Lexus ES Review 2024
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Lexus ES At A Glance
Offers low running costs with its hybrid power, cabin is roomy and classy.
Front-drive 2.5 litre self-charging hybrid CVT only.
The Lexus ES is a replacement for the previous GS range and takes the fight to the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class. Like its predecessor, the ES is resolutely only offered with petrol-electric hybrid power, so no diesel engines or pure EV models are available, and nor is an estate version. However, the ES is handsome with its four-door coupe-like looks and there’s plenty of room for passengers in the front and rear. It’s smooth to drive and the ES enjoys low running costs, but it doesn’t excite its driver in the way a BMW does.
The Lexus ES is the direct replacement for the GS executive saloon. If you, or Lexus, think that a mild change of name means any significant change in tack for the firm’s mid-size saloon, you’re in for a disappointment.
On the other hand, if you liked the GS, and there was plenty to admire about it, then the ES offers a lot more of the same. It is a sharper looking saloon than the GS, which slowly evolved to become a handsome if slightly anonymous car. The ES has crisp lines and a slightly coupe-esque profile, though it’s certainly not in the mould of the Mercedes CLS.
The rivals for the ES are the usual suspects from the executive sector, namely the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Jaguar XF and Mercedes E-Class. All of these cars have the added ace up their wheelarches of an estate model for anyone wanting more carrying capacity. This is an area where Lexus has long lagged behind its European counterparts as the ES remains resolutely only available as a four-door model with boot rather than tailgate.
On the inside, you won’t mind the ES isn’t an estate as the cabin offers up a whole load of room. This is certainly one area where Lexus has listened to critics of the GS and responded in very definite terms. In fact, you could almost accuse the firm of overreacting as the rear seat now serves up almost as much kneeroom as the LS luxury limousine in Lexus’ range. Still, we’ll take that over the cramped back seat of the GS that went before.
The front of the ES’s cabin is no less generous in the space it offers its occupants. The driver is presented with a very high-tech looking dash, which includes a couple of unusual column stalks poking out of the sides of the main binnacle. They are for the drive modes and, while the seem a little unusual at first, they are an example of Lexus daring to think differently and come up with a solution that works even if it appears a little left-field.
That thinking also underpins why Lexus has resolutely stuck with hybrid power for its mid-size saloon models for many years now. The petrol-electric set-up for the ES is familiar, but it now drives the front wheels rather than the back pair. Again, this puts the Lexus at odds with conventional thinking for this class of car, but there’s no denying it has upsides such as the huge rear seat space now provided in the ES.
As far as driving goes, the ES is much the same as the GS in that it is smooth and unflustered in most conditions, but try to exploit its grip or power and its poise begins to unravel all too rapidly. A BMW 5 Series will simply drive away from the Lexus on a twisting road with no apparent effort from the BMW’s driver. However, on crusty surfaces, the Lexus gets right back on terms with the plushness of its ride.
All of this blended with the Lexus ES’s low running costs make it an interesting package. Not necessarily a class-leading one, but definitely worthy of consideration.
Reviews for Lexus ES's top 3 rivals
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Lexus ES handling and engines
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 42–65 mpg
Lexus ES 2024: Handling and ride quality
Any executive saloon buyer looking for a bit of excitement in their daily drive will feel a little let down by the Lexus ES. This is not a car for scything along country roads or making fast progress on the ring road on your way to a vital sales meeting.
It’s not so competent when it comes to urban potholes and dips, where the suspension can judder a little, especially in the F Sport with its 19-inch alloy wheel and lower profile tyres.
The F Sport comes with adaptive dampers for its suspension, which lets you choose between Normal and Sport settings. The Normal mode handles corners fairly well, but the Sport offering doesn’t serve up any appreciably sharper dynamics. There’s a bit more weight to the steering feel in this set-up, but that’s about it.
Lexus ES 2024: Engines
The ES comes with one engine and gearbox combo, and that’s your lot. Luckily, it’s a decent pairing and helped along by the 88kW electric motor. The 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine produces 178Ps, so together in hybrid mode the ES has 218PS on tap. This is enough to deliver 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds, which is behind the Lexus’s direct rivals.
