Lexus ES300h F Sport review: safe-bet saloon

1 / 10

00 / 10

heycar rating

"Comfy and quiet, yet unexciting"

• Launched: 2018
• Premium
• Hybrid

Quick overview

Pros

• Vast cabin space
• Excellent quality and improved tech
• Smooth and refined

Cons

• Lacklustre single engine option
• You lot tin't fold downwards the rear seats
• Doesn't handle like a v Series

Overall verdict

On the within

Driving

Cost to run

Prices and Specs

Common questions

Overall verdict on the Lexus ES

"The Lexus ES is the direct replacement for the GS executive saloon. If you lot remember that a mild alter of name means any significant alter in tack for the firm'south mid-size saloon, so as this review will show you'll be in for a thwarting."

On the other hand, if you liked the Lexus GS, and at that place was plenty to admire about information technology, then the Lexus ES offers a lot more than of the same. It is a sharper looking saloon than the GS, which slowly evolved to look rather anonymous. The ES has crisper lines and a slightly coupe-esque profile, though it'due south certainly not in the mould of the Mercedes CLS.

The rivals for the Lexus ES are the usual suspects from the executive sector, namely the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Jaguar XF and Mercedes E-Grade. All of these cars have the added ace up their wheelarches of an manor model for anyone wanting more conveying capacity. This is an surface area where Lexus has long lagged behind its European counterparts, and the ES remains resolutely only available every bit a four-door model with kicking rather than tailgate.

On the inside, you won't mind the Lexus ES isn't an estate as the cabin offers up an impressive amount of room. This is certainly one area where Lexus has listened to critics of the GS and responded in very definite terms. In fact, yous could almost accuse the business firm of overreacting as the rear seat now serves up almost as much knee room as the LS luxury limousine in Lexus' range. However, nosotros'll take that over the cramped back seat of the GS that went before.

The front end of the ES's cabin is no less generous in the infinite it offers its occupants. The driver is presented with a very high-tech looking nuance, which includes a couple of unusual column stalks poking out of the sides of the main binnacle. They are for the drive modes and traction control and, while they seem a little unusual at offset, they are an example of Lexus daring to call up differently and come up with a solution that works, even if it appears a niggling left-field.

For 2021, Lexus added a touchscreen for its infotainment system allowing you to ditch the extremely fiddly trackpad control method. It's yet not the best system in its class, merely it is at least easier to use on the movement.

Left-field thinking also underpins why Lexus has resolutely stuck with hybrid ability for its mid-size saloon models for many years now. The petrol-electric set-up for the ES is familiar, simply it at present drives the front wheels rather than the dorsum pair. Again, this puts the Lexus at odds with conventional thinking for this class of motorcar, but there's no denying it has upsides such as the huge rear seat infinite now provided in the ES.

As far equally driving goes, the Lexus ES is much the same equally the GS in that it is smooth and unflustered in most conditions, only endeavour to exploit its grip or power and its poise begins to unravel all too apace. A BMW five Series will only drive abroad from the Lexus on a twisting road thanks to its superior trunk control and grip levels. The 2021-on models accept had improvements to the overall handling, and it does feel a little more controlled, but it's still not exactly an engaging driving experience. Nevertheless, on crusty surfaces, the Lexus gets correct back on terms with the plushness of its ride.

It'due south a shame that Lexus doesn't offer more engine choices with the ES, as that would help it compete more closely with the Germans. However, its quality, comfort and refinement blended with the Lexus ES's low running costs make it an interesting package. Not necessarily a class-leading 1, but definitely worthy of consideration.

Is the 2022 Lexus ES right for you?

The executive sector is total of cars with sporting touches and muscular appeal in a bid to depict in buyers, yet condolement is a much longer lasting talent to accept and this is what the Lexus ES offers. Its supple suspension soaks up lumpy roads and whisks them away with barely any disturbance to its occupants.

For this reason alone the ES is a great machine for anyone who has long commutes to consummate. It deposits yous at journey's stop feeling comfy, relaxed and gear up for what comes next.

