New Lexus ES 300h: sophisticated luxury

Antonio Roncero @roncero_antonio 28 January 2019 9 min.

The Lexus ES 300h, a hybrid saloon almost 5 metres long that boasts refinement and sophistication to challenge the big German saloons, arrives in Spain.

The Lexus ES is by no means a new model in the Japanese manufacturer’s range. This is the seventh generation of an interesting saloon that, until now, had never reached our market.

It sits below the Lexus GS and among its rivals, taking mainly size into account, are cars such as the Audi A6, the BMW 5 Series, the Mercedes E-Class, the Jaguar XF and the Infiniti Q70. It is only available in the 300h version with hybrid propulsion and a total system output of 218 CV, and prices start from 45,000 euros.

There is no other hybrid saloon in this category and of this size that offers such value for money in terms of equipment as the Lexus. On the other hand, the ES 300h is the least powerful, which speaks to its “relaxed” character.

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The Lexus ES, together with the brand’s new SUV, the Lexus UX, will be two of the fundamental pillars for reaching the figures Lexus has set as its goal: surpassing 100,000 units sold in Europe in 2020, reaching 10,000 units in Spain for the first time this year, 2019. The Japanese brand took us to Málaga to get to know the Lexus ES 300h better, in a day in which we also had the chance to try the update of its Lexus RC 300h coupé.

New platform, sporty design

The Lexus ES 300h debuts the global platform the brand calls K-GA. It does not offer a coupé-style silhouette like the Audi A7 Sportback or Mercedes CLS. But in a way it comes close to them with its streamlined, sporty lines and a clearly downward-sloping roofline.

It measures 4.97 metres in length, 1.86 metres in width and 1.44 metres in height, with a wheelbase of 2.87 m. Kerb weight is 1,680 kg.

The aerodynamic coefficient of its sleek bodywork is 0.26. It undoubtedly contributes to acoustic comfort by insulating the cabin from wind noise.

Its design is unmistakably Lexus, especially at the front, where the Lexus ES 300h adopts a very different grille on the F-Sport versions, which are also distinguished by their 19-inch alloy wheels –17 and 18 inches on the rest of the versions– inspired by those of the Lexus LC, the brand’s sportiest coupé.

The body colour range includes 12 options, including some new ones for Lexus. The eye-catching blue and white tones are exclusive to the F-Sport.

The interior of the Lexus ES 300h

Several things catch the eye as soon as you enter the Lexus ES 300h’s cabin. The first one we expected: the characteristic quality of the Japanese brand, both visually and to the touch. Even on close inspection, it feels like a well-built car.

The second is the design. At first glance it looks more sporty than luxurious. It is also curious that Lexus has not succumbed to the fashion of total digitalisation, and both the sound system and the climate control have physical buttons.

That said, the Lexus ES 300h boasts a multimedia screen, no less than 12.3 inches on the best-equipped versions (8 inches on the rest), positioned high up, which makes it easier to read, for example when following navigation maps.

The Lexus also retains a central control knob between the front seats. It still relies on a touch panel, operated like a laptop touchpad. This is the second generation; although handling has become more precise, I still find rotary controllers such as the MMI of Audi or the iDrive system of BMW more comfortable and easier to use.

The instrumentation can be digital with some customisation options, and a comprehensive head-up display system can also be optionally fitted. Among the areas for improvement are the graphics in the multimedia system menus and the presentation of the navigation maps.

Another point worth highlighting is the excellent comfort offered by the seats, both in the standard versions and the sports seats of the F-Sport. The rear seats stand out for generous legroom, and there is no shortage of headroom despite the downward-sloping roofline. In proportion to its exterior size, the least favourable dimension is width.

The battery is housed under the rear seat cushion, which has reduced its height by 12 cm and uses a more compact cooling system. Unlike the Lexus GS, the brand’s larger saloon, it does not intrude on luggage space.

The Lexus ES 300h offers a boot with 454 litres of capacity, not very large for the size of the car, but of regular shape. Remember that the Lexus GS is a rear-wheel-drive car, whereas in the ES the front wheels deliver power to the road.

On the road: how the hybrid system works

The new Lexus ES 300h uses the fourth generation of the Lexus Hybrid Drive system, optimised for smoother operation and greater efficiency. It is also used in the new Toyota RAV4.

The combustion engine is a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol unit that works on the Atkinson cycle. It claims to be the most efficient combustion engine in a production vehicle in the world –with 41% efficiency– and delivers 187 CV and 221 Nm of peak torque.

The electric motor produces 120 CV and delivers 202 Nm. Combined, a total system output of 218 CV is quoted. Of course, as a hybrid, the Lexus ES 300h carries the ECO environmental label from the DGT.

Instead of being arranged one behind the other, coaxially, the motors are now placed in a multi-axis layout that saves space. There are also transmission changes aimed at making it more compact, and a new hybrid control system is used to achieve better synchronisation between engine speed and vehicle speed.

All of this has an effect on driving. And it is noticeable, above all, when stepping out of the Lexus RC 300h and into the ES 300h, since the former still carries the hybrid system of the previous generation.

From the very first moment it is clear that the Lexus ES offers a more immediate response to the accelerator and an even sportier feel than the coupé. Even so, the characteristic operation of Toyota and Lexus hybrid cars is not eliminated.

You can use the steering-wheel paddles to simulate fixed gears and use the gearbox in manual mode, but the result still does not come close to that of cars using a clutch-based gearbox or a torque converter with fixed gears.

As a result, even under full acceleration the sense of speed –8.9 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h is quoted– is not strong, even in Sport mode, and engine noise at high revs is clearly audible in the cabin. Top speed is limited to 180 km/h.

The Lexus hybrid system shows its best qualities when cruising calmly or in town. It is very smooth, and engine noise is barely noticeable at a steady speed. It is not difficult to get close to 7 l/100 km if you drive gently.

The new platform is responsible for the Lexus ES offering driving sensations as sporty as, or more so than, those of the RC coupé. And without sacrificing an ounce of comfort. The greater rigidity, the new multi-link rear suspension, the relocation of the electric steering motor directly onto the rack, and dampers with a new dynamic control system all play their part.

They work mechanically, with an auxiliary valve that allows the damper oil to flow before entering the main valve, for better control of body movements.

The F-Sport versions come as standard with the AVS variable-hardness suspension with adaptive dampers. To provide greater precision and sportiness, it also includes specific body reinforcements, faster steering calibration and a larger-diameter front anti-roll bar.

It also features the Sport S and Sport S+ programmes in the driving mode selector. The first modifies throttle response and transmission behaviour; the second also acts on the suspension with variable damping.

Equipment and prices for the Lexus ES 300h

All versions of the Lexus ES 300h come as standard with the new generation of the Safety System+ safety package from Lexus. It includes, among other assistance systems, autonomous emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection. It also features lane-keeping assistance, active cruise control and automatic high beams.

The best-equipped versions have LED headlights. And optionally the Mark Levinson Pureplay sound system, specially designed for the Lexus ES 300h, can be fitted, with 17 speakers and the largest subwoofer ever installed in a brand model.

Prices start from 45,000 euros for the entry-level version of the range, up to 65,800 euros for the most luxurious and best-equipped variant.