This sense the ES is short on power next to the competition is realised as you drive it 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 it just doesn’t have a big enough dollop of mid-rev urge.
Lexus ES 2024: Safety
The Lexus ES is packed with driver and passenger airbags, as well as front and rear side ’bags, curtain and front knee airbags. It also has autonomous emergency braking, which Lexus calls a Pre-Collision System, and Automatic High Beam, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, and Lane Tracing Assist keeps the ES between the correct road markings.
All ES models have a tyre pressure monitoring system, as well as road sign recognition to alert the driver of speed limits, and hill start assist. The Takumi model comes with Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Braking, and both of these are options for the ES version.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300h | 61–64 mpg | 8.9 s | 100–121 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Lexus ES
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
85%
Real MPG
42–65 mpg
MPGs submitted
37
Lexus ES interior
- Boot space is 454 litres
- Euro NCAP rating of five stars
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4975 mm |
| Width | 1865–2117 mm |
| Height | 1445 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2870 mm |
Lexus ES 2024: Practicality
In keeping with the Lexus GS’s comfort rather than sporting approach, the driving position is a little more upright than you’ll find in the likes of the BMW 5 Series or Jaguar XF. It gives superb support and the front seats are deeply cushioned to give an old-fashioned armchair feel, yet there is also sufficient side bolstering to keep you in place during cornering.
The F Sport model comes with more sculpted and heavily bolstered seats, in keeping with its more dynamic nature. These seats are no less comfortable than the standard items.
There’s much more rear seat space than the previous GS, while the boot is usefully large at 454-litres, though smaller than the class norm. The ES is further hampered by the shape of its boot as there are structural supports that mean you cannot use the full length of the floor.
Lexus ES 2024: Quality and finish
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, there are neat little touches to the way the materials are finished or mixed to provide just enough contrast to make it easy to pick out the right button or dial. There’s even a softness to the lighting of the ES’s instruments’ that makes it feel like a cut above the herd in a sector where high quality is the norm.
Lexus ES 2024: Infotainment
The ES and F Sport come with an 8-inch infotainment screen as standard, but the latter can be upgraded to the vast 12.3-inch screen used in the Takumi model. This is operated using a touch-sensitive pad on the centre console rather than directly with a touchscreen, so you use it like you would a trackpad on a laptop computer.
This was undoubtedly Lexus’ thinking, but what works on a stationary laptop is not so good when driving a car. The pad is much too sensitive to the smallest movement of your finger, so the cursor on the infotainment screen can spear off in an unwanted direction.
Lexus ES value for money
Lexus ES 2024: Prices
A personal contract purchase deal on an ES F Sport will typically cost around £80 per month approximately after a customer deposit of £9000 or so. Lexus often includes its own deposit contribution of around £2000. The only point to pay attention to with this sort of deal is the annual mileage allowance fits with your needs as some deals can have quite low mileages that could restrict your use of the car.
A one-year old ES 300h with 10,000 miles on the clock can be yours from around £30,000. This will be from a franchised dealer and you will have the balance of the warranty left to run. Upgrade that to an F Sport version and you will need another £1500 to buy the car.
As for the list prices of the ES, the base model is cheaper than its rivals from Audi, BMW and Mercedes. However, compare models on specification, equipment and performance and the prices of the Lexus are more evenly matched with its German rivals in the executive sector.
Nearly new ES models are around and you should be able to save £500 on the list price of any of the three trims by going down this route or choosing a pre-registered model.
Lexus ES 2024: Running Costs
The Lexus ES records a best combined economy of 53.2mpg under WLTP tests, but if you choose the F Sport on its larger 19-inch wheels, the combined figure drops to 48.7mpg. Looking at Real MPG figures, the ES notches up an average economy of 55.0mpg, which is impressive for a car with a 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine.
The standard ES model sits in group 33 for insurance, which is much the same as for its natural rivals from other manufacturers. Choose the F Sport and it’s in group 34, while the upscale Takumi model jumps to group 38.
For the first year’s road tax, the Lexus ES model will pay £125 in tax thanks to its 100g/km carbon dioxide emissions. Should you choose the F Sport or Takumi, they emit 103g/km and you will have to pay £145 that is asked for an alternative fuel car.