This at-home demeanour is enhanced by the hybrid powertrain's easy-going nature, while the motel has masses of space and build quality that makes a bank's seem a little slapdash. The interior is as well packed with lots of standard kit to make your life easier and more cosseted.

Lexus also gets it right when it comes to running costs, which volition be of vital importance to the many visitor car drivers faced with the selection of picking from the Lexus or the multitude of other executive saloons available.

What's the best Lexus ES model/engine to cull?

Guess what? You don't become a choice when information technology comes to the engine in the Lexus ES equally there's simply one and it's a petrol-electric hybrid. The ii.five-litre iv-cylinder petrol unit of measurement is spliced with an electric motor to produce a combined 218PS.

That'due south not a lot when compared to the ES's usual rivals with the option of 4, six and fifty-fifty eight-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. So it proves on the road and confronting the stopwatch, with the ES needing 8.ix seconds to cover the 0-62mph dash - fine when competing with base model rivals, simply not in one case your move upwardly their ranges.

Although the performance is far from thrilling, the ES's engine philharmonic rewards with smoothness and information technology pulls away from a standstill using just electrical ability for a very placidity, smooth beginning to your journey.

With simply one powertrain, your big conclusion is which trim to choose. There are four to pick from, comprising the base ES, ES Premium Edition, F Sport and Takumi. The latter is the nearly luxurious, while the F Sport has a more dynamic outlook. Yet at that place's nada missing from the standard ES, so this is the one nosotros'd head towards.

What other cars are similar to the Lexus ES?

Lined up confronting the wall as rivals for the Lexus ES are the usual suspects. They are the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes Due east-Class from Federal republic of germany, while the British connection is taken care of past the Jaguar XF.

The BMW is the ane keener drivers volition gravitate towards, while the Mercedes appeals for its comfort and elegant cabin. The Audi A6 has a more avant-garde entreatment, while the Jaguar is the Union Jack in automotive grade with supremely comfortable ride.

Yet perhaps the closest rival in approach to the Lexus is the Volvo S90. The Swede is another that does things its own style and doesn't requite a damn what anybody else thinks. That's rather attractive.

Comfort and blueprint: Lexus ES interior

"In keeping with the Lexus ES's comfort rather than sporting arroyo, the driving position is a little more upright than you'll find in the likes of the BMW 5 Serial or Jaguar XF. Information technology gives superb support and the front seats are deeply cushioned to give an old-fashioned armchair feel, yet there is likewise sufficient side bolstering to keep yous in place during cornering."

The F Sport model comes with more than sculpted and heavily bolstered seats, in keeping with its more dynamic nature. These seats are no less comfy than the standard items, but are still mounted fairly loftier off the floor relative to rivals.

In every ES, at that place is of space for the driver'southward head and shoulders, as well every bit a huge range of electric seat adjustment for the shortest or tallest drivers. For anyone in between these ii extremes, you will likewise find it easy to attain the right driving position as the steering bike also moves for height and bending.

The view from the driver's seat is good to the front and sides, but the sloping rear pillars restrict vision when changing lanes or pulling out of side streets at an angle.

Looking inside the cockpit, the digital dash display is clear and easy to read and the controls are clustered in a manner that makes them easy to reach for. That includes the 2 unusual looking rotary command jutting out of the principal binnacle that operate the traction command and driving modes. At first, they seemly strangely positioned, but you before long forget they are there unless you desire to change which mode the automobile is in when you have instant admission.

For 2021 Lexus hasn't changed the granite-hewn quality or array of sometime-school buttons (we kind of like that), only it has brought in an improved infotainment system. The menu designs and features aren't massively enhanced, but the screen itself is closer to the driver and is now impact operated.

Quality and cease

If there is one area where Lexus leads the pack in the executive saloon field, it is this one. The Lexus ES has a peerless sense of quality that is clearly derived from the LS luxury saloon. It imparts an identical sense of calm and faultless construction, which is a pleasing feeling when you're sat in the ES.

