Lexus ES250 and ES300h 2022 review

It may decrease, but significant fish still swim in the pool of midsize luxury sedans, with the German Big Three (Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class) joined by the likes of Alfa Giulia, Jaguar XE , Volvo S60 and… Lexus ES.

Once an understated, relatively conservative take on the brand, the seventh-generation ES has evolved into a full-fledged design piece. And now it's received a mid-life update with additional engine choices, upgraded tech, and updated exterior and interior looks.

Has Lexus done enough to push the ES up the ladder of premium sedans? We joined a local startup to find out.

Lexus ES 2022: luxury ES250
Safety Rating
engine's type	2.5L
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	6.6l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$61,620

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 9/10

The existing ES 300h (the 'h' stands for hybrid) is now joined by a non-hybrid model using the same gasoline engine specifically tuned to run without electric motor support.

The hybrid-only ES line before the update included six model variants with a price range of roughly $15K from the ES 300h Luxury ($62,525) to the ES 300h Sports Luxury ($77,000).

There are now five models with an "Expansion Package" (EP) available for three of them, for an effective range of eight grades. Again, that's a $15k spread stretching from the ES 250 Luxury ($61,620 excluding travel expenses) to the ES 300h Sports Luxury ($76,530).

The ES range starts at $61,620 for the 250 Luxury.

Let's start with the ES 250 Luxury. In addition to the safety and powertrain technologies discussed later in this review, the "entry level" trim packs standard features, including 10-way heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, active cruise control, a new 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen, satellite navigation (with voice control), keyless entry and start, 17-inch alloy wheels, a glass sunroof, automatic rain sensors, plus a 10-speaker audio system with digital radio, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The steering wheel and gear lever are trimmed in leather, while the seat upholstery is in artificial leather.

The Enhancement Pack adds wireless phone charging, protective glass, a color projection display, and $1500 to the price ($63,120 total).

At the next rung on the price ladder, a hybrid powertrain comes into play, so the ES 300h Luxury ($63,550) keeps all the features of the ES Luxury EP and adds a rear spoiler and a power-adjustable steering column.

The 300h runs on 18-inch rims. LED headlights with adaptive high beam

ES 300h Luxury EP adds power trunk lid (with impact sensor), leather trim, 18-inch wheels, panoramic monitor (top and 360 degrees), 14-way power driver's seat (with memory settings) ). ), ventilated front seats, side curtains, and a power rear sun visor, plus $8260 on top of the price ($71,810 total).

Further, as the name suggests, the two ES F Sport models emphasize the vehicle's individuality.

The ES 250 F Sport ($70,860) retains the features of the ES 300h Luxury EP (minus the side curtains), adding LED headlights with adaptive high beam, wire mesh grille, sport body kit, 19-inch wheels, performance. dampers, a 8.0-inch driver display, alloy interior accents, and more comfortable F Sport seats.

There is a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. (Image: James Cleary)

Bet on the ES 300h F Sport ($72,930) and you'll get an adaptive suspension system with two driver-selectable settings. Go one step further and choose the ES 300h F Sport EP ($76,530K) and you'll be on fire too. a Mark Levinson audio system with 17 speakers and hand warmers on a heated steering wheel.

Then the top of the ES pyramid, the 300h Sports Luxury ($78,180), puts it all on the table, adding semi-aniline leather trim with semi-aniline leather accents, power-adjustable, reclining and heated rear outboard seats, tri-zone climate control, as well as side door blinds and a power rear sun visor. The rear center armrest also has controls for the sun visor, heated seats (and tilt), as well as audio and climate settings.

It's a lot to understand, so here's a table to help clarify the pattern. But suffice to say, this ES is keeping Lexus' reputation alive by testing its rivals in the luxury sedan segment.