In subsequent years, the ES and F Sport pay a flat rate of £140 per annum, but the Takumi owner will have to fork out £365 as this model has a list price of more than £40,000. That means you have to pay an additional £325 on top of the usual VED rate based on the car’s emissions and taxation class.
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The ES 300h has 17-inch alloy wheels, reversing camera and the Lexus Safety System Plus that includes radar cruise control, lane departure warning and High Beam Assist.
Inside, you get an 8-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sunroof, and electric front seat adjustment. There’s also man-made leather upholstery, heated front seats and steering wheel, electrically adjusted steering column, climate control, rear privacy glass and Lexus Connected Services for internet access.
The Premium Pack brings full leather trim, wireless phone charger, rain-sensing wipers, ventilated front seats with powered lumbar support, rear screen sun shade and Blind Spot Monitor.
The F Sport has 19-inch alloys, sporty body kit, and Adaptive Variable Suspension with Sport S+ Driving Mode. There are front sports seats, steering wheel paddle shifters, and aluminium pedals and dash trim. With the Takumi, you get 18-inch wheels, LED headlights with High Beam Assist, and a 360-degree Panoramic View.
The steering wheel is covered in wood and heated, and there are wood trim inserts. It also gets the 12.3-inch infotainment screen, head-up display, wireless phone charging and 17-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound stereo.
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4975 mm |
| Width | 1865–2117 mm |
| Height | 1445 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2870 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1680–1740 kg |
| Boot Space | 454 L |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60000 miles |
| Servicing | 10000–12500 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £50,665 |
| Insurance Groups | - |
| Road Tax Bands | A–Alternative fuel, D |
| Official MPG | 61.4–64.2 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | 5 |
Currently on sale
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.5 Takumi E-Cvt 4dr | £50,665 | 62.8 mpg | 8.9 s |
| Premium 218 Dual VVT-i S/C 120hp/88kw E-Cvt Auto Start/Stop 4dr | - | - | - |
| Premium Plus 218 Dual VVT-i S/C 120hp/88kw E-Cvt Auto Start/Stop 4dr | - | - | - |
On sale until May 2024
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.5 E-Cvt 4dr | £37,995 | 64.2 mpg | 8.9 s |
| 2.5 F Sport E-Cvt 4dr | £40,960 | 61.4 mpg | 8.9 s |
| Premium Edition 218 Dual VVT-i S/C 120hp/88kw E-Cvt Auto Start/Stop 4dr | £37,755 | - | 8.9 s |
Model History
- April 2018: Lexus ES revealed
- September 2018: Lexus ES prices announced
- September 2020: Lexus ES Premium Edition announced
- October 2021: Updated Lexus ES priced from £35,905
April 2018
Lexus ES revealed
The ES 300h is equipped with a new, fourth generation self-charging hybrid drive system. It couples an ultra-efficient 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder petrol engine with a lighter, more compact and more power-dense electric motor. Total system power is 215bhp/160kW and combined cycle fuel economy is from 60.1mpg.
The car is longer (+65 mm), lower (-5 mm) and wider (+45 mm) than its predecessor. The longer wheelbase (+50 mm) allows the wheels to be pushed closer to the car’s corners, with wider front and rear tracks (+10 and +37 mm).
F Sport models add a rear spoiler, badging and dark lower valance to add emphasis to the look. Three different 17 and 18-inch wheel designs are available for the standard ES models, with the F Sport versions running on 19-inch wheels1 that are similar in appearance to those found on the Lexus LC coupe.
The 17-inch wheels have 215/55 R17 tyres; 18-inch wheels have 235/45 ZR18 tyres and 19-inch wheels of the F-Sport have 235/40 ZR 19 tyres.
A palette of 12 colours includes new beige and green shades. Ice Ecru is designer to mimic light reflected off fresh snow, while Sunlight Green is inspired by ocean water in sunlight. Two exclusive colours – Heat Blue and F White – are available for F Sport models, complementing their high-energy design.
Starting point of cabin design was the Lexus Future Interior concept, which blends a driver-centric cockpit with a spacious and comfortable area for the front passenger. The driver’s focus is kept on the road ahead by locating the centre display screen, instrument panel and head-up display in a tight cluster within the field of view. Front passengers, on the other hand, have a more open, spacious and relaxing environment.