Everywhere you look, in that location are neat little touches to the mode the materials are finished or mixed to provide just plenty contrast to make it like shooting fish in a barrel to pick out the right button or punch. There'southward even a softness to the lighting of the ES'due south instruments' that makes it feel like a cutting to a higher place the herd in a sector where high quality is the norm.

The same approach applies to the more primal side of the ES, then every surface and joint is millimetrically accurate and consistent. It works in harmony with the precision of all the buttons, though remember pre-2021 models utilise a trackpad-fashion command for the screen that is incredibly fiddly to employ on the move.

Infotainment: Touchscreen, USB, nav and stereo in the Lexus ES

The base Lexus ES comes with an 8-inch infotainment screen as standard, but step up to the Premium Edition or above and y'all get a 12.3-inch display with navigation.

Prior to the 2022 model yr update of the ES (applied in mid-2021) the screens were controlled solely by a trackpad similar to that you lot'll notice on laptops, surrounded by a few shortcut buttons.

This was undoubtedly Lexus' thinking, just what works on a stationary laptop is not so good when driving a car. The pad is much besides sensitive to the smallest move of your finger, so the cursor on the infotainment screen tin spear off in an unwanted management. Fifty-fifty with familiarity, it's tricky to use and frustrating, immediately undermining the whole calm demeanour of the ES.

Happily, with the latest update Lexus has moved the central screen closer to the driver and introduced a full touchscreen, which is easier to operate overall. Oddly the trackpad remains if you lot'd prefer to apply that, but it's nowhere nearly every bit intuitive as a rotary dial such as that institute in BMWs.

The graphics aren't the well-nigh slick, either, but in one case upwardly and running the sat-nav works well and the actual touch on response is pretty crisp. There's as well shortcut keys on the nuance for various functions, while you tin can bypass the system and employ the standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity instead.

The chief digital dial brandish isn't equally large as that on some rivals, nor does it have the absurd sat-nav graphics of Audi's Virtual Cockpit. But information technology is configurable to some extent, and the brandish itself is fine.

On top-spec Takumi models you tin can specify an option called 'Digital Door Mirrors', which uses cameras feeding to displays on the door top instead of the usual side mirrors. These systems look cool, only are often a scrap disorientating and tin become obscured by dirt, then brand sure yous endeavour earlier y'all buy.

Space and practicality: Lexus ES boot infinite

The Lexus ES banishes the cramped rear accommodation of its predecessor, the GS, at a stroke. Much of this is down to the ES using a front-wheel bulldoze platform, so there is non nearly such a pronounced manual tunnel. This blueprint has too allowed Lexus to devote a lot more than of the motorcar'south considerable length to the passenger surface area and means the ES now offers very nearly equally much rear legroom every bit the LS luxury saloon.

A pair of tall adults can sit in imperious comfort in the back of the ES and they will take plenty of room to spare for their heads and elbows too. A 3rd rider might find it a bit snug, just at to the lowest degree they geta flat base and back to aid comfort. They too get a full three-bespeak belt while the outer pair of seats come with Isofix kid seat mounts as standard.

Those in the rear of the ES get individual air vents and the Takumi model besides boasts heated rear seats, though this is non even an option for the other two models in the ES range.

Getting in and out of the ES's rear seats is like shooting fish in a barrel thanks to the back doors swinging to well-nigh 90-degrees. Also, the rear bench is a trivial higher set than many of its rivals, then information technology'due south a shade improve for just turning and stepping out of the car rather than having to lever yourself out.

At the rear of the ES, the boot lid has powered opening and closing either using the buttons on the dash or key. If you choose summit level Takumi or the F Sport model with the optional Takumi pack, you become a kicking that can be opened hands-free by waving your human foot under the rear bumper.

With the boot open, the luggage compartment is usefully bigger than the onetime GS's and offers 454 litres of infinite. That'southward withal a fashion behind the likes of the BMW five Series or the Mercedes East-Grade, and the ES is further hampered by the shape of its kicking every bit in that location are structural supports that mean you cannot utilise the full length of the flooring. Another demerit for the ES's cargo bay is the rear seats do non fold forrad, which is a real omission these days.

