Name: New Lexus ES models and Specifications
Brand: Lexus

300h-25-premium-4dr-cvt

The Lexus ES is one of the slowest luxury cars you can buy, although it's unlikely to leave you cursing its lack of performance. Its 2.5-litre petrol engine and electric motors team up to deliver a maximum of 176bhp, and if you put your foot down hard from a standstill, you'll be doing 62mph in 8.9 seconds.

300h 2.5

Entry-level Premium trim comes with everything you're likely to need.

Premium

The mid-spec trim adds an upgraded reversing camera and 10-way adjustable seats.

Premium Plus

Range-topping Takumi adds an electric tailgate, a head-up display and an excellent 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system

Takumi

Saloon

In the same way that Infiniti acts as Nissan’s premium arm, Lexus has a similar tie-in with Toyota. And since most of Toyota’s models are offered as hybrids, it’s no surprise to see the same from Lexus, although there are some traditional petrol engines, too.

The brand focuses heavily on SUVs – namely the NX and RX – but also has the CT hatchback, ES executive saloon and LS luxury car among its portfolio. More small and large SUVs are expected in the future.

Like Toyota, Lexus has built a very strong reputation for reliability and regularly finishes very close to the top of our annual Reliability Survey.

LEXUS

300h 2.5 Takumi 4dr CVT

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300h 2.5 Premium 4dr CVT

300h 2.5 Premium Plus 4dr CVT

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Lexus ES

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-company-cars/n22605">company car</a> with a really low <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/company-car-tax-guide/n9352">BIK&nbsp;tax rate</a>, a plug-in hybrid&nbsp;such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a6/saloon/review/n61">Audi A6 50 TFSI e</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/review/n63">BMW 5 Series 530e</a> is a better bet. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">Electric cars</a>&nbsp;cost even less in&nbsp;tax.

Thanks to the ES’s <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hybrid-cars/n17013">self-charging hybrid</a> 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, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-cruise-control-and-should-you-have-it-on-your-next-car/n26822">adaptive cruise control</a>, electric seat adjustment and a sunroof, plus keyless entry and start.&nbsp;

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 (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">AEB</a>) 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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a> safety appraisal, with impressive individual category scores.

Lexus has an excellent reliability record, and topped the brand list of 32 manufacturers in our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-cars/n26137">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> 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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/lexus">Lexus</a> dealer each year.

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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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/review/n63">BMW 5 Series</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n82">Honda Civic</a>.

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&nbsp;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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/xf/saloon/review/n85">Jaguar XF</a> though.

Ride comfort isn't up there with the best versions of the 5 Series or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/review/n17174">Mercedes E-Class</a> – 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.&nbsp;

Speaking of cruising, refinement is generally good on all versions, but there’s more road noise than in the quietest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/luxury-cars/n17020">luxury cars</a>.

Thanks to its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hybrid-cars/n17013">regular hybrid</a> 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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/automatic-gearboxes-everything-you-need-to-know/n17022">CVT automatic gearbox</a>, which causes the revs to soar until you ease off.

It’s worth noting that the ES’s <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">PHEV</a>&nbsp;rivals –&nbsp;including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a6/saloon/review/n61">Audi A6</a>, 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.

OUR PICK

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0-62 MPH

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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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/lexus">Lexus car range</a>, its petrol engine is&nbsp;helped along by electric motors. But what are the benefits of it being a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hybrid-cars/n17013">regular hybrid</a>&nbsp;(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.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This is the seventh-generation ES worldwide but the first in the UK, and&nbsp;faces stiff competition from the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/luxury-cars/n17020">best luxury cars</a>. That’s especially true when you consider rivals with&nbsp;plug-in hybrid (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">PHEV</a>) versions, ranging from the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a6/saloon/review/n61">Audi A6</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/review/n63">BMW 5 Series</a> to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/review/n17174">Mercedes E-Class</a>.&nbsp;

So&nbsp;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...

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&nbsp;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.&nbsp;

You get a digital driver's display but it's nowhere near as configurable as the Virtual Cockpit screen in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a6/saloon/review/n61">Audi A6</a>. When you change driving mode using a stalk near the steering wheel, the&nbsp;display changes its appearance slightly.

All versions of the ES have a 12.3-inch <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment touchscreen</a>&nbsp;with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> smartphone mirroring. It's not too challenging to use, but we’d prefer a rotary controller interface like the one in the rival <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/review/n63">BMW 5 Series</a>. 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&nbsp;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&nbsp;though.

The Lexus ES has a well-made interior and a hybrid engine but it's outclassed by most luxury car rivals

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.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/lexus">Lexus</a> says the ES has just 1mm less knee room than the giant <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/ls/saloon/review/n191">Lexus LS</a> and it's true that taller adults in the back will have plenty of space for their legs. They might, though,&nbsp;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&nbsp;and door pockets just about big enough for drinks bottles. The glovebox is disappointingly small.

The ES's <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-cars-with-the-biggest-boots/n18791">boot space</a> is below average for the class. You get 454 litres, which is less than in even the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">PHEV</a>&nbsp;versions of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a6/saloon/review/n61">Audi A6</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/review/n63">BMW 5 Series</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/saloon/review/n17174">Mercedes E-Class</a>. 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<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-cars-with-the-biggest-boots/n18791"> carry-on suitcase test</a> 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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/luxury-cars/n17020">luxury cars</a>&nbsp;come with 60/40 split-folding rear seats.

premium

premium-plus

takumi

The Lexus ES is a very compelling choice considering its competitive price, minimal running costs versus rivals and outstanding amount of standard kit and safety features. It lags behind rivals for performance and outright driver appeal, plus there's some coarseness from its hybrid system under acceleration. If you do buy an ES, we recommend sticking with the well-equipped entry-level trim, called Premium.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plush ride and the ability to cruise in near-silence </li> <li>Powerful and efficient engine</li> <li>Space for passengers to stretch out in the rear seats</li> <li>Exquisite materials and build quality</li> <li>Endless luxuries on the options list</li> <li>Sensible fuel and tax bills</li></ul>

If you’re in the market for a luxury car, you’ll be after a sumptuous interior, a ride that can soak up the worst of the UK’s pockmarked roads and supreme refinement that allows you to travel at speed in near-silence.

Luxury

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Low running costs compared with solely petrol or diesel equivalents</li> <li>Very low official CO2 emissions to benefit company car drivers</li> <li>The same usability as a regular car</li> <li>Smooth transition between electric and engine power</li> <li>Small practicality compromise over conventional models</li></ul>

Not so long ago, hybrids were the preserve of Hollywood stars, environmentally conscious 'early adopters' and the odd&nbsp;minicab driver looking to save a bit of money on fuel.

Since the collapse in demand for diesel, however, they have become&nbsp;much more popular, and it's easy to see why, with&nbsp;low tax bills and&nbsp;impressive MPG figures&nbsp;just a couple of the perks they offer.

There are two types of hybrid: 'self-charging'&nbsp;models, which mix petrol&nbsp;and electric power in an effort to maximise&nbsp;efficiency, and&nbsp;plug-in hybrids that can travel many miles purely on electricity before their engines need to cut in. This category is for the former type of cars.

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