2023 Lexus ES300h | MotorWeek Road Test

MotorWeek is made possible by Lucas Oil Auto Value and bumper to bumper and tirerack.com the Lexus ES has been around since Toyota launched their luxury division in 1989. now to sum the EAS is just an over polished Camry but to many it has been the gateway to all that Lexus has to offer helping create lifelong fans of the brand now in its Seventh Generation the es gets updated for 2023 so let's see the latest it has to offer to luxury-minded buyers on a budget foreign for well over 30 years now the Lexus ES has done an excellent job making a true no compromise luxury experience highly attainable then when this Seventh Generation debuted for 2019 it added F Sport performance to the lineup for the first time and this elegant sedan became a whole lot more enjoyable to drive for 2023 the changes may be more focused but they also make the es a lot easier to live with that's primarily a result of Lexus addressing the one thing we found most frustrating about the es the fussy console mounted remote touch interface well fussy no more as the entire center console has been reworked with a big pad for wireless phone charging and larger cup holder space you see whether you stick with the standard eight inch or go for the optional 12-inch infotainment screen it's now a touch screen it also has higher resolution works with typical smartphone like interaction and allows for wireless integration of both Apple and Android devices while nothing really changes outside another important update for 23 is that instead of one specific f-sport model new multi-tiered packaging allows you to have the look without going all in new f-sport design gets you the gloss black 19-inch Alloys plus the f-sport front bumper Grille and rear spoiler then f-sport handling adds Sport Plus in custom Drive modes F Sport suspension tuning for the Adaptive variable suspension f-sport steering wheel and aluminum interior trim sunroof remains standard for all es trims as is full LED lighting the lexus's triple beam headlights are an upgrade despite being a mid-level Lexus sedan and taking on a racier Vibe with the f-sport editions the interior remains very plush and right in line with what we've come to expect from the brand front seats are quite comfortable with nice wide cushions room in the back is more than plentiful for adults while the available 302 horsepower V6 is fantastic unless you're always in a hurry we feel this es hybrid is the way to go as it delivers adequate power with exceptional fuel economy the 2.5 liter I4 based system is familiar Toyota and Lexus fare at this point outputting a combined 215 horsepower and achieving government fuel economy ratings of 43 City 44 Highway and 44 combined thus our 43.8 miles per gallon average of regular was right on that's a much better than average inner energy impact score of 6.8 barrels of yearly oil use with 3.3 tons of CO2 emissions not only does the hybrid feel plenty quick for every day but it allows you to get almost 700 miles per tank full all-wheel drive is still available too using the 2.5 non-hybrid version with a 203 horsepower rating the phrase smooth as Alexis exists for a reason as even with f-sport tuning the ride is quite luxury car-like which is to say very soft but not quite floaty that keeps it out of true Sports sedan territory but it still equated itself well enough at our Mason-Dixon handling course adding both f-sport packages paid off with very little body roll almost instantaneous steering response and a surprisingly good amount of feedback it felt very neutral through the cones and getting the car to its limits and keeping it there was quite easy without developing significant amounts of understeer or oversteer less Of A Thrill Ride off the line with a leisurely 7.8 second stroll to 60 and quarter mile time of 16 seconds flat at 89 miles per hour the hybrid works with a CVT which is rarely our favorite choice and probably won't be yours either unless you enjoy spending extended periods of time hanging out at 5500 RPM as for pricing the all-wheel drive 250 and front-wheel drive 350 share base pricing of 43 090 with the 300H hybrid a bargain only fourteen hundred dollars more at 44 490 dollars since 1989 this elegant sedan has always offered a variety of powertrains to both appeal to and satisfy a wide range of buyers and it has also been quite successful at introducing Americans to the Finer Things in the automotive life without breaking the bank now with its revamped interior we think the 2023 Lexus ES is finer than ever [Music] thank you [Music]

Channel: MotorWeek

Views: 19,998

Keywords: MotorWeek, MW, car, truck, suv, cuv, crossover, auto, automobile, vehicle, motor trend, review, drive, first drive, video

Id: -KcAWOkGLkM

Length: 6min 37sec (397 seconds)

Published: Fri Jul 28 2023