In terms of outside dimensions the Lexus ES is 4,975mm long, i,865mm wide and 1,445mm tall. That makes it a fleck longer and ever and so slightly narrower than its cardinal German rivals.

Handling and ride quality: What is the Lexus ES like to bulldoze?

"Any executive saloon buyer looking for a chip of excitement in their daily drive will feel a little permit downwards by the Lexus ES. This is not a car for scything along country roads or making fast progress in round the ring route on your way to a vital sales meeting. Lexus is happy to get out that to others every bit the ES makes no basic about being an upmarket saloon with condolement on its mind."

The condolement bias of the Lexus ES is still credible in 2022, with alterations of the suspension aimed at making information technology feel a bit more tied downward in the bends. While it is peradventure a touch more controlled and responsive, it'southward still no back-route blaster thank you to the limitations of its front-wheel bulldoze chassis and soft fix-up.

With this understood, the ES makes a much more appealing prospect in this class every bit it does a good task of smoothing out motorway expansion joints and the usual A-road ruffles. Information technology'south not then competent when information technology comes to urban potholes and dips, where the suspension tin can judder a little, peculiarly in the F Sport with its 19-inch blend bike and lower contour tyres. Merely its notwithstanding smoother than some of the sportier options in this class.

The F Sport comes with adaptive dampers for its suspension, which lets you lot choose betwixt Normal and Sport settings. The Normal way seems to handle corners fairly well, just the Sport offer doesn't serve up whatsoever appreciably sharper dynamics. There's a bit more weight to the steering feel in this set-up, merely that's near it and the steering in any ES is not burdened with an abundance of sensation or feedback.

Still, even if the ES is not the be all and end all of driving pleasance, it tin be pushed on through bends with confidence equally in that location is plenty of grip. You just have to trust that its in that location more than sense information technology as you lot do in a BMW five Series or Jaguar XF, which allow you make the most of their bachelor talents much more readily.

On the other mitt, the ES is a doddle to park and meanders through town in a thoroughly refined, relaxed manner. The hybrid system plays well to that with its lack of concrete gears and low-speed electric-but running making for super-smooth progress.

What engines and gearboxes are available on the Lexus ES?

The Lexus ES comes with one engine and gearbox combo, and that'south your lot. It's a pairing that suits the relaxed, refined driving feel, but not in one case that offers an abundance of performance or driver enjoyment.

The 2.5-litre four-cylinder non-turbo petrol engine produces 178PS, which combines with an electrical motor for a total of 218PS. This is enough to deliver 0-62mph in eight.9 seconds, which is backside the Lexus's direct rivals.

This sense the ES is brusque on power next to the competition is realised every bit you drive more and more. Where you could make easy overtakes in the likes of a BMW 520d or Mercedes E-Class, the Lexus needs more forethought and planning as information technology but doesn't take a large enough dollop of mid-rev urge. No affair how difficult you lot printing on the accelerator pedal, the ES but ever feels a beat behind its rivals - although its inappreciably slow in isolation.

Pulling away from a standstill, the ES is very smooth, only on the move its responses are dulled by the utilize of a CVT (continuously variable transmission) rather than the slick viii- or nine-speed automatics commonly found in the competition. Yous can select a Sport style and apply the steering cycle paddle shifters to give the impression of separate gears and to slightly liven up the ES'southward reactions, just it doesn't make the auto any quicker to react in reality.

Prolonged stamping on the throttle only makes the gearbox pin the revs right upwardly almost the maximum for sustained periods, which spoils the otherwise excellent refinement with a rather coarse four-cylinder note. So, it's much amend to have the ES'south limitations and relish the smoothness of the hybrid arrangement and the way information technology will propel the Lexus along a motorway in an unruffled, almost silent fashion.