It is a "connected" space, with the availability of an optional navigation system with a range of connected services. This system also provides a 12.3-inch multimedia display and second generation Remote Touch touchpad control. Its voice recognition function includes a mobile assistant, enabling contactless control of the driver’s smartphone.
Rear passenger comfort is enhanced by a lower hip point and carefully configured headlining preserve headroom while the longer wheelbase ensures generous legroom.
The interior colour options include a new combination that reflects the “provocative elegance” design theme. The Rich Cream option matches cream upholstery with a brown headlining to give the cabin a modern, yet warm look and feel. Other choices include Black, Chateau and Topaz Brown.
For a higher level of dynamic performance, F Sport models are available with Adaptive Variable Suspension, similar to that found in the LC coupe. This adds adjustable dampers at each wheel with 650 levels of damping force to provide ultimate control on any road surface. Another element exclusive to F Sport is a Sport+ mode for the Drive Mode Select system, which engages the most responsive engine, transmission and suspension settings.
The 17-speaker Mark Levinson PurePlay system makes its debut in the new ES. Its world-first design architecture was created to immerse each individual in the most powerful, precise and pure audio experience yet.
September 2018
Lexus ES prices announced
The ES 300h makes its debut in a range of three versions: the entry-level ES, the ES F Sport and the top-of-the-range ES Takumi, a new grade which takes its name from the Japanese master craftsmanship that is applied to every Lexus vehicle.
The on-the-road prices are:
Lexus ES: £35,150
Lexus ES F Sport: £38,150
Lexus ES Takumi: £45,650
The Lexus ES can be specified with a Premium Pack, OTR price £3500. This adds smooth leather seat upholstery, front seat ventilation, power rear screen sunshade, Triple-eye LED multi-weather headlights with Adaptive High-beam System, 18-inch alloys, Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert with automatic braking.
The Lexus ES F Sport is available with a Tech and Safety Pack, OTR price £700. This adds Triple-eye LED multi-weather headlights with Adaptive High-beam System, wireless device charger and a heated steering wheel.
The Lexus ES F Sport can also be specified with a Takumi Pack, OTR price £4000, which includes all the elements of the Tech and Safety Pack plus a Mark Levinson surround sound audio, head-up display, Lexus Premium Navigation with 12.3-inch screen, power rear screen sunshade and a power bootlid with hands-free kick sensor.
Metallic or mica paint can be specified for £670, with more sophisticated Sonic White, Sonic Titanium and Azure Blue finishes available for £920 (both prices OTR).
September 2020
Lexus ES Premium Edition announced
Lexus says the Premium Edition comes with additional equipment features, together worth more than £3000, but carries an on-the-road price tag £550 greater than the entry-level ES on which it is based.
The details include 18-inch alloy wheels, 12.3-inch Lexus navigation with DVD player, heated steering wheel, wireless smartphone charger, automatic wipers, windscreen de-icer and aluminium scuff plates for all four doors. The on-the-road price is £35,750, keeping the model below the £40,000 threshold for additional Vehicle Excise Duty.
Extra content has also been added to the Tech and Safety Pack that can be specified to give the ES F Sport model even more appeal. It now comes with the 12.3-inch Lexus multimedia and navigation system, together with triple-eye LED headlights, heated steering wheel and a wireless smartphone charger.
The ES F Sport remains one of the best-value sports saloons on the market. Even with the addition of the Tech and Safety Pack option, its £39,255 price remains below the £40,000 “luxury” level, while its highly efficient hybrid powertrain delivers low CO2 emissions, securing a 28 per cent benefit-in-kind rating for company car tax-payers.
October 2021
Updated Lexus ES priced from £35,905
The Lexus ES 300h luxury mid-size saloon has been revised for 2022 with the introduction of new handling, styling, safety and specification features, reinforcing its performance and appeal.
The first UK generation of a model that has been long-established feature of the Lexus range in world markets outside Europe, the ES brings together the brand’s core qualities of brave design, exhilarating performance, takumi craftsmanship and imaginative technology.
The new model retains Lexus’s fourth generation self-charging hybrid electric powertrain that delivers excellent fuel and emissions efficiency with characteristically smooth, responsive and refined performance.