2022 Lexus EU prices.
Class	Price
ES 250 Lux	$61,620
ES 250 Luxury with upgrade package	$63,120
ES 300h Lux	$63,550
ES 300h Luxury with upgrade package	$71,810
EU 250F Sport	$70,860
ES 300h F Sport	$72,930
ES 300h F Sport with upgrade package	$76,530
ES 300h Sporty luxury	$78,180

Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10

From shy quiet to party animal, the Lexus ES has received a comprehensive design update for its seventh generation.

The dramatic, angular exterior incorporates signature elements of the Lexus brand's signature design language, including the distinctive 'spindle grille', but is still easily recognizable as a conventional 'three-box' sedan.

The notched headlights are now equipped with tri-beam LEDs on F Sport and Sports Luxury trim levels, adding further purpose to an already bold look. And the grille on the Luxury and Sports Luxury models now consists of several L-shaped elements, mirrored at the top and bottom, and then painted in metallic gray for a near-3D effect.

The ES has LED headlights with adaptive high beams.

ES is available in 10 colors: Sonic Iridium, Sonic Chrome, Sonic Quartz, Onyx, Graphite Black, Titanium, Glacial Ecru, Radiata Green, Vermillion and Deep Blue" with two other shades reserved only for F Sport - "White Nova" and "Cobalt Mica".

Inside, the dashboard is a mixture of simple, wide surfaces, contrasted with a flurry of activity around the center console and instrument cluster.

The ES has a distinctive "spindle grille" but is still easily recognizable as a conventional "three-box" sedan.

Positioned about 10 cm closer to the driver, the new media screen is a 12.3-inch touchscreen device, a welcome alternative to the sluggish and inaccurate Lexus "Remote Touch" trackpad. Remote Touch remains, but my advice is to ignore it and use the touchscreen.

The instruments are housed in a deeply enclosed binnacle with buttons and dials on and around it. Not the sleekest design in the segment and acceptable only in terms of ergonomics, but overall a premium feel.

How practical is the interior space? 7/10

The total length of just under 5.0m shows how much the ES and its competitors have grown in size compared to the last generations. The Merc C-Class is more of a midsize car than the compact sedan it once was, and at nearly 1.9m wide and just over 1.4m high, the ES more than matches it in roominess.

There's plenty of room up front, and the car feels open and spacious from the steering wheel, thanks in part to the low span of the dashboard. And the back is just as spacious.

Sitting behind the driver's seat, set for my 183 cm (6'0") height, I enjoyed good leg and toe room, with more than enough headroom despite having a tilt-sliding glass sunroof on all models.

There is a lot of space in front, the car seems open and spacious from behind the wheel.

Not only that, entry and exit from the rear is very easy thanks to the large opening and wide-opening doors. And while the back seat is best for two, three adults are perfectly manageable without much pain and suffering on short to medium distance trips.

Connectivity and power options are plentiful, with two USB ports and a 12-volt outlet front and rear. And storage space starts with two cup holders in the front of the center console and another pair in the fold-down rear center armrest.

If the remote touch control system were (deservedly) loaded, there would be room in the front console for extra storage space.

The 300h Sports Luxury is equipped with heated rear outboard seats.

The pockets in the front doors are ample, not big (only for smaller bottles), the glove box is modest, but the storage box (with padded armrest cover) between the front seats is more spacious.

There are adjustable air vents for the rear passengers, which is to be expected in this category but always a plus nonetheless.

The pockets in the rear doors are fine, except that the opening is relatively narrow so bottles are problematic, but there are map pockets on the backs of both front seats as another option for bottles.

The ES 300h F Sport EP is equipped with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.

It is important to note that while the boot capacity is 454 liters (VDA), the rear seat does not fold down. At all. A lockable ski port door sits behind the rear armrest, but the lack of a folding rear seat is a significant tradeoff in practicality.

The fairly high loading lip in the boot isn't great either, but there are lashing hooks to help secure loose loads.