Refinement and noise levels

Lexus has taken the superb refinement of the previous GS model and used information technology equally a springboard to make the ES fifty-fifty more hushed. Where the F Sport model of the GS could endure from a little rumble created by its nineteen-inch wheels and tyres, the ES suppresses this much more effectively. At that place's still a lilliputian noise to be heard, but information technology's only really noticeable in comparison to the other ES models.

In both the ES and Takumi models, road racket is all but absent from the cabin, while the two.5-litre petrol engine is usually a afar hum. Simply when you need the most from dispatch does the engine make itself heard with soaring revs thanks to the quirks of a CVT transmission, and it's not an especially pleasant sound in the context of rivals that can be had with shine six-cylinder diesels, for example.

Pulling abroad from a standstill under modest throttle will keep the ES in electric mode for brusque periods, which helps keep noise down too.

The sleek shape of the ES does a very adept job of slicing through the air and keeps buffeting noises on the outside, even at higher motorway speeds. On top of this, all of the controls work with a satisfyingly positive, crafted activeness that speaks of great refinement.

Safe equipment: How safe is the Lexus ES?

Choose a Lexus ES and y'all are getting ane of the safest cars in its course. It comes with a full five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, with loftier scores across the board for developed and child occupant and vulnerable road user protection.

Equally well as this, every ES comes with democratic emergency braking, which Lexus calls a Pre-Collision System that detects possible hazards ahead. If the driver doesn't react, the organization performs an emergency stop without the driver's input.

Lexus likewise fits every ES with Automatic High Beam to forestall the automatic headlights from dazzling oncoming drivers by adjusting the spread of low-cal. There is likewise Dynamic Radar Cruise Command to maintain a safe distance to the vehicle in front even equally its speed varies, while Lane Tracing Aid keeps the ES betwixt the right road markings.

All ES models take a tyre pressure monitoring system, also equally road sign recognition to alert the driver of speed limits, and loma start help. The Takumi model comes with a Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Braking, and both of these are options for the entry-level car. Of course, there'southward Isofix child seat mounts on the 2 outer rear chairs on all models.

Maximum EV range of the Lexus ES

Although information technology's a petrol-electric hybrid, the Lexus ES doesn't actually take an EV-only range. Yes, yous can trickle away from a start on bombardment power lonely and the machine will head up to 25mph with no input from the two.five-litre petrol motor, merely yous have to exist fantastically gentle on the accelerator pedal to proceed it in EV mode beyond that.

Even driven in this considerate fashion, you will cover less than a mile on battery power earlier the petrol motor comes into play as the ES's battery pack just isn't big enough for a more meaningful range. Also, this isn't a plug-in hybrid, and then all of the battery'due south energy comes from regeneration every bit the car coasts or brakes.

MPG and fuel costs: What does a Lexus ES cost to run?

"The Lexus ES delivers diesel-like economy for the nearly part, and excels in town cheers to its hybrid system."

The Lexus ES records a all-time combined economy of 53.2mpg under WLTP tests, which puts this hybrid saloon on a par with its diesel-fuelled rivals. This is for the ES model, merely if you choose the F Sport on its larger 19-inch wheels, the combined figure drops to 48.7mpg.

Looking at Existent MPG figures, the ES has notched upward an boilerplate economy of 55.0mpg, which is impressive in anyone's books for a auto with a 2.5-litre petrol engine.

What's virtually impressive is that the ES delivers similar economy regardless of the driving situation. Around town, for example, its power to regenerate energy and put it into the battery in finish-first traffic helps proceed you in electric way, reducing consumption. The merchandise-off, though, is that a BMW 520d diesel is probable to be better at a constant high speed on motorways.

How reliable is the Lexus ES?

Lexus traditionally excels when it comes to build quality, reliability and longevity. Nosotros've no reason to believe the ES won't be just as good as older models, which consistently finish at or most the top of possessor satisfaction surveys alee of more popular German language equivalents.

Lexus finished second in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index out of all the brands, which itself is a demotion from first in the previous year. If you want an executive saloon that will go along delivering subsequently several years of hard use, the Lexus ES should be a neat choice.

