Almost all of the main rivals for the Lexus ES focus on a sporty driving experience, and judged on this criteria the executive saloon is significantly behind the competition. However, where the ES claws back ground is how comfortable it is, with a high-quality interior, low noise levels and a smooth ride - as long as you avoid the F Sport model. Add in that the ES has a very efficient hybrid powertrain, and it has a unique but strong appeal for those looking for a comfortable, discreet saloon that doesn’t skimp on luxuries. It also provides very low running costs alongside impressive emissions performance, which will be a big plus for business and private owners.
The exterior design of the ES is instantly recognisable as a Lexus, combining the distinctive grille shape and slim headlights with a curved rear roofline, giving a coupe-like feel. Despite the strong nose treatment, the ES is relatively conservative in its design, and is unlikely to put off many buyers as a result - in particular the strong metallic red paint option brings out the best of the shape.
Although a brand-new design, the layout of the ES follows the template set by the LS and previous GS models, with an unfussy design, a slim grouping of buttons on the dashboard with a large transmission tunnel housing the main controls for the infotainment system. The quality of the materials is impressive, if not quite as good as the best in the class, but the result is a cabin that is comfortable and soothing, and feels built to cope with many thousands of miles.
Standard equipment is generous across the range, with even the entry-level model coming with heated electric front seats and adaptive cruise control with level 2 autonomy – usually a cost option in this segment. The top-spec Takumi model brings a larger infotainment screen, a Mark Levinson audio system and a head-up display.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
The standard infotainment system provides an eight-inch screen, while Takumi models have a 12.3-inch display screen as standard, and other models can be upgraded to this. The display itself is clear and easy to read, but the input device is a touchpad which can be awkward to use and is less accurate than those offered by rivals. The ES can’t be specified with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, though, which will be a significant omission for some. The Mark Levinson audio system is a particular highlight, with speakers set at shoulder height around the cabin for superior sound quality.
As with much of the Lexus range, the ES puts comfort ahead of other considerations, and it’s this aspect that dominates the driving experience. All cabin occupants will enjoy the smooth ride that deals well with a variety of surfaces and remains composed on motorways or in town. This is helped by the excellent refinement of the powertrain, with the petrol engine and electric motor combining well to provide quiet, fuss-free motoring. This is particularly apparent when driving in traffic, where the car’s ability to operate on electric power only emphasises the sense of quiet within the cabin.
On more challenging roads, the ES retains its composure, and when driven at speed the steering responds well, with good feedback and accurate responses to the driver’s inputs. The Lexus ES also features a new type of suspension damper called a Swing Valve Shock Absorber, the idea being that a valve inside the system helps it to respond better to bumps in the road and cornering loads. The result is that the ES corners relatively flat for a car of this size and is largely untroubled by road imperfections. What the Lexus ES lacks is the sharpness offered by rivals such as the BMW 5 Series and is more biased towards comfort than the Mercedes E-Class, which manages to be relaxing and enjoyable to drive too.
Go for an F Sport model, and the standard adaptive suspension is firmer than the standard model. Combine this with the larger wheels that are also fitted, and the ES’s focus on comfort is lost somewhat.
The powertrain of the ES is also not best suited to enthusiastic driving. When driven in normal conditions it operates very well, with the engine and electric motor combining with the CVT automatic transmission to keep the engine dormant or at low revs as much as possible. Demand brisk acceleration however and the ES struggles somewhat, with the engine revving hard but delivering less performance than diesel rivals.
Engines, 0-60 acceleration and top speed
The ES is available with a single powertrain option, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine matched with an electric motor and battery pack, to give a total output of 215bhp. There’s a single gearbox option, too, a CVT automatic transmission. The ES accelerates from 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds, as much as a second slower than comparable rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, while its top speed is also a modest 112mph.
When driven at normal speeds the powertrain delivers smooth and quiet operation, with the gearbox operating with impressive efficiency. However, when strong acceleration is demanded, the four-cylinder unit shows some harshness as it sits at high revs, with only modest acceleration delivered. The CVT is an improvement on past Lexus models, though, so will be pleasing to use for existing Lexus owners.
While Lexus as a brand doesn’t promote the safety of its products as heavily as some manufacturers, the reality is that the ES has performed well under official testing procedures and comes with a broad range of safety equipment both as standard and optionally.
The ES received a full five-star rating when it was tested by Euro NCAP in 2018, scoring 91% for adult occupant protection, 90% for vulnerable road user protection and 77% for its safety assist systems. As standard, all ES models come with the Lexus Safety System+ as standard, which includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, while there is also radar-guided cruise control and lane assist that provides Level 2 automated driver support. The Takumi model also adds a blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert as standard.