The Lexus ES is a no-towing zone, and a compact spare is your only option for a flat tire.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10

The ES 250 is powered by an all-alloy 2.5-liter naturally aspirated (A25A-FKS) four-cylinder DVVT (Dual Variable Valve Timing) engine - electrically actuated on the intake side and hydraulically actuated on the exhaust side. It also uses a combination of direct and multi-point fuel injection (D-4S).

Maximum power is a comfortable 152 kW at 6600 rpm, while maximum torque of 243 Nm is available from 4000-5000 rpm, with drive sent to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 300h is equipped with a modified (A25A-FXS) version of the same engine, using an Atkinson combustion cycle that affects valve timing to effectively shorten the intake stroke and lengthen the expansion stroke.

The downside of this setup is the loss of low-end power, and the upside is improved fuel efficiency. This makes it ideal for hybrid applications where the electric motor can make up for the lack of low end.

Here the result is a combined output of 160 kW, with the petrol engine delivering maximum power (131 kW) at 5700 rpm.

The 300h motor is a 88kW/202Nm permanent magnet synchronous motor and the battery is a 204 cell NiMH battery with a capacity of 244.8 volts.

Drive again goes to the front wheels, this time via a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

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How much fuel does it consume? 9/10

Hyundai's official fuel economy figure for the ES 250, according to ADR 81/02 - urban and extra-urban, is 6.6 l/100 km for the Luxury and 6.8 l/100 km for the F-Sport, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 150 hp. and 156 g/km CO02 (respectively) in the process.

The ES 350h's official combined fuel economy figure is just 4.8 l/100 km, and the hybrid powertrain emits just 109 g/km CO02.

Although the launch program did not allow us to capture real numbers (at a gas station), we saw an average of 5.5 l/100 km in 300 hours, which is brilliant for a car in this class. 1.7 tons.

You will need 60 liters of 95 octane premium unleaded gasoline to fill the tank of the ES 250 and 50 liters to fill the ES 300h. Using Lexus figures, this equates to a range of just under 900 km in the 250 and just over 1000 km in the 350 hour (900 km using our dash number).

To further sweeten the fuel economy equation, Lexus is providing an Ampol/Caltex discount of five cents per liter as a permanent offer through the Lexus app. Good.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 9/10

The Lexus ES received the maximum five-star ANCAP rating, the vehicle was first rated in 2018 with updates in 2019 and September 2021.

It scored highly in all four key criteria (adult occupant protection, child protection, protection of vulnerable road users, and safety assistance systems).

Active Collision Avoidance technology on all ES models includes Pre-Collision Safety System (Lexus for AEB) active from 10-180 km/h with daytime pedestrian and cyclist detection, dynamic radar cruise control, traffic recognition assistance signs, tracking lanes. assistance, fatigue detection and reminder, tire pressure monitoring, rear view camera, and rear cross traffic alert and parking brake (including smart gap sonar).

The Lexus ES earns the highest five-star ANCAP rating. (Image: James Cleary)

Other features such as blind spot monitoring, adaptive high beam and panoramic view monitor are included on the F Sport and Sport Luxury trim levels.

If an accident is unavoidable, there are 10 airbags on board - dual front, knee for the driver and front passenger, front and rear side airbags, as well as side curtain airbags covering both rows.

There's also an active hood to minimize pedestrian injury, and "Lexus Connected Services" includes SOS calls (driver-activated and/or automatic) and stolen vehicle tracking.

For child seats, there are top straps for all three rear positions with ISOFIX anchorages on the two outermost ones.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

4 years / 100,000 km


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10

Since its introduction to the Australian market just over 30 years ago, Lexus has made the driving experience a key differentiator of its brand.

His focus on post-purchase benefits and ease of maintenance shook the big-name luxury players out of their button-down leather interior and forced them to rethink aftermarket.

However, Lexus' standard four-year/100,000 km warranty is a bit different from the luxury newcomer Genesis, as well as the traditional heavyweights Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz, all of which give five years/unlimited mileage.

