Driving the Tour of Utah in a 2015 Lexus ES 350, #1 - The Weekly Driver (press release) (blog)
I opted for the two-day version, and one reason was because of my ride, a 2015 Lexus ES 350. A logical approach to attend the Tour of Utah bike race was a first night’s stop in Elko, Nevada, a 415-mile effort east on Interstate 80 to Reno, Nev. The 2015 Lexus ES 350 is the upscale version of a Toyota Avalon. It has an EPA rating of 21 miles per gallon in city driving and 31 mpg on the freeway. Since a tight time schedule wasn’t part of the equation, how much cheaper would it be to drive on my own schedule than spend the estimate $400 (the best airfare I could find) to travel during the least optimal times outbound and inbound. The Lexus ES 350 provides a smooth, comfortable and quiet ride. The Lexus slogan is “The Pursuit of Perfection. ” The Lexus isn’t perfect, just like any car and any price isn’t percent. The trip to Elko, Nevada, was achieved often while advancing a few miles above the 75 mph speed limit and while using the efficient-to-use cruise control system. I filled the tank after 344 miles with 11. 2 gallons at $2. 92 per gallon. The cost was $33 and I averaged 30. 71 mpg, a surprisingly accurate tally with the EPA estimate, particularly considering the high average speed and air conditioner usage. Source: theweeklydriver.com
