time in the driveway with the owner's manual open. Don't try and learn this stuff while driving. XM Satellite Radio and a six-disc CD changer are also available. We really like satellite radio for listening to the 24-hour news stations and for music as AM and FM have become so commercial heavy.
Thankfully, the climate-control system is not integrated into the navigation system. Instead, it features separate controls below the navigation display that are clearly marked and easy to operate. It's an elegantly designed system with dual zones and nicely integrated switches for the seat heaters. A small display indicates whether the passenger airbag is enabled, though we confess we grew tired of seeing the illuminated indicators. At the top of the center dash area is a small digital clock that's straightforward and easy to set, though it lacks the elegance of Infiniti's analog clocks.
The center console features a storage box with a power outlet, and two conveniently placed cupholders with adjustable rings. There's a purse hanger in the front passenger footwell, and two retractable coat hooks in the rear. Power windows with auto up/down and jam protection are used at all locations. Retained accessory power allows operation of the power windows and power moonroof after turning off the ignition, but not the audio or navigation systems.
Trunk volume is comparable to most of the competition's, and considerably larger than that of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. A cargo net is available, but costs extra.
