2024 Lexus ES

Overview

The ES has been around long enough that almost everyone knows the role it plays in the Lexus lineup. It’s a conservatively styled, nicely appointed luxury sedan offering a wide array of trims and several powertrain options, all at a reasonable price point. The ES is propelled by either a four-cylinder, a V-6, or a four-cylinder hybrid powertrain; the latter delivers outstanding fuel economy. All-wheel drive is available on selected models. The interior is stylish, roomy, and comfortable, the ride is soft, and driver engagement is purposely not on the menu. Based on the same mechanicals as the Toyota Camry, the Lexus ES offers highly attractive pricing against cars like the Audi A6, BMW 5-series, and Mercedes-Benz E-class but it lacks their more involving feel. It may not be a car for enthusiastic drivers, but the ES does excel at keeping its occupants well isolated from the road’s rough spots—and for many buyers, that’s more than enough.

What’s New for 2024?

The ES sees very few changes for the 2024 model year. There will now be two F Sport models in the lineup: the F Sport Design, which will continue to be offered with all three powertrains, and F Sport Handling, which is available on the ES350 and ES300h. The F Sport Handling package comes standard with Sport+ and Custom drive modes, park assist, adaptive dampers, and features aluminum interior trim and aluminum pedals. The Luxury and Ultra Luxury grade trims get a new technology package and standard 18-inch alloy wheels with Vapor Chrome finish.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

ES250

$43,190

ES350

$43,190

ES300h

$44,590

ES250 F Sport Design

$47,775

ES350 F Sport Design

$47,775

ES250 Luxury

$48,360

ES350 Luxury

$48,360

ES300h F Sport Design

$48,975

ES300h Luxury

$49,650

ES350 F Sport Handling

$49,650

ES300h F Sport Handling

$50,885

ES250 Ultra Luxury

$52,080

$52,080

ES300h Ultra Luxury

$53,480

While we’re always weighing whether to recommend a car’s sportiest version or a high-value mid-grade trim, in this case, we think upgrading to the ES350 with Ultra Luxury equipment is most in keeping with the sedan’s mission and core capabilities as a luxury sedan. The Ultra Luxury designation adds special 18-inch wheels, quilted semi-aniline leather upholstery, a hands-free power trunk lid, a power rear sunshade, and a wood-and-leather steering wheel. It also requires the addition of the Navigation package, which upgrades the infotainment display to the larger 12.3-inch setup and adds in-dash navigation, an electrochromic rearview mirror, a DVD player, voice recognition, and the automaker’s Enform Destination Assist service.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The Lexus ES gives buyers a choice of three powertrains. The ES250 is powered by a 203-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and comes standard with all-wheel drive. All ES350 trims come with a 3.5-liter V-6 that generates 302 horsepower and is teamed with an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels. With all ES350h trims, motivation comes from a hybrid powertrain that provides a net output of 215 horsepower; a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive are standard. At our test track, the gas-only ES350 sprinted from a standstill to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The all-wheel drive ES250 and the hybrid ES300h both made the dash in a more leisurely 8.1 and 8.3 seconds, respectively. This Lexus sedan exhibits the composed handling and forgiving ride quality that’s cherished by many luxury-car shoppers. For those seeking keener handling, the F Sport trim adds larger wheels and suspension tuning that’s more performance-oriented, but hardly enthralling. The ES300h F Sport we tested got to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds, so there is an advantage there, but only just. Even with this upgrade, the ES is less athletic than competing models such as the BMW 5-series.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

According to the EPA, mileage for the Lexus ES350 tops out at 22/32 mpg city/highway. As you’d expect, the ES300h hybrid is even more frugal, achieving mileage of 43/44 mpg. The EPA’s fuel economy estimates for the ES250 are 25 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. During our time with an ES350, we observed 39 mpg in our 75-mph real-world highway fuel economy test. On that same 200-mile test route, the ES300h, delivered 45 mpg while the ES250 rang up 33 mpg. For more information about the ES’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

With its stylish, asymmetrical dash and high-quality materials, the ES’s cabin creates a plush environment for passengers. Both rows offer enough legroom for the long-legged, and the seats provide comfortable support. Notably, the cabin is unfailingly peaceful, even when the ES is being driven at highway speeds. Both gas-only and hybrid models provide 17.0 cubic feet of room in the trunk, and this gives the ES more cargo space than rivals such as the Volvo S90 (14.0 cubic feet) and Acura TLX (14.0 cubic feet). Unfortunately, the ES isn’t available with a folding rear seat. This makes it difficult for this Lexus to accommodate outsize cargo.

