It wasn't necessary to spend a lot of time at the controls of the Lexus ES 300h Luxury to remind me of a certain type of car advertisement. Those ads that promise a relaxing driving experience in which we seem to be totally insulated from the chaos outside; a place to simply… decompress.
The Lexus ES seems like a realistic embodiment of that scenario — it's the most Zen-like car I've driven this year. It is the result of the combination of the high comfort it provides, the general refinement of its hybrid powertrain, or the smoothness of the suspension.
Even considering their German rivals, impossible to ignore, none of them can convey this state of… calm so forcefully.
zen driving
It's all about the driving experience it provides, as everything related to driving the Lexus ES 300h Luxury invites calm and moderation.
It's not better or worse, but different, and for those looking for an experience different from the usual “German trio”, the Lexus ES 300h clearly deserves a longer contact.
Starting with the hybrid powertrain, which, as a general rule, is distant and smooth, where the electric motor ends up playing a more prominent role than we would imagine, especially in the city. Let's not forget that this is a “conventional”, self-charging hybrid (just like a Toyota Prius), therefore, with an electrical arsenal much more modest than a plug-in hybrid.
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We quickly ended up moderating our action on the accelerator, not least because we don't want to wake up the “bad” side of the E-CVT that equips it (the one that takes the engine to its peak), and because the 218 hp of total combined power (engine) combustion engine, 2.5 l, four cylinders, Atkinson cycle, plus electric motor) already allow for fast paces, rarely needing to crush the throttle.
The suspension is also smooth in its action, more than we are used to from German rivals. The comfort it provides is high, despite giving the ES a somewhat “waving” character. The bodywork moves more, especially along the longitudinal axis — interestingly, the bodywork's side trim is not excessive.
Seats are perhaps the best of this Lexus. Widely and electrically adjustable, just like the steering wheel, the driver's seat allows for an excellent driving position and very good body support, although you sometimes want more lateral support. However, these benches are among the best for resting your derriere, back and head. The firmness level seems to be right — not too much, not too little — and the headrests are perfectly positioned and supported.
The best of ES 300h? Maybe the banks.
Get started (quietly) and it's impossible not to appreciate the relaxing, quasi-Zen character that ES delivers — the high quality of the Mark & Levinson sound system, standard on Luxury, even invites you to add an appropriate soundtrack.
We ended up forgetting that it brings different driving modes — “Normal” is all they need, “Sport” doesn't add anything that makes sense, and “Eco” makes the throttle lazy.
Just as we forgot about the E-CVT's manual mode, as it does nothing to change the typical functioning of the E-CVT, precisely the one we want to avoid… and the paddles behind the steering wheel are excessively small.
It's not better or worse, but different, and for those looking for an experience distinct from the usual “German trio” — Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series — the Lexus ES 300h clearly deserves a longer contact.
interior
Not least because the interior of the ES is also clearly distinguished from the rest, and requires some initial getting used to — there's no way to confuse it with something made in Europe. The design is distinctive, but the build quality and materials are high — leather that is pleasant to the touch, although the light tone of the upholstery is more debatable; in keeping with the “zen” look of the ES, but you can notice the dirt more easily.
Impossible to confuse you with Europeans. Distinction is not lacking.
A less positive note for the interaction with the infotainment system (touchpad unintuitive to use and complex navigation), a recurrent criticism of the Lexus — at this point, systems in competitors, despite allowing access to numerous (perhaps too many) functions , are easier to interact with.
At the back, comfort remains and we have ample space available, but for the 5th passenger, it's better to forget that it exists.
The rear occupants have not been forgotten. As Luxury is the highest equipment level in the ES, the rear occupants are treated to heated seats, reclining backs, sun shades in the side windows and rear window, and specific controls for climate control. The armrest also includes cup holders and a storage compartment. Space is ample, but for four occupants — the center passenger doesn't even have the space or comfort… Better forget about it…
Is the car right for me?
The Lexus ES is a real alternative to the “German norm” that reigns in the segment — it definitely stands out for its distinctive approach.
If looking at the Lexus ES 300h we could accuse it of “cognitive dissonance” — the excessive expressiveness of the exterior design contrasts with the driving experience it provides — on the other hand, it is that same comfortable and relaxing driving experience that allows create a space of your own in the segment.
Furthermore, the hybrid powertrain — at this level, a unique proposition, rivaled by the other 2.0 Turbo Diesel engines — offers attributes that are hard to resist, such as low fuel consumption, which is quite low when you consider that you are behind the wheel of a sedan to skim the five meters in length and 1700 kg in weight.
Consumption below 6.0 l/100 km seems to be child's play — especially in cities, where the register was around 5.5 l/100 km — and even when we use more of the ES 300h's performance potential, it is necessary to really push it to exceed 7.0 l.
Being the top of the range version, the more than 77 thousand euros ordered seem fair when compared to the competition. The standard equipment level is quite complete and the only option present in our unit was the metallic paint – start selecting from the many options available in the “German trio”, and it shouldn't take long to reach this mark and surpass it.
Lexus ES
For those who consider Luxury excessive, there are the more affordable Business and Executive, with prices starting at just over €61,300, and for those looking for a dynamically sharper ES, the F Sport is available from just over 67 800 euros which makes better use of the excellent GA-K base, with a firmer chassis and piloted suspension.
Common to all of them is the hybrid powertrain.