Insurance groups and costs

The entry-level ES model is the easiest on your depository financial institution balance when it comes to insurance. It sits in group 33, which is much the same as for its natural rivals from other manufacturers.

Choose the F Sport and slips up to a grouping 34 rating, while the upscale Takumi model jumps up four notches to sit down in grouping 38 and be the almost expensive when it comes to arranging cover and your premium.

VED car taxation: What is the annual road tax on a Lexus ES?

For the commencement year'due south road tax, the Lexus ES model will pay £150 in tax thanks to its 100g/km carbon dioxide emissions. Should yous choose the F Sport or Takumi, they emit 103g/km and you lot will have to pay £170, which is hardly a bargain-breaker.  That then defaults to £165 a year for every model after the first twelvemonth.

Yet, this being an executive model, you lot can get stung with the 'Premium auto tax' which puts a levy on non zero-emission vehicles with a list price of over £40,000. This adds an extra £355 a yr for five years to the standard road tax rate. It's worth noting that this doesn't apply to the entry-level ES or the Premium Edition, both of which take a list price but under £40,000.

How much should you be paying for a used Lexus ES?

"New prices for the Lexus ES start at under £40,000, merely yous'll salvage a chunk of coin by shopping for nearly new deals at heycar"

New prices for the Lexus ES range from around £38,500 to over £52,000. That's nowhere nearly as great a range of prices as German language rivals, but acquit in mind yous only become one engine option with the ES.

Used prices start from around £27,000 for a 2019 ES with 30,000 miles on the clock. Lexus models do tend to hold their value pretty well due to their reputation for reliability, and they're in relatively short supply on the used market.

Trim levels and standard equipment

Lexus starts the ES 300h range with the eponymously named ES. Information technology has 17-inch alloy wheels, reversing camera and the Lexus Safety System Plus that includes radar prowl control, lane departure alert and Loftier Beam Assist. On the inside, you get an 8-inch infotainment screen that works with Apple CarPlay and Android Motorcar, sunroof, and electric front seat aligning. There'south too homo-made leather upholstery, heated front seats and steering cycle, electrically adjusted steering cavalcade, climate control, rear privacy glass and Lexus Connected Services for internet admission.

Many ES buyers volition upgrade with the Premium Pack that brings total leather trim, wireless phone charger, pelting-sensing wipers, ventilated front seats with powered lumbar support, rear screen sun shade and Blind Spot Monitor. Every bit of 2022 this besides includes the upgraded 1.two-inch touchscreen with navigation, and the Safety Organisation+ pack.

The F Sport has 19-inch alloys, sporty body kit, and Adaptive Variable Break with Sport S+ Driving Manner. There are front sports seats with a retention function for the driver's chair, steering wheel paddle shifters, and aluminium pedals and dash trim inserts.

With the Takumi, yous get eighteen-inch wheels, LED headlights with Loftier Axle Assist, and a 360-degree Panoramic View for easier parking. The seats are trimmed in plush leather and have a greater range of electric adjustment, while the steering wheel is covered in wood and heated. Wood is also used for the trim inserts, and y'all get a  head-up display, wireless telephone charging and 17-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound stereo.

Ask the heycar experts: common questions

Is the Lexus ES a good car?

The Lexus ES is a good car if you lot're not looking for an executive saloon that's exciting or sporty to drive. The ES is better at being comfy and refined, with an fantabulous quality cabin and lots of space.

What does ES stand up for with the Lexus ES?

Oddly, the 'ES' branding on the Lexus ES stands for 'Elegant Sedan'. It's a name that was used in Due north America for many years before transferring over to Europe recently.

Answered by

Lawrence Allan

Is the Lexus ES the same as a Toyota Camry?

While information technology'southward truthful the Lexus ES does share its engine and mechanical $.25 (including the motorcar's platform itself) with the Toyota Camry, y'all also get a higher quality interior, different exterior design and alterations to the driving feel.

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