We found a few issues worth mentioning here, not because they're significant on any car, but because they're significant on a $46,000 car. They include plastic and wood pieces within the center instrument panel that didn't sit completely flush and exhibited inconsistent gaps, metal speaker faces atop the dash that didn't fit perfectly, and a gap around the left side of the glovebox that was wider than it should be. Admittedly, they're minor points, but such an expensive vehicle would ideally be free of such faults.

On the flip side, the exterior of our 2007 Lexus ES 350 test car was darn near perfect. All of the body and fascia panels lined up well and were joined by fairly tight and consistent gaps. The only detraction was the spacing between the passenger side front and rear windows – it was a little wider at the top.