The new line-up continues to provide models with high specifications at on-the-road prices below the £40,000 threshold for luxury car VED rates, notably the new ES Premium Edition and the F Sport with the Tech and Safety Pack.
The ES’s multimedia system has been upgraded with a new 12.3-inch touchscreen, allowing operation by direct touch, using the Remote Touch Interface track pad, or voice control. All models equipped with Lexus Navigation will have the new touchscreen.
The new ES is the latest Lexus model to adopt the advanced BladeScan Adaptive High-beam System, which focuses the light beam from the LED headlights using a fast-rotating mirror to give a much wider field of illumination when using dipped lights. The system is part of a new three-eye LED headlight arrangement that is standard on the Takumi grade and included in the Premium, Tech and Safety and Takumi Packs.
The ES was the firsts Lexus model in the UK to offer a Digital Side View Monitors in place of conventional door mirrors. Available as an option on the Takumi grade, these have been revised to ensure clearer images are shown in poor light conditions – at night and when driving in rain, giving better light and shade definition.
Changes to the ES’s suspension have been made to deliver better dynamic performance, responsiveness and ride comfort. The braces in the rear trailing wishbone system have higher rigidity and greater torsional strength thanks to a new dual-sheet structure, resulting in linear response that is more closely aligned with the driver’s intentions, for example when making high-speed motorway lane changes.
The Adaptive Variable Suspension featured on the ES F Sport benefits from a new actuator and changes to the internals that together expand the range of damping force, improving the car’s response, stability and ride comfort, with more linear steering and suspension feel.
The level of detail invested in achieving the best results extends to changing the shape of the brake pedal pad to create a larger contact area for the driver’s foot, giving better controllability; steps have also been taken to reduce the vibrations felt when the pedal is depressed. The control parameters of the electronic braking system have also been revised.
The Lexus Safety System+ fitted as standard to all versions of the new ES benefits from new and improved functions.
The Pre-Collision System’s radar and camera sensors are now able to detect cyclists in daytime driving and pedestrians at night. It also adopts Intersection Turn Assist, which detects a high collision risk with traffic approaching from the opposite direction when making a turn, and pedestrians crossing the road in the car’s path of travel.
Emergency Steering Assist is a new addition which recognises when the driver is making an sudden manoeuvre to avoid an obstacle, such as a pedestrian in the car’s path. The system assists the steering movement, while keeping the car stable and in its traffic lane.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have been applied to improve the Lane Trace Assist, giving smooth and continuous assistance to keep the car optimally positioned in its traffic lane. Lane Trace Assist works in co-operation with the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control to manage the car’s speed for cornering while at the same time keeping it centred in its lane.
The cruise control system can now determine the appropriate speed for an approaching bend, automatically decelerating the vehicle. It has also gained an all-speed tracking function, controlling acceleration and deceleration to maintain a constant distance to the vehicle immediately ahead.
The new ES retains its familiar elegant lines, with exterior changes focusing on the front end, where the spindle grille has new look with fewer vertical bars and the introduction of new L-shaped motifs (the dedicated grille design for the F Sport model is unchanged).
Slimmer units are introduced for both the single-eye (monocular) LED headlights with Automatic High Beam and the new three-eye LED units with the BladeScan Adaptive High-beam System.
There are also new wheel designs: a striking arrangement of sharp, overlapping twin V-spokes for the standard 17-inch wheels and a five-twin-spoke design for the 18-inch rims featured on the Premier Edition and in the Premium Pack.
In the cabin there are new Dark Brown and Sumi Black walnut trim insert options and a Forest Brown upholstery choice, available across the Tahara man-made leather, smooth leather and semi-aniline leather options. For the ES F Sport, there is a new White Tahara option with contrasting black bolsters and seatback and cushion centre sections.
| MODEL | OTR PRICE |
| ES (without navigation) | £35,905 |
| ES (with navigation) | £36,795 |
| ES Premium Edition | £36,555 |
| ES Premium Pack | £41,105 |
| ES F Sport (without navigation) | £38,370 |
| ES F Sport (with navigation) | £39,060 |
| ES F Sport Tech and Safety Pack | £39,280 |
| ES F Sport Takumi Pack | £44,160 |
| ES Takumi | £49,455 |