The Car and Driver Difference

Infotainment and Connectivity

Luxury car buyers look for vehicles offering the latest and greatest tech features, and the Lexus ES sedan doesn’t disappoint. It comes standard with a touchscreen infotainment system with a standard 8.0-inch central display, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability are onboard to provide hassle-free device integration; a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen is optional. All models come with a 10-speaker sound system equipped with SiriusXM satellite radio. The list of standard tech amenities also includes Amazon Alexa compatibility, Bluetooth phone and music streaming, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and Scout GPS Link navigation.

How to Buy and Maintain a Car

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

All ES models come standard with Lexus’s Safety System+ 2.5, which includes driver-assistance features such as pedestrian and cyclist detection, automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. For more information about the ES’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keep assistance Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Lexus provides longer warranty coverage than rivals such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. However, it trails Genesis in this area, which offers one of the best warranties in the segment.

Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers 6 years or 70,000 miles Complimentary maintenance is covered for 1 years or 10,000 miles Arrow pointing downArrow pointing down

Specifications

Specifications

2021 Lexus ES250 AWD F-Sport

VEHICLE TYPE

front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE AS TESTED

$53,500 (base price: $46,825)

ENGINE TYPE

DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port and direct fuel injection

Displacement

152 in3, 2487 cm3

Power

203 hp @ 6500 rpm

Torque

184 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm

TRANSMISSION

8-speed automatic

CHASSIS

Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink

Brakes (F/R): 12.0-in vented disc/11.1-in disc

Tires: Michelin Primacy MXM4, 235/40R-19 92V M+S

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 113.0 in

Length: 195.9 in

Width: 73.4 in

Height: 57.1 in

Passenger volume: 98 ft3

Trunk volume: 14 ft3

Curb weight: 3776 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS

60 mph: 8.1 sec

100 mph: 21.5 sec

Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 8.7 sec

Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.9 sec

Top gear, 50–70 mph: 5.6 sec

1/4 mile: 16.2 sec @ 88 mph

Top speed (C/D est): 130 mph

Braking, 70–0 mph: 167 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.86 g

Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.

C/D FUEL ECONOMY

Observed: 23 mpg

75-mph highway driving: 33 mpg

Highway range: 520 miles

2023 Lexus ES300h F Sport Handling

VEHICLE TYPE
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-motor, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE

Base/As Tested: $50,085/$54,345

POWERTRAIN

DOHC 16-valve Atkinson-cycle 2.5-liter inline-4, 176 hp, 163 lb-ft; 2 permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors, 118 hp, 149 lb-ft; combined output, 215 hp; 0.9-kWh (C/D est) lithium-ion battery pack

Transmission: continuously variable automatic

CHASSIS

Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink

Brakes, F/R: 12.0-in vented disc/11.1-in disc

Tires: Michelin Primacy MXM4

235/40R-19 92V M+S

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 113.0 in

Length: 195.9 in

Width: 73.4 in

Height: 56.9 in

Passenger Volume, F/R: 51/46 ft3

Trunk Volume: 14 ft3

Curb Weight: 3793 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS

60 mph: 7.9 sec

1/4-Mile: 16.2 sec @ 89 mph

100 mph: 20.7 sec

Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.4 sec.

Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 8.0 sec

Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.8 sec

Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.0 sec

Top Speed (gov ltd): 117 mph

Braking, 70–0 mph: 178 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.86 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY

Observed: 33 mpg

EPA FUEL ECONOMY

Combined/City/Highway: 44/43/44 mpg

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

More Features and Specs