Yes, Audi, BMW and others are on a three-year/unlimited run, but the game has advanced for them too. Also, the main market standard is now five years/unlimited mileage, and some are seven or even 10 years.

On the other hand, the Lexus Encore Privileges program provides XNUMX/XNUMX roadside assistance for the duration of the warranty, as well as "restaurants, hotel partnerships and luxury lifestyles, exclusive deals for new Lexus owners."

The Lexus Enform smartphone app also offers access to everything from real-time event and weather recommendations to destination navigation (restaurants, businesses, etc.) and more.

Service is scheduled every 12 months / 15,000 km (whichever comes first) and the first three (limited price) services for the ES cost $495 each.

Lexus car loan is available while your pride is in the workshop, or a pickup and return option is available (from home or office). You will also receive a free car wash and vacuum cleaning.

What is it like to drive? 8/10

The first thing you'll notice while driving this ES is how unusually quiet it is. Sound-absorbing materials are stuffed around the body. Even the engine cover has been designed to reduce the decibel level.

And "Active Noise Cancelling" (ANC) uses the audio system to create "noise canceling waves" to dampen the mechanical rumble of the engine and transmission. The car is eerily similar to an electric car in its calmness in the cabin.

We focused on the ES 300h for launch, and Lexus says this version of the car will hit 0 km/h in 100 seconds. It seems so fast, but the "noise" of the engine and exhaust notes are like the buzzing of a distant bee hive. Thanks Daryl Kerrigan, how's the peace?

Lexus claims the ES 0h sprints from 100 to 8.9 km/h in XNUMX seconds.

In the city, the ES is composed and pliable, soaking up the pockmarked bumps of the city with ease, and on the highway it feels like a hovercraft.

Lexus makes a lot of noise about the torsional rigidity of the Global Architecture-K (GA-K) platform located under the ES, and it's clearly more than empty words. On winding secondary roads, it remains balanced and predictable.

Even in non-F-Sport variants, the car turns well and will throttle accurately through constant-radius corners with little body roll. The ES doesn't feel like a front wheel drive car, with neutral handling right up to an impressively high limit.

A set in more sporty modes will add weight to the steering wheel.

Luxury and Sports The Luxury trim is available with three driving modes - Normal, Eco and Sport - with engine and transmission settings for economical or more spirited driving.

The ES 300h F Sport variants add three more modes - "Sport S", "Sport S+" and "Custom", which further refine the performance of the engine, steering, suspension and transmission.

Despite all the tuning options, road feel is not the ES's strong suit. Digging into sportier modes will add weight to the steering, but regardless of setting, the connection between the front wheels and the rider's hands is less than tight.

A car with a CVT suffers from some gap between speed and revs, the engine moving up and down the rev range in search of the best balance of power and efficiency. But paddle shifters allow you to manually shift gears through predetermined “gear” points, and this option works well if you prefer to take the reins.

And when it comes to deceleration, Auto Glide Control (ACG) smooths out regenerative braking when you coast to a stop.

Conventional brakes are ventilated (305 mm) discs at the front and a massive (281 mm) rotor at the rear. Pedal feel is progressive and direct braking power is strong.

Random notes: The front seats are great. Super comfortable yet neatly reinforced for a secure location. Armchairs F Sport even more so. The new multimedia touchscreen is a winner. It looks good and menu navigation is pretty easy. And the digital instrument cluster is just as clean and crisp.

Verdict

From day one, Lexus has been aiming to wrest buyers out of the grip of traditional luxury car players. Traditional marketing wisdom says that consumers buy brands and the product itself is a secondary factor. 

The updated ES has the value, efficiency, safety and driving sophistication to challenge the establishment once again. Surprisingly, the ownership package, especially the warranty, is starting to fall behind the market. 

But for open-minded premium shoppers, this product is worth checking out before following the brand's beaten track. And if it was my money, the ES 300h Luxury with the Enhancement Pack is the best value for money and performance.