2022 Lexus ES300h first drive review: Luxury at an affordable price

This new luxury sedan has all the bells and whistles you’d expect in a top-shelf machine, but is $40,000 less than some German rivals.

Lexus says its new ES mid-size luxury sedan has the highest quality interior available in Australia for the price. It’s a bold claim but one with merit. Prices start at $61,620 (before on-road costs) for the ES 250 Luxury. A similarly-sized Mercedes-Benz E-Class or BMW 5 Series would set you back $40,000 more.

The top-of-the-range ES 300h Sports Luxury with all the bells and whistles costs just $78,180.

Lexus hasn’t skimped on equipment to arrive at a tempting price, though.

The Lexus ES undercuts rivals by about $40,000.

The ES 250 Luxury has electronically adjustable and heated leather front seats, dual-zone airconditioning that blows some of the coldest air in the business and a giant 12.3-inch central touchscreen with smartphone connectivity and satnav.

The F Sport grade has bigger 19-inch alloy wheels, ventilated front seats and sporty styling cues both inside and out. It adds about $9000 more to the price of the 250 and hybrid 300h.

The 300h is also available in Sports Luxury grade, in which we spent most of our time on the national launch.

This model ditches the styling tweaks of the F Sport to focus on an opulent interior.

The interior is plush space to enjoy a long road trip.

Soft-touch, padded surfaces adorn nearly every part of the cabin and classy looking bamboo inserts add some textural difference to the dash and doors.

The ES can’t match the tech-laden cabins of its German rivals, though.

The driver displays are a mix of analog and digital readouts, while the old-school vibe continues with a CD player and analog clock in the dash.

There are four USB ports, a wireless charging pad for smartphones and an auxiliary cord port.

A booming Mark Levinson 17-speaker stereo is a highlight, providing crisp sound that keeps the outside world at bay.

The ES’s front wheel drive layout opens up space for rear seat passengers.

A head-up display will let you know your speed and the prevailing speed limit, along with satnav directions.

Rear-seat passengers get their own aircon controls with two vents and the windows seats have heating and reclining functions.

The back seat area is cavernous with plenty of leg, head and shoulder room.

Lexus has tweaked the ES’s suspension to focus on comfort. It soaks up bumps of all sizes with ease. It’s no sports car through the corners, but it holds its own, displaying acceptable body control and decent grip from the tyres.

The ES is conservatively styled.

Top-notch sound insulation adds to the cabin ambience, although there is some tyre roar over coarse-chip surfaces.

Power comes from the combination of a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine making 131kW and 221Nm and an electric motor producing 88kW and 202Nm.

Lexus says combined power is 160kW but doesn’t provide a total torque figure.

The ES isn’t express off the mark but has more than enough shove for cruising around town. It feels at ease accelerating up hills and overtaking at highway speeds.

It isn’t a sports car, but it holds its own on a twisting country road.

It shines on the freeway, where it’s comfortable and composed. Radar cruise control, which keeps a safe distance between you and the car in front, is great for longer journeys.

Fuel use is excellent at a claimed 4.8L/100km, but it requires pricier premium unleaded. We experienced usage in the mid-fives on our drive in a mix of conditions.

Safety is front and centre, too.

The ES will brake automatically if it detects a potential collision with another car, pedestrian or cyclist. It will also direct you back into your lane if it detects you wandering by gently tugging the steering wheel.

Lexus guarantees its vehicles for four years and 100,000km, which is below Mercedes’ five-year warranty but better than the three years offered by BMW and Audi. Servicing is affordable at $495 a pop for the first three years.

VERDICT 4/5

Luxury and quality at an affordable price, although the old-school vibe might not appeal to everyone.

LEXUS ES300h VITALS

Price: $63,550-$78,180 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor, 160kW

Warranty/servicing: Four years and 100,000km, $1485 over three years

Safety: 10 airbags, auto emergency braking, lane-keep and blind-spot assist, traffic-sign recognition, auto high beam and radar cruise control.

Thirst: 4.8L/100km

Spare: Temporary

Cargo: 454 litres

Originally published as 2022 Lexus ES300h first drive review: Luxury at an affordable price