Lexus ES review

The Lexus ES is aimed at luxury car buyers who want the tax advantages and efficiency of a hybrid but want to avoid the hassle of plugging in and charging up.

Like most models in the current Lexus car range, its petrol engine is helped along by electric motors. But what are the benefits of it being a regular hybrid (also known as a self-charging hybrid)?

Well, for a start the ES can travel short distances on electricity alone, lowering this big luxury saloon’s CO2 emissions to those of a small hatchback.  

This is the seventh-generation ES worldwide but the first in the UK, and faces stiff competition from the best luxury cars. That’s especially true when you consider rivals with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions, ranging from the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series to the Mercedes E-Class. 

So can a car that mixes all the trappings of a luxurious vehicle while also giving a big nod to efficiency cut it against the best rivals? Read on to find out how we rate the Lexus ES...

As luxury cars go, the Lexus ES is not very quick. Its 2.5-litre petrol engine and two electric motors team up to produce a maximum of 176bhp, for a 0-62mph time of 8.9 seconds.

Sure, we don’t expect the ES to be a racing car but, to put that in context, it’s slower than most of its rivals, including the entry-level BMW 5 Series and the Honda Civic.

The ES also lacks the low-rev urgency that many rivals so relaxing to drive. There's a brief immediate surge as the electric motor does its best but then you're left waiting for the engine's revs to increase before any serious momentum starts to build. It works best if you rarely need to rush and are more interested in efficiency than excitement.

On the plus side, the ES is no embarrassment through corners, with precise steering that has a reassuring heft through a turn at higher speeds, and a reasonable amount of grip to keep you on the straight and narrow. It’s nowhere near as agile or fun as a 5 Series or Jaguar XF though.

Ride comfort isn't up there with the best versions of the 5 Series or Mercedes E-Class – with some shudder through the body when you go over larger abrasions – but the ES is comfortable enough, especially on motorways. Cruising at speed, it easily takes the edge off undulations. 

Speaking of cruising, refinement is generally good on all versions, but there’s more road noise than in the quietest luxury cars.

Thanks to its regular hybrid system, the ES can move off almost silently and drive at low speeds on electricity alone but there’s some noise from the engine if you accelerate hard. That’s due to the CVT automatic gearbox, which causes the revs to soar until you ease off.

It’s worth noting that the ES’s PHEV rivals – including the Audi A6, the 5 Series and the E-class – can all travel on electricity for longer and at higher speeds. As the name suggests, though, you do have to plug those in to charge them up.

The driving position in the Lexus ES is comfortable rather than sporty. The seats are comfy with loads of electrical adjustment, including adjustable lumbar support. Our only slight complaint is that some of our taller testers wished the driver’s seat dropped a little lower.

Visibility is good, with slim front windscreen pillars so you can see plenty out of the front, and large rear windows to help the view over your shoulder. Parking is easy too. Every ES comes with front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera, which is upgraded to a 360-degree camera if you go for ES Premium Plus trim or above.

When the sun goes down, you’ll be able to see plenty thanks to standard-fit automatic LED headlights, which are upgraded to adaptive high-beam units if you go for top Takumi trim. Adaptive lights allow you to leave your full beam on at all times without dazzling other drivers. 

You get a digital driver's display but it's nowhere near as configurable as the Virtual Cockpit screen in the Audi A6. When you change driving mode using a stalk near the steering wheel, the display changes its appearance slightly.

All versions of the ES have a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. It's not too challenging to use, but we’d prefer a rotary controller interface like the one in the rival BMW 5 Series. If you opt for the range-topping Takumi model, you get an excellent 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.

The ES's interior uses good quality materials and the leather in range-topping Takumi versions is particularly impressive. Still, it's not as plush inside as the A6 or the 5 Series, and there are some scratchy plastics around the door bins and centre console. Everything feels solidly screwed together though.

The Lexus ES is a fairly big saloon that can comfortably transport four adults. For starters, front space shouldn’t prove an issue unless you’re very tall.

Lexus says the ES has just 1mm less knee room than the giant Lexus LS and it's true that taller adults in the back will have plenty of space for their legs. They might, though, find their heads hitting the ceiling because the roofline drops towards the rear of the car.

You'll find a couple of average-sized cupholders between the driver and passenger seats, a cubby beneath the centre armrest and door pockets just about big enough for drinks bottles. The glovebox is disappointingly small.

The ES's boot space is below average for the class. You get 454 litres, which is less than in even the PHEV versions of the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class. For most, that’ll arguably be enough space, giving you plenty of room for short trip luggage and golfing equipment (we haven't put it through our carry-on suitcase test yet).

Those after a little more practicality will find that the biggest obstacle in the ES is that you can’t fold down the rear seats to increase capacity, as you can in rivals, although you do at least get a ski flap. Most luxury cars come with 60/40 split-folding rear seats.

The low list price and running costs of our recommended version of the Lexus ES – entry-level Premium – make it a compelling ownership prospect.

That said, if you want a company car with a really low BIK tax rate, a plug-in hybrid such as the Audi A6 50 TFSI e and BMW 5 Series 530e is a better bet. Electric cars cost even less in tax.

Thanks to the ES’s self-charging hybrid system, fuel economy is impressive. Indeed, official figures say that the ES will manage more than 50mpg, and we easily achieved more than 40mpg during our time with the car.

Premium trim is our favourite because it saves you some money but still gets you plenty of standard equipment, including dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, electric seat adjustment and a sunroof, plus keyless entry and start. 

Next in line is Premium Plus, which gives you even more kit, including 10-way adjustable seats and the upgraded reversing camera.

Range-topping Takumi gets you practically every creature comfort you could think of, but it's also very pricey. If you have that much cash to splash, there are much better cars available.

All ES’s have lots of safety kit. The list includes automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The model was awarded the full five stars in its Euro NCAP safety appraisal, with impressive individual category scores.

Lexus has an excellent reliability record, and topped the brand list of 32 manufacturers in our What Car? Reliability Survey again in 2023. We don’t have any specific data for the ES, but it comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty that's extended up to 10 years and 100,000 miles if you service your car at a Lexus dealer each year.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here