The ES is too new to have appeared in the 2018 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, but the Lexus brand as a whole has been a consistently strong performer over the years and was the best brand in the 2018 survey.
Warranty
The Lexus ES warranty covers a period of three years or 60,000 miles, which is broadly in line with its competitors in terms of the time period. However, some rivals offer unlimited mileage over the same period, although with its reputation for reliability this may be much less of an issue. Interestingly, parent firm Toyota offers a five-year warranty on its models.
Servicing
Lexus has yet to confirm service costs for the ES but it is likely to be in line with other models with the same powertrain, resulting in an intermediate cost of around £250 and the major services varying between £500 and £650 depending on the mileage interval. This is broadly in line with key rivals, but the bonus is that Lexus dealerships have scored very highly for customer satisfaction over the years in the Driver Power survey, so you’re unlikely to be disappointed with the level of service you experience.
The Lexus ES bucks the trend sent by its main rivals by being available in saloon-form only, something that may make it unsuitable for some buyers. However, space inside the cabin is generous for occupants both front and rear. An electrically adjustable steering column and seats on all models make it easy for the driver to find a suitable seating position, and the rear seat can accommodate a smaller adult or child in the central rear seat.
Visibility is good forwards and to the sides, but rear visibility is slightly compromised by the sloping roofline which results in a narrow rear window. This is mitigated somewhat by the standard safety equipment, though, which includes a reversing camera as standard.
Size
At 4,975mm, the Lexus ES is one of the longest cars in the executive saloon car class, with 36mm additional length compared to the Audi A6. It also has the lowest roof height in the sector, but crucially it has the shortest wheelbase, which translates to a smaller cabin overall. In terms of width, the ES sits somewhere in the middle of the class at 1,865mm. That’s narrower than the Audi A6 and BMW 5-Series, but wider than a Mercedes E-Class.
Leg room, head room & passenger space
Although cabin space is smaller overall than its key rivals, the room on offer for its occupants is generally impressive. Legroom is good for both front and rear passengers, and while head room for front seat occupants is good, in the rear the sloping roofline impacts on the space available to the point where taller passengers may find it uncomfortable. Isofix points are fitted to the two outer seats in the rear.
Boot
The Lexus ES has the smallest boot amongst its key rivals, measuring 454 litres. That’s 76 litres down on the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series and a massive 180 litres fewer than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The boot space itself is accessed through a relatively narrow opening with a significant lip at its base, while the rear seat backs are fixed in place, so longer loads can’t be loaded through to the cabin.
Lexus has long followed the hybrid route, and in the UK at least the ES will only be available with a petrol-electric drive system. Depending on the model and the alloy wheels fitted, the ES is capable of between 48.7 mpg and 53.2mpg under WLTP testing protocols, giving it a theoretical range of almost 600 miles on a single tank of fuel. Emissions are rated at 100g/km NEDC for the entry-level ES version, rising to 106g/km for the F Sport model. That makes it an appealing prospect, as it manages to compete with diesel rivals, but using petrol power. For company car drivers it also means a lower Benefit in Kind band than for similarly priced diesel executives, because the ES isn’t subject to the 3% BiK surcharge on diesel models.
Road tax rates for the ES are competitive, although the price tag can affect this significantly. The entry-level ES model costs £130 per year at the current rates which is £10 less than a non-hybrid alternative, which is a modest saving. However the Takumi version has a list price over £40,000, which means it attracts the £310 surcharge for the first five years of ownership, while other models could quite easily be pushed over the £40,000 barrier with a few options added.
Electric range, battery life and charge time
Lexus doesn’t quote an official range for the ES when operating on electric power alone, because the system is set up to use the best combination of electric and petrol power for the driving conditions. Drive around town, and the ES has the potential to travel on battery power most of the time, with the petrol engine only engaging when faster acceleration is needed. Like other Lexus hybrids you can change the vehicle mode to save the battery for later in your journey and keep it fully charged. As the ES is what Lexus terms a ‘self-charging’ hybrid, power is returned to the battery by a combination of regeneration and engine power, so there is no need to plug it in.
Insurance groups
Insurance groups for the Lexus ES vary from group 33 for the standard model, 34 for the F Sport trim and 38 for the Takumi trim, which is broadly in line with rivals. Because there is no high performance version of the ES however, the highest group 38 model is lower than equivalents from Audi and BMW.
Depreciation
The previous Lexus GS model retained between 37% and 44% of its value after three years, but the ES is slightly better, with a retained value of 41-46%. In comparison, the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6 are a couple of percentage points ahead of the ES – demonstrating that the German marques are still the popular ones in the sector.
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