In the last decade, more than 600,000 people looking for a good entry-level luxury sedan have opted for the Lexus ES350.

With a base price hovering around the $35,000 mark, the ES350 has introduced many buyers to the world of luxury sedans.

For 2011, the ES350 gets virtually no changes, since last year it had a pretty heavy refresh. So what does this entry-level luxury sedan offer that appeals to so many buyers?

Let’s take a look.

The ES350 is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard for this front-wheel-drive car. Mileage is about 22 mpg for a mix of city and highway miles.

This year’s model uses regular gasoline. Past ES350s required premium fuel.

Standard safety equipment for the 2011 Lexus ES 350 includes stability and traction control, antilock brakes, front and rear side airbags and side curtain airbags..

I have yet to drive a Lexus that I didn’t find exceptionally smooth and quiet – and the ES350 keeps that streak going.

The V6 engine is smooth and powerful. As long as you’re not expecting a particularly sporty ride, the ES350’s soft and serene ride will be to your liking.

Some things you’ll enjoy standard include, heated exterior mirrors, a sunroof, automatic wipers, cruise control, 10-way power front seats, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, leather upholstery, wood interior trim, an auto-dimming mirror, Bluetooth phone capability, satellite radio, iPod interface, auxiliary audio jack and USB audio jack.

The perfectly reasonable base price of $35,525 quickly rises as you add options like the Mark Levinson Premium Audio package that has navigation, backup camera and an even more premium stereo and speakers.

With this package and the Ultra Luxury package, the final price for my test vehicle